Racor vacuum gauge

[Irish Rover]

I'm posted a while back about the cost of the original yanmar diesel filters for my engines and the advisability of using less costly alternatives. It has been suggested to me that I can monitor the performance of my filters by fitting a vacuum gauge such as this one
https://defender.com/en_us/racor-vacuum-gauge-with-stainless-steel-t-handle-rk19671
Are any of you using these and what's the verdict?

 

[RupertW]

I have one sitting in my loft at home in London. It seemed like a great idea after the first fuel-bug fuel starvation issue in 10 years of ownership. It’s great to see what is going in but alas would come through the bottom of a bunk with the little wooden panel in place which some guest or another is going to bash themselves, or worse bash the filter. I even bought a 90 degreee turning piece to lay it flat but it’s still just too high.

It will eventually be chucked out if we don’t change boats and have a pre-moving house clear out.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

I have one fitted on my boat. It works, as it indicated an increase in suction pressure after a very lumpy passage from the Clyde to Ireland that stirred up the tank. Well worth fitting IMHO. Can also save you the expense of changing filters when there's no real need.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Any vacuum gauge will indicate when the primary filter is getting blocked but any secondary filter that between the lift pump and the injection pump will not indicate correctly. A differential gauge is needed for that as the inlet pressure will be higher that atmospheric pressure so a simple gauge will not show correctly.

I did look at using a differential pressure transducer connected to a Micro controller to show the pressure drop across the filter

I fitted one of these to my primary filters

Dry Utility Vacuum Pressure Gauge Blk.Steel 1/4 Center Back -30HG/0PSI AU | eBay

 

[yotter]

I bought a vacuum gauge a while back, it is still in the tool box. I have a Delphi (glass bowl type) type primary filter. Should the gauge be fitted to a T junction after the pre-filter and before the fuel lift pump?

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I have a twin Vetus filter housing with vacuum gauge. The vacuum gauge worked well but now is always in the yellow zone. I fitted it over 15 years ago. A useful modification is to mount the vacuum gauge remotely using a suitable hose extension.

This post shows PVB’s vacuum gauge remotely fitted Fuel filter question

Mine is the smaller version of this model VETUS brandstoffilter / waterafscheider, dubbel, 10 micron, 380 l/h | 75340VTEB

 

[noelex]

We use one our polishing filter and it works well.

There are much cheaper aftermarket alternatives. Vacuum gauges are not expensive, but the Racor option is easy to fit.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Worth noting, if you have a Chinese Racor clone the Racor vacuum gauge doesn’t fit. Different thread.

 

[Irish Rover]

I have one sitting in my loft at home in London. It seemed like a great idea after the first fuel-bug fuel starvation issue in 10 years of ownership. It’s great to see what is going in but alas would come through the bottom of a bunk with the little wooden panel in place which some guest or another is going to bash themselves, or worse bash the filter. I even bought a 90 degreee turning piece to lay it flat but it’s still just too high.

It will eventually be chucked out if we don’t change boats and have a pre-moving house clear out.

Thanks. My engines are under the bunks so I need to check that aspect.

 

[pandos]

I bought one for my old boat which I never fitted because I'd need to pipe it to somewhere useful which was too much trouble at the time. It's back on my to do list...

Useful article (from a previous thread ) The Invaluable Fuel Filter Vacuum Gauge – Editorial: My Kingdom for a Set Screw… | Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting

Would have saved me much heartache had I fitted one when I fitted the Chinese Racor on my new to me boat...

 

[Irish Rover]

I bought one for my old boat which I never fitted because I'd need to pipe it to somewhere useful which was too much trouble at the time. It's back on my to do list...

Useful article (from a previous thread ) The Invaluable Fuel Filter Vacuum Gauge – Editorial: My Kingdom for a Set Screw… | Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting

Would have saved me much heartache had I fitted one when I fitted the Chinese Racor on my new to me boat...

Thanks. Very interesting and informative.

 

[Irish Rover]

In view of @RupertW 's warning I had a look this morning at what clearance I have. It's no more than 10cm above the cap without the T bar. I can't find any info to say how high the vacuum gauge is including the T bar. Anyone know?