New fuel filter assembly

[Jim Walsh]

Replaced my old water separator type fuel filter with a new Racor 120 compact fuel filter/water separator assembly. It still retains the visible water separator function but rather than a replaceable paper element and o-ring it has a spin-on type fuel filter. I also have a fuel shut-off between my fuel tank and the filter, which I did not have previously, to make the replacement process more efficient. I'll add several replacement filters to my on board spares kit and I'm in business.

[Steve Laume]

During my very first filter change on Raven, I tossed out the Fram canister and installed one of those. It is a simple arrangement and it is as easy to find the filter elements, as it is to change them.

Your set up looks great but there is one more thing you could do to make it better. Add a vacuum gauge to the unused port at the top of the filter. This will help you in a trouble shooting situation and be a good indicator of when your filter needs to be changed. It will pay for itself in the savings you will get from unnecessary filter changes. It will also give you the peace of mind that the filter is not being restricted before a scheduled change.

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?pa ... id=1737501

And you thought you were all done messing with it, Steve.

[Jim Walsh]

And you thought you were all done messing with it, Steve.

I appreciate the input. It's an excellent recommendation.
Do you use the 2, the 10, or the 30 micron filter element? I haven't bought a supply of spares yet so I'd like to ensure I get the right ones.

[tjr818]

And you thought you were all done messing with it, Steve.

I appreciate the input. It's an excellent recommendation.
Do you use the 2, the 10, or the 30 micron filter element? I haven't bought a supply of spares yet so I'd like to ensure I get the right ones.

Jim, it will be interesting to see the responses on this. I think it depends on whether or not you lock your prop. i have read a few conflicting articles on this topic.

Ahoy, Maine Sail, help please.

[jbenagh]

That's the same one I put in last year when I changed out the tank. They recommend the 30 micron filter for suction applications so that's what I used. I like the shutoff and the vacuum gauge; I might need to add those this winter.

Jeff

[Keith]

I also installed the same one two years ago and use the 30 micron filter as well. I like the valve idea but I though that it would be a pressure gage not a vacuum gage. I have an electric fuel pump between the tank and the filter. Does everyone else have an electric fuel pump?? Do I even need the electric fuel pump? I have the mechanical driven pump on the engine that is between the two filters. Maybe I don't even need the electric fuel pump.

Can hardly wait for your responses.

Keith

[tjr818]

Could that pump be there just for priming the filter? I bought an inline pump just for that purpose,but it turns out I don't need it.

[Keith]

it is wired to run continuosly when the key is in the on position. It has been there from the PO(s). If no one else has one I will be looking into if it is really needed. Still waiting to hear from others.

Keith

[Jim Walsh]

it is wired to run continuosly when the key is in the on position. It has been there from the PO(s). If no one else has one I will be looking into if it is really needed. Still waiting to hear from others.

Keith

I have no pump between the tank and the filter, only the engine mounted pump.

[Jeff and Sarah]

I would avoid a 2 micron filter as the first filter inline from the tank (unless you have a separate polishing system that works really well0. If a 2 micron is the first filter your fuel hits, you'll be replacing the element quite often! I use a 30 micron filter in my racor. The fuel is also filtered by a spin on element on the engine.

I feel like a proactive tank replacement is on my horizon so I might add aanother racor filter and pump dedicated to polishing, but I have no electric pump at this time.

[John Stone]

Great thread Jim. Thanks for resurrecting it.

Question: I read the link to Defender Marine for the vacuum gauge Steve L posted. It sounds like the vacuum gauge somehow indicates when the pressure in the fuel line on the engine side of the fuel filter is experiencing less fuel pressure indicating the filter is becoming clogged. Is that right? And by extension if it’s showing no loss of pressure you don’t replace the fuel filter?

Question: where does one attach the vacuum gauge to the Racor 0500 unit I will be installing?

Thanks agin for sharing.

[Jim Walsh]

Great thread Jim. Thanks for resurrecting it.

Question: I read the link to Defender Marine for the vacuum gauge Steve L posted. It sounds like the vacuum gauge somehow indicates when the pressure in the fuel line on the engine side of the fuel filter is experiencing less fuel pressure indicating the filter is becoming clogged. Is that right? And by extension if it’s showing no loss of pressure you don’t replace the fuel filter?

Question: where does one attach the vacuum gauge to the Racor 0500 unit I will be installing?

Thanks agin for sharing.

https://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?n ... id=1771858

This looks like the one for your filter. Steve has one and had recommended I install one which I never did....for no good reason. Perhaps this is the year, it is a neat gadget.
The product description has a full explanation of its use.

[John Stone]

Thanks Jim. I’ll do some research on it.

[BernieA]

Shortly after buying my CD28 I found that the priming pump on the Volvo was frozen. Rather than take a chance on breaking and replacing it, I bought a bulb like those used on outboard fuel lines. I mounted it between the tank and the racor filter. It works well for bleeding the fuel system. All because I'm a cheapskate.

[Steve Laume]

I know the little tube gauge showed up on the link I provided but I have something more similar to this.
https://www.defender.com/pdf/306967_INSTALL.pdf

I got mine before they had the pointer that stayed in place once you shut down the engine. This seems like a vast improvement as I have to check mine while the engine is running. I don't have the tee handle but Racor did provide several ports for the thing to screw into, on my little filter. I needed an elbow to make mine convenient to read.

Weather right or wrong, I do not replace my primary filter every year. As long as the gauge is reading in the correct zone, I assume the filter is not clogged and is doing it's job. The fact is that it has never indicated the the filter is restricting fuel flow. I do change the filter every couple of years just to be sure. This saves on a lot of un-nessicary filter changes. When I went to change it last year, my spare filters were all showing some signs of rust around the edges. I had to discard them and get new ones as I just didn't trust that some rust flecks would wind up on the wrong side in the fuel system. So if you only change the filter when fit is necessary, it could be a long time between changes and you need a good way of storing your spares.

I truly believe in gauges and monitoring the systems on Raven. Fuel flow is very important and a bad reading on the vacuum gauge will tell you if that is a problem if you are ever trouble shooting an engine problem. It will also save you a lot of unpleasant filter changes. How else are you to know that you didn't pick up some bad fuel or have it shaken up in rough seas? Or that you are needlessly changing filters far too often, Steve.