Re: Recommendations for value priced water seperator?
Originally posted by tonycliffy:<br /> snip...<br /><br />Any advice regarding whether I should mount this below deck near my tank (and out of the way) or do I need to mount it right under my powerhead on the upper part of the transom? I'd rather get it out of the way.<br />
You will indeed get condensation with built in tanks. Like someone else said, I can't imagine why any outboard - or I/O owner - would go without a water separating filter. <br /><br />If you go with the clear bowl type, I do believe you'll have to mount it out in the open for safety purposes. <br /><br />If you want to mount it out of the way, you probably have to go with a non-bowl type filter or one with a metal (not clear plastic). <br /><br />Frankly, I never use the "clear" aspect of my plastic bowl to examine what's in it. I just drain it and look at what's in the jar. A metal bowl would serve me just as well. <br /><br />A bowl type of filter is nice because as long as you drain the bowl regularly - which is a simple and great routine to get into - the filter itself doesn't really have to be changed often. I change mine every spring, but am not convinced it has to be changed. I've been told that the filter itself doesn't actually get clogged or go bad as long as you keep the bowl drained of water so it doesn't back up into the filter. I'm thinking it also filters particulates as well as separating the water, thus my routine of changing it at least once a year.<br /><br />The money spent on filters is well worth the peace of mind, let alone the hassel of water in the fuel!<br /><br />The only time I had a problem was when I didn't realize I should be draining the bowl, didn't do it all season, and the filter itself literally filled with water and the motor died. After I drained it out it worked fine.<br /><br />My old I/O had a non-bowl type filter cannister which I just changed regularly.<br /><br />When you mount it, think clearance for draining and make it as easy as you can. I keep a small jar (6 oz?) with a tight fitting lid on hand close to the filter so that it's easy to drain the bowl whenever I think about it. Typically, I drain 3 or 4 oz into the jar. Water comes out first and as soon as I see it becoming nice clean fuel, that's all I need to drain. I usually get just a an ounce or two of water followed by an ounce or so of fuel before I close the drain - this, every 50 gallons or so - not nearly enough to cause problems as described above. I just keep the drainage in the jar until I can dispose of it.
