Frequency of Removal of Gasoline From Water Separator

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Author Topic:   Frequency of Removal of Gasoline From Water Separator

Whalerman17 posted 06-12-2007 06:02 PM ET (US)
I have a '80 13 whaler with a 2004 Yamaha 40 4-stroke on it. At the end of the season last year the engine began to stall at about 2500rpms. I checked everything that I could think of (fuel line leaks, low oil, water in the gas...) but the only thing that didn't seem to work was the fuel separator (at least I think that is what it is called, it is a little cylinder below the engine with the fuel line running through it.) I emptied it out and it had a lot of gas in it and I was wondering, did I do anything wrong to make me have to empty it? or am I supposed to every once in a while?
Please help!
-Brian
jimh posted 06-12-2007 08:37 PM ET (US)
The purpose of a water separator fuel is to separate water from the fuel. The water which is separated remains behind in the filter. In most filters there is no way to determine if there is water in the filter other than to remove the filter and inspect its contents. You can perform this inspection whenever you suspect that there is water being retained in the filter.
Unlike every other filter, the RACOR filter can be configured on an outboard powered boat with a clear plastic bowl. You can easily see if the filter has retained any water, and you can also drain the contents of the filter without removal of the filter element. For this reason the RACOR fuel water separator filter is recommended above all other brands.
If you do not have a RACOR filter, you should feel free to remove your fuel water separator filter and inspect the contents of the filter for retained water whenever you feel like there may be water in the fuel system.
Tonym posted 06-12-2007 11:28 PM ET (US)
Whalerman,
On my boat I have 2 water separators. A Racor fuel filter/water separator on the starboard gunwale and one inside the engine. I have a Honda 130 HP and a Honda 9.9 kicker. I drain both of them before every trip offshore. It only looses 5-6 ounces of gas but I occasionally find a few drops of water and some fine sediments in the glass that I use to catch the drained gasoline. I figure better safe than sorry because I frequently am forced to use Mexican gas and it really is not the best. It only takes 5 minutes max so to me it is well worth it. Tonym

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Author	Topic: Frequency of Removal of Gasoline From Water Separator
Whalerman17	posted 06-12-2007 06:02 PM ET (US) I have a '80 13 whaler with a 2004 Yamaha 40 4-stroke on it. At the end of the season last year the engine began to stall at about 2500rpms. I checked everything that I could think of (fuel line leaks, low oil, water in the gas...) but the only thing that didn't seem to work was the fuel separator (at least I think that is what it is called, it is a little cylinder below the engine with the fuel line running through it.) I emptied it out and it had a lot of gas in it and I was wondering, did I do anything wrong to make me have to empty it? or am I supposed to every once in a while? Please help! -Brian
jimh	posted 06-12-2007 08:37 PM ET (US) The purpose of a water separator fuel is to separate water from the fuel. The water which is separated remains behind in the filter. In most filters there is no way to determine if there is water in the filter other than to remove the filter and inspect its contents. You can perform this inspection whenever you suspect that there is water being retained in the filter. Unlike every other filter, the RACOR filter can be configured on an outboard powered boat with a clear plastic bowl. You can easily see if the filter has retained any water, and you can also drain the contents of the filter without removal of the filter element. For this reason the RACOR fuel water separator filter is recommended above all other brands. If you do not have a RACOR filter, you should feel free to remove your fuel water separator filter and inspect the contents of the filter for retained water whenever you feel like there may be water in the fuel system.
Tonym	posted 06-12-2007 11:28 PM ET (US) Whalerman, On my boat I have 2 water separators. A Racor fuel filter/water separator on the starboard gunwale and one inside the engine. I have a Honda 130 HP and a Honda 9.9 kicker. I drain both of them before every trip offshore. It only looses 5-6 ounces of gas but I occasionally find a few drops of water and some fine sediments in the glass that I use to catch the drained gasoline. I figure better safe than sorry because I frequently am forced to use Mexican gas and it really is not the best. It only takes 5 minutes max so to me it is well worth it. Tonym