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Author Topic:   Necessity to use Fuel-Water Separator

nats posted 03-23-2014 07:49 PM ET (US)
I have a [2006] 170 Montauk. I have never had a fuel-water separator on my boat. I figured it did not come with one from the factory. Is it necessary to install one? I have never had any fuel problems.
Tom W Clark posted 03-23-2014 08:04 PM ET (US)
No, it is not necessary, nor is it desirable, in my opinion.
K.I.S.S.
Buoy posted 03-24-2014 09:21 PM ET (US)
This is really interesting. My 2002 Dauntless with 130 Yamaha does not have a fuel-water separator either. Based on some threads I've read here, I thought it was a "best practice" given the water would be vaporized and inhibit lubrication.
Is this not the case? Naturally I'd prefer to keep it as simple as possible too, I had planned to install one in the Spring.
saumon posted 03-24-2014 09:42 PM ET (US)
Tom,
I'm intrigued by your comment. Did you consider it not necessary or desirable only on boats with on-deck external fuel tanks like the Montauk or also on thoses with integrated tanks like the Outrage?
Thanks.
Tom W Clark posted 03-24-2014 10:46 PM ET (US)
We're talking about a Montauk. I wouldn't use a fuel/water separator on a Montauk, or any other small Whaler with small on-deck fuel tank(s).
The last three Montauks that I've worked on I removed the big, clunky, shin banging fuel/water separators, eliminating several potential air leakage points in doing so. The boats look better too.
If your boat has small on-deck fuel tanks, the time to filter the fuel is when you fill the tank. Why put contaminated fuel in your boat's fuel tank, let it sit there for a long time and then try to filter the fuel just as it goes into your motor?
That has never made any sense to me.
saumon posted 03-24-2014 11:29 PM ET (US)
That's logical, thanks.
blacksmithdog posted 03-25-2014 06:57 AM ET (US)
So Tom, my Montauk 170 has a fuel-water separator back in the compartment in the stern of the boat. You have to get to it through that 6" or so screw out access port. I bought the boat used, and have been dreading changing the filter. If it was you, would you just do away with it and run new fuel hose from the tank to the motor? It certainly solves a problem for me.
I only use ethanol free gas in the 4 stroke EFI Merc, and we generally fill the tank about every 2-3 weeks during the summer.
jcdawg83 posted 03-25-2014 08:06 AM ET (US)
As long as the fuel tank(s) is/are above deck, a fuel filter is generally not needed. If you are going to boat in the Caribbean or Mexico, you probably want to install a filter regardless of the tank location. Even the best marinas in the islands are susceptible to water and debris getting into their fuel.
Buoy posted 03-25-2014 04:32 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the clarification, I'll be installing the fuel water separator in the Spring.

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Author	Topic: Necessity to use Fuel-Water Separator
nats	posted 03-23-2014 07:49 PM ET (US) I have a [2006] 170 Montauk. I have never had a fuel-water separator on my boat. I figured it did not come with one from the factory. Is it necessary to install one? I have never had any fuel problems.
Tom W Clark	posted 03-23-2014 08:04 PM ET (US) No, it is not necessary, nor is it desirable, in my opinion. K.I.S.S.
Buoy	posted 03-24-2014 09:21 PM ET (US) This is really interesting. My 2002 Dauntless with 130 Yamaha does not have a fuel-water separator either. Based on some threads I've read here, I thought it was a "best practice" given the water would be vaporized and inhibit lubrication. Is this not the case? Naturally I'd prefer to keep it as simple as possible too, I had planned to install one in the Spring.
saumon	posted 03-24-2014 09:42 PM ET (US) Tom, I'm intrigued by your comment. Did you consider it not necessary or desirable only on boats with on-deck external fuel tanks like the Montauk or also on thoses with integrated tanks like the Outrage? Thanks.
Tom W Clark	posted 03-24-2014 10:46 PM ET (US) We're talking about a Montauk. I wouldn't use a fuel/water separator on a Montauk, or any other small Whaler with small on-deck fuel tank(s). The last three Montauks that I've worked on I removed the big, clunky, shin banging fuel/water separators, eliminating several potential air leakage points in doing so. The boats look better too. If your boat has small on-deck fuel tanks, the time to filter the fuel is when you fill the tank. Why put contaminated fuel in your boat's fuel tank, let it sit there for a long time and then try to filter the fuel just as it goes into your motor? That has never made any sense to me.
saumon	posted 03-24-2014 11:29 PM ET (US) That's logical, thanks.
blacksmithdog	posted 03-25-2014 06:57 AM ET (US) So Tom, my Montauk 170 has a fuel-water separator back in the compartment in the stern of the boat. You have to get to it through that 6" or so screw out access port. I bought the boat used, and have been dreading changing the filter. If it was you, would you just do away with it and run new fuel hose from the tank to the motor? It certainly solves a problem for me. I only use ethanol free gas in the 4 stroke EFI Merc, and we generally fill the tank about every 2-3 weeks during the summer.
jcdawg83	posted 03-25-2014 08:06 AM ET (US) As long as the fuel tank(s) is/are above deck, a fuel filter is generally not needed. If you are going to boat in the Caribbean or Mexico, you probably want to install a filter regardless of the tank location. Even the best marinas in the islands are susceptible to water and debris getting into their fuel.
Buoy	posted 03-25-2014 04:32 PM ET (US) Thanks for the clarification, I'll be installing the fuel water separator in the Spring.