Old fuel vs water seperater filter

[w2much]

If one of the issues with ethanol in fuel is seperation does a fuel water seperater filter keep the water from the tank from reaching the engine.? Mine does not seem to.

 

[Scott Danforth]

a fuel water separator filter only can filter so much water out prior to being replaced. if you have a significant amount of water in the fuel tank, the filter wont stand a chance. drain the tank first.

 

[redneck joe]

or are you just not getting a lot of water in the separator? If that is the case and how old is the fuel that you are burning thru,



A bit more info would help.

 

[Chris1956]

Water seperators work via gravity. Water and water/alcohol are heavier than gasoline, and sink to the bottom of the water separator. The fuel to the motor is picked up at the very top of the separator. if the water builds up and fills the entire separator, it can be pulled into the motor.

Dump the separator out into a clear container until the water or water/alcohol is gone.

 

[w2much]

Fuel was only 4 months old. The engine ran horribly. I did drain the tank into the Bronco (no ill effects ). Ran on fresh fuel from another tank and all was good. Just surprised that the fuel went south so quickly. When poured into a glass container it was clearly separated . This is on a 1995 150 carbed Ocean Runner. Had it been fuel injection ............. I just thought the separater would have handled the issue. Filter is only as old as the fuel itself having changed it out in October. Certainly a sign that I need to use the boat more often. Need to always add some sea foam as I have in the past.

 

[GA_Boater]

How did you drain the tank?

It seems that somehow water is getting into the tank.

 

[redneck joe]

yeah four months is not old.

 

[w2much]

I used an electric automobile fuel pump to drain the tank. They work great if you ever need to do it. I will need to check the sender gasket, it has leaked inthe past.

 

[igotit]

I use a 6 gal plastic attwood tank,if i fill her up and just leave it sit outside in the boat,uncovered for 1 mth......my next ride i better be ready to paddle.ive done an experiment with a plastic tank and aluminium tank.
Both in the elements for 1 mth.
Gas in the plastic tank lookeds brownish color and wasnt as transparent as fuel should be.
Aluminium tank fuel looked normal.
Both tanks smelled like fresh fuel.

Running test after a mth
Plastic tank
I tested both tanks on my 25 kohler godevil
Fuel from mth old plastic tank got me about 1/2 mile before my motor started missing and losing rpm.
Undone my fuel line and primmed bulb just to see cloudy fuel and water come out.

Switch to the mth old fuel in the aluminium tank
Rode 8 hours no issues.

My observation over the years
Plastic tanks sweat more on the inside and create moisture faster than aluminium tanks.
Add the crappy ethanol in fuel that breaks down.....doesnt help one bit.