Replacing water separator with fuel filter/separator?

[Gazza]

I'm in the process of getting the diesel tank on our Eclipse 33 steam cleaned as I've been getting signs of the dreaded diesel bug in the water separator and I'm wondering if I can improve the system at the same time. There is a standard glass bowl water separator next to the fuel tank and a fuel filter on the engine and I had the idea to replace the separator with a combined separator and fuel filter such as the Racor. Is there any benefit in adding an additional filter at the tank end ? The glass bowl on the existing separator is almost opaque, so I'll be replacing that anyway.

Any thoughts/experience gratefully received.

 

[[2574]]

I'm in the process of getting the diesel tank on our Eclipse 33 steam cleaned as I've been getting signs of the dreaded diesel bug in the water separator and I'm wondering if I can improve the system at the same time. There is a standard glass bowl water separator next to the fuel tank and a fuel filter on the engine and I had the idea to replace the separator with a combined separator and fuel filter such as the Racor. Is there any benefit in adding an additional filter at the tank end ? The glass bowl on the existing separator is almost opaque, so I'll be replacing that anyway.

Any thoughts/experience gratefully received.

I’d encourage you to do it, why wouldn’t you? I’ve just fitted one of these:

Racor Filters, 120AT Diesel Spin-On Fuel Filter

it was a quick and simple process, just be sure that you have all the fittings that you need from ASAP as sourcing parts locally is problematic by my experience.

and use Loctite 577 - it’s expensive but it makes effective seals very quickly: Loctite 577 Pipe Sealant, Fast Cure, Medium Strength, 50ml 2068186 | Cromwell Tools

 

[Fr J Hackett]

You could fit two inline filters with a bypass so that you can choose one or the other should the one in service become blocked, a pressure gauge will also give you an early indication of a filter blocking.

 

[Wing Mark]

I've given the tank on my 'new' boat a bit of a clean.
Poking around the bottom of the tank with a 'Pela', it's clear that the tank outlet does not draw from the very bottom of the tank.
If I were to change anything about the system, that would be the first thing.
Get the water out of the tank and into the filter where it can be dealt with, or add another take-off just for extracting water and dirty fuel from the very bottom.
The CAV filter was pretty clean, despite being on the boat 3 years I think.
About 100ml of water and black stuff in the tank I think.

It seems that water and dirt will mostly not be drawn into the filters until there's quite a big problem?
Is this standard on boat tanks?

 

[Plum]

I've given the tank on my 'new' boat a bit of a clean.
Poking around the bottom of the tank with a 'Pela', it's clear that the tank outlet does not draw from the very bottom of the tank.
If I were to change anything about the system, that would be the first thing.
Get the water out of the tank and into the filter where it can be dealt with, or add another take-off just for extracting water and dirty fuel from the very bottom.
The CAV filter was pretty clean, despite being on the boat 3 years I think.
About 100ml of water and black stuff in the tank I think.

It seems that water and dirt will mostly not be drawn into the filters until there's quite a big problem?
Is this standard on boat tanks?

It is common practice on boat tanks for the pickup pipe not to go to the very botton of the tank and rely on occasional extraction/draining of any accumulated water/debry from the bottom. This does not necessarily make it "best practice". Having it above the bottom MAY avoid large pieces of debri getting sucked into the pickup pipe and blocking it before they can get filtered by the primary filter. If I were designing from scratch i would have the pickup very close to the bottom but with a wire mesh like you find on the pickup pipe for the lubricating oil in your engine sump although I would still have provision for occasional extraction/draining from the bottom.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Gazza]

Hi All,

Thanks for the info - I've decided to fit a Racor set-up as described by Robih.

Cheers,

Gary

 

[Poignard]

I’d encourage you to do it, why wouldn’t you? I’ve just fitted one of these:

Racor Filters, 120AT Diesel Spin-On Fuel Filter

it was a quick and simple process, just be sure that you have all the fittings that you need from ASAP as sourcing parts locally is problematic by my experience.

and use Loctite 577 - it’s expensive but it makes effective seals very quickly: Loctite 577 Pipe Sealant, Fast Cure, Medium Strength, 50ml 2068186 | Cromwell Tools

That's what I have. Plus there is a Bosch filter mounted on the engine (BUKH DV10ME)