Fuel Water Seperator

[Rinker85]

Are the plugs on a fuel water separator supposed to be opened and drained once in a while?

My boat was running great today until I stopped to get a little fuel. The bay where I got fuel was very choppy. I got about 200 yards away from the fuel dock and the boat started running real rough. It was acting like there was water in the fuel. I was stranded for about 1/2 an hour. I took a container and opened the fuel water separator drain and drained the fuel out of there. After that the boat ran fine. The only thing I can think of is a wave came up while getting fuel and I got water in the tank while the fuel cap was off. What about the fuel vent? I attached a picture. On a real choppy lake could I have gotten fuel in there?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... That filter is for an Outboard, 'n is an illegal install on an I/O,.....

I/O filters don't have a plastic base, nor a drain fittin',.... should be an all steel body, for safety,....
They get changed, not drained,....

 

[alldodge]

It's all possible along with getting water in the gas at the place you get the gas at.

 

[Lou C]

The filter unit you have, as long as that bowl is metal, is OK on an inboard installation. The issue is fire resistance vs the plastic bowl. When you drained it, was there water in the fuel? Next time drain it into a large mason jar and let it settle. As far as your vent, its hard to tell in the pic but is the screened part facing aft? If not that could be a possible problem. Lastly check the o ring on your fuel fill to be on the safe side.

I tried the Racor with the metal bowl and found removing the bowl from the filter element a real pain. While there is no doubt the Racor is a better filter, the hassle of getting that dang thing off was just not worth it. So I went back to the Sierra and BRP ones I have used for years.

 

[Rinker85]

The bowl is metal so I'm good there. All I had out on the lake was a plastic jug that I used to drain the fuel into. When I got home I poured it into a clear glass but didn't see any separation.

I'm not really understanding how the separator works. Does water collect in the bowl? Am I supposed to drain it every so often?

The fuel vent does point down 45 degrees and faces Aft. But like I said I was going over some pretty big waves. Is there a different type of vent I can install or can it be relocated.?

 

[alldodge]

Water is heavier the gas so water goes to the bottom, but with E10 gas the fuel also absorbes the water. Was your issue actually water, don't know, maybe a piece of crud which managed to pass thru :noidea: