Water Seperator - Does Fuel filter do this

[Roach1948]

I am currently attaching all the bits and bobs to my new Beta engine after replacing my Stuart that died. My old Stuart had a water seperator but no fuel filter. For my new set-up I have a new delphi fuel filter. My question is does this seperate water too or do I need a dedicated water seperator?

 

[Sans Bateau]

Yes, IMO fit a separate first. This will not only, as the name implies, separate the water from the fuel it will help ensure any of the large debris does not pass, leaving the primary fuel filter to take out the fine particles.

 

[bobgosling]

I have a Beta ( 20hp ) which has a fuel filter physically attached to the engine which looks like a car-type oil filter but I also have a separate filter in the fuel line beween the tank and the engine which is a glass bowl type and performs the function of water separation.

I think that the one that looks like a car oil filter is a "fine" filter whereas the other is a "coarse" filter designed to prolong the life of the fine one ?

Hope that makes sense !

 

[Malish]

the Delphi will separate water (there should be a drain tap on its base) and most have a glass vessel fitted under the filter to enable inspection for accumulated water. It does however leave the water on the clean side of the filter.

 

[Roach1948]

My Delphi has no glass bowl at all. Maybe I should install a glass bowl only filter (if there is such a thing) before the filter as I dont like the sound of water on the "clean side" of the filter.

 

[pappaecho]

Dont spend you hard earned cash in a Marine Engine shop -go to any local suppliers of truck parts and they will have the part at half the price, and a choice of pipe sizes, relative to the flow needed

 

[Malish]

You might consider giving asap supplies a call they have been very helpful to me in the past (I've no connection)

http://www.asap-supplies.com/

They can advise you on the options and prices (and their on-line cataloge is informative).

 

[Krusty]

I second Moonfire's advice: asap supplies website illustrates and details the water-traps, filters, etc and gave me good service. I also strongly advise installing the water-trap (water-separater) at the front of the engine (or wherever it can best be seen regularly) with enough space below for easy opening of the plug for draining.

 

[pvb]

OK, I\'ll own up...

My boat has a primary fuel filter with a glass bowl water separator. In the 10 years since I bought the boat, I haven't once drained any water out - indeed I haven't even noticed any there. With modern fuel-handling and fuel-storage techniques, I wonder how much water actually gets into the diesel we buy. Don't think my diesel 4x4 has a water separator, and it gets through about 4000 litres a year. So maybe a water separator isn't that important.

 

[billcowan]

Re: OK, I\'ll own up...

look on e-bay. there is a bloke there doing CAV type with the glass bowl, for around £20

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Re: OK, I\'ll own up...

Sorry PVB, I been from a mechanical background can assure you that a water trap is the most important part of the primary fuel system on diesels, as injectors and pumps have such a fine tolorance in their workings that they can wear out withen minutes if water passes through them, as there is absolutaly no lubrication in water unlike diesel, and if one takes out a helix from the delivery valve of an injecter pump, holds it in his hand for a few minutes, he will have duffucilty getting it back in, as the expansion caused by the heat from the hand will expand it enough not to fit back in, thats how fine the tolorance is in it.
What the original poster needs is a fuel aglomerator -sedimenter trap Get one with a large glass bowl, and no filter above it, which makes it a lot easier to identify the water fron the diesel.
And while on the subject, my tank was always filled with Derv,giving no problems, when I had no choice but to fill it on an occasion at Largs marina with red, I must have got about 3ltr of water along with the red. BEWARE OF LARGS MARINA DIESEL.

 

[Anonymous]

Fuel filters

My boat is fitted with a Separ filter. This has a paper filter element in the top of the housing, followed by a non-moving centrifugal separator (i.e. the fuel spins due to vanes in the housing) and has a large sight bowl for water collection and inspection. It is designed that if you release the forward pressure by slackening a bleed screw on the top of the housing much of the muck from the paper filter will drop down and into the sight bowl. These units are getting an excellent reputation down here and one marine engineer fits one as standard whenever he gets a call out to a boat with any sort of soiled-fuel problem.

Mine was fitted either by the Finnish boat manufacturers or the German commissioning team. Don't know if the are common in the UK. You sound as though you know what you are talking about, do you know of the product, or a better one, maybe?

Like pvb I haven't ever seen major contamination in my fuel, but that is just luck. I would remind people that even if the fuel from the dock is perfect, any small leak around a deck fitting will let in water and condensation forms naturally in any tank that is not kept full. The best thing, IMO, is to have the facility to drain from the low point of the tank. Mine is fitted with pipes and a small pump for the purpose so I can easily draw a litre off, check for water, and pour back clean diesel.

 

[Roach1948]

Re: OK, I\'ll own up...

Have phoned ASAP and it transpires that my filter is a water seperator after all. Its just that the sump is aluminium and not glass - so that is what got me confused. They can supply a glass bowl to replace the aluminium one but I hardly think its worth it as they are not cheap.

 

[doug748]

Re: Fuel filters

My Separ always leaks slightly around the "glass" bowl, ever had that problem, what am I doing wrong?

 

[sailorman]

Re: Fuel filters

the rubber sealing rings expand due to the fuel contamination & should be changed along with the filter

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Fuel filters

I haven't had that problem (yet). The spare I fitted last year did not come with a gasket and the spares - expensive though the be - in the chandlery at the moment don't have gaskets either. Do you happen to have the part numbers to hand?

 

[doug748]

Re: Fuel filters

I do have the part nos, but not to hand. If you are stuck, PM me in a couple of weeks and I should be able to help.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Fuel filters

I'll have a try with my chandler. Thanks for the offer /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif