water in my petrol, what's the chances ?

[simonfraser]

'Petrol filter cartridges are unpainted bare steel on the top and you will see evidence of rusting from water if you have it'

good point, will check for that more often than once a year, nothing last year

googler, so those two filters are in series, R one first ?



p.s. pays to read the manual, always a last option, motor has a water seperator alarm

 

[QBhoy]

Is that typical for a small marine tank ?

The Myth of Condensation in Fuel Tanks: Need a Full Fuel Tanks to Store or Lay-up Your Boat? - Boat Maintenance - by David Pascoe

That would be a settling tank for diesel or crude I’d think

 

[Mr Googler]

'Petrol filter cartridges are unpainted bare steel on the top and you will see evidence of rusting from water if you have it'

good point, will check for that more often than once a year, nothing last year

googler, so those two filters are in series, R one first ?



p.s. pays to read the manual, always a last option, motor has a water seperator alarm

View attachment 160961

Nope…..

 

[jon and michie]

Is that typical for a small marine tank ?

I havent had chance to look at your link - But if you got a small empty plastic bottle like pepsi max 500ml size for example put it near a warm source like next to the kitchen window and leave it a couple of days then look at it you will find condensation forming on the inside.
It doesnt matter what size tank it is or whether it is a marine tank or not.

 

[jon and michie]

That would be a settling tank for diesel or crude I’d think

Ive worked inside a crude cargo oil tank on a ship and you still get condensation.

 

[Corona Mia]

Maybe there are 2 issues here?

Free water in the fuel………or water absorbed in the fuel when using bio-fuel.

Petrol is an interesting mixture of petrochemicals……and an increasing mix of additives.
Ethanol based aditives are very hygroscopic.…..they bond to free water.

So if there’s any ‘free water‘ in the tank you filled-up from, or any sitting at the bottom of your own fuel
tank……they may be ‘absorbed’ into your fuel.

If it’s ‘free water’ it will eventually separate out and hopefully sit in the fuel tank at a level below the ‘pick-up’ pipe.
Or you should be able to see it collecting in the bottom of a suitable petrol/water fuel filter.

If it’s ‘bonded’ to any ethanol based fuel additives in the petrol I honestly don’t know how sensitive the ‘sensors’
are?

If you’ve got a big ‘slug’ of water coming from the fuel tank……the engine is not going to start.
Some of us have discovered this…..after trying to start an old outboard engine after the winter!

If you‘ve got a modern engine with a free-water sensor…….I expect ‘COMPUTER SAYS NO’.

So I guess it’s all down to our personal ‘risk’.

If you use your boat regularly then fuel is passing through.
Whilst pure water won’t ‘combust’……..it should pass through the system if it’s in very small quantities.

If you don’t use your boat very often…..any water (that’s homogenised in the fuel) will sit in your fuel-system
and cause corrosion.
With engines with carburettors this has always been a problem, but modern engines with electronic injectors it
may be a much more expensive problem.

My apologies (in advance) if I’ve upset anyone……or for maybe going-off on a tangent.
I stand ready to be told!

I understand that VolvoPaul knows a lot more about water/petrol sensors…..and I suspect that Refueler
may know a bit more than me about gasoline blending!

 

[Mr Googler]

The water in fuel sensor just alarms when enough water collects in the bottom of a bowl to allow a circuit to be made. Drain it off…alarm goes away.

 

[Fire99]

My honest answer is 'I don't know if you have water in the fuel but these days it's highly possible'... I run Super Unleaded for the lower Ethanol content and with a half full tank found water. I know you use a stabiliser but (as others have said) leaving a petrol tank with a breather, half full is if nothing else going to significantly up the chances of the fuel going stale and water absorption.

These days I would definitely have an inline filter with a visible bowl and drain (much like diesel has had for years). With Ethanol getting into the mix (excuse the pun) I think it's very wise preventative (at the least) maintenance. I see a lot of tenders now with them fitted on their transoms..

 

[simonfraser]

tnx all, ok here is the plan:

going to take the filter off the removable cover and mount it inside the space, bolt it to the top where the black circles are
that way i can see the bottom of the filter, see below



this is the existing filter:



and replace the filter with these two:

Water Separating Fuel Filter Cartridge (10 Micron)

Replacement See-Through Bowl for Water Separating Filter (Spin-On Type)


fit a couple of valves to cut off the flow in and out to reduce spillage whilst changing filters ?



i'll replace the filter panel / door later with a transparent panel and possibly put an LED behind the bowl
this is inside an aft compartment with a water proof lid which is under an aft canopy as well

suggestions pls

 

[Mr Googler]

I wouldn’t bother with the little valves….just another possible point of failure. guess you have an isolator valve From the tank?. You can drain via the bowl before removing the filter anyway. Make sure you have room underneath for a container to catch fuel/ water when you drain etc…

 

[QBhoy]

Ive worked inside a crude cargo oil tank on a ship and you still get condensation.

Me too. Loads of it. Even diesel tanks on ships have a settling tank. Put through a centrifugal alpha laval purifier too.