Fuel Filter Funnel? Better test them occasionally

[ingrid75]

There are so many lessons to be learned from this post:
- just because something is new and faster does not mean it is superior to something tried and true. The Baha filter is still the best choice

- read and keep the instructions

- west marine will cheapen the product and it won't work as well as the original and then when you have a problem, you will find that west no longer carries the product. (So there is no way you can get spare parts or can get an exact replacement for something in some system on your boat)

[DeepFrz]

Baja filter is made by Attwood.

Baja Filter - MyBoatsGear.com

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I got a Mr Filter just a couple of months ago and found that seawater goes right through it (I've never wiped off the screen etc). Far as I'm concerned it good for being a filter that has a screen to catch dirt. But for getting water out I feel it is a bust!

And only big bits of dirt! I also think they are rubbish. I've used then alot through Asia as theres not much alternative. Going up the west cost of Sumatra the fuel was filthy. In the end I used a water filter setup with 10 micron filter attached to an inline pump.

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[chouliha]

I originally started with a galvanized metal box that had various screen inserts that slide into the box. Total PIA. Then I was given a Baja filter with an extra water trap (3 filter inserts) 30 years ago but it was such a PIA while cruising - Always a mess to clean, pull all the filters out, dump the left over fuel in the filter, store it, etc that when I saw the plastic filter with the water trap screen I grabbed one. That was about 11 years ago. Since then about once a year I would test it by pouring a glass of water into it. It always worked as advertised. This time 11 years later my test with water failed.

My post was just to remind folks that use one of these type of filters to do an a test every once in awhile.

The ease of the plastic filter - easier to store, easier to pour off the remaining fuel by pinching the plastic to make a spout. It takes up less room, easier to clean makes sense to me. Since none are available here guess it will have to wait for a visit back to the states or friends coming down. Yep I got it I will copy the directions off the side of the filter - and NOT wipe the membrane down.

Safe sailing folks!

Chuck
Jacaranda
Tahiti

[Simi 60]

Sure as hell not pre filtering my fuel as we carry 7000 litres.
More than happy to let the 2x1000fg do their job plus check the trap in the tank low spot every 6 months.

[fallingeggs]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I got a Mr Filter just a couple of months ago and found that seawater goes right through it (I've never wiped off the screen etc). Far as I'm concerned it good for being a filter that has a screen to catch dirt. But for getting water out I feel it is a bust!

My newly arrived (and brand new) Mr Filter filters out fresh water just fine. But yea, I'll be testing it every so often to make sure it continues to do so

[sailorboy1]

My outboard died halfway to shore the other day with the wind blowing 20+ and that sucked. Turned out to be water in the gas and (quite a lot) I could see the separation in the container I drained the tank into. So I figured it would be a good time to recheck my Mr. Funnel to see if it really worked. So I shook up the gas/water mixture and poured it through the funnel into another container. Near as I can tell it worked as I see no water/gas separation in the in the second container. I have no idea why it works now but didn't earlier.

That made me remember this thread and I thought it worth a new post on it.

[a64pilot]

Emulsified water and fuel won’t filter. However the emulsification can and will separate and then you have liquid water of course.
Set your second container aside and see when the temp drops tonight if it doesn’t separate out, maybe it won’t.

This is why the FAA is so stringent about not using car gas with alcohol in it. There are STC’s for autogas for some airplanes, but Ethanol fuel is verboten, you can climb to altitude, fuel cools off, water separates, engine failure.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Emulsified water and fuel won’t filter. However the emulsification can and will separate and then you have liquid water of course.
Set your second container aside and see when the temp drops tonight if it doesn’t separate out, maybe it won’t.

This is why the FAA is so stringent about not using car gas with alcohol in it. There are STC’s for autogas for some airplanes, but Ethanol fuel is verboten, you can climb to altitude, fuel cools off, water separates, engine failure.

Most likely the vent was left open and rainwater splashed in the tank. Just 0.5% water will separate 10% of the fuel.

Sailorboy: Was the stuff the "went right through it" separated e10? I've never experimented with filtering phase separated e10, but remember that the split phase is not water, it is 90-95% ethanol, and that is a big difference in surface tension and specific gravity. A different game than diesel or conventional gas. I can see how it would be inconsistent. This is not what they are for. BTW, after the ethanol separates, what remains is very low octane, which is OK for small kickers.

Re. airplanes and people in cold climates, yes, temperatures matters quite a lot. Gas needs to be kept very dry in the winter.

[boom23]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

My outboard died halfway to shore the other day with the wind blowing 20+ and that sucked. Turned out to be water in the gas and (quite a lot) I could see the separation in the container I drained the tank into.

It might be worth to have a water separating fuel filter (like Racor 025-Rac-02) for the dinghy.

Spec sheet: https://www.parker.com/literature/Ra..._-_RSL0163.pdf

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Set your second container aside and see when the temp drops tonight if it doesn’t separate out, maybe it won’t.

it's been sitting for 2 days already and I shook the crap out of the first container before pouring it in the filter

this is the second time I've had a water in gas problem on the outboard and maybe I've learned my lesson this time because when it is a problem I have problems getting out of the basement

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Sailorboy: Was the stuff the "went right through it" separated e10? I've never experimented with filtering phase separated e10, but remember that the split phase is not water, it is 90-95% ethanol, and that is a big difference in surface tension and specific gravity. [/IMG]

Actually I think the gas was high test marine ethanol free that I got at the fuel dock a few weeks ago

[a64pilot]

My generator came with the small spin on Racor, it seems to clog frequently and the filters cost more than a 500, so I bought a 500 for the generator and put the small Racor on the outboard. I’m a little paranoid cause my motor is fuel injected and I assume may be harder to clean dirt out of it than a carburetor.
I think it’s worth doing

[chouliha]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

My outboard died halfway to shore the other day with the wind blowing 20+ and that sucked. Turned out to be water in the gas and (quite a lot) I could see the separation in the container I drained the tank into. So I figured it would be a good time to recheck my Mr. Funnel to see if it really worked. So I shook up the gas/water mixture and poured it through the funnel into another container. Near as I can tell it worked as I see no water/gas separation in the in the second container. I have no idea why it works now but didn't earlier.

That made me remember this thread and I thought it worth a new post on it.

We always filter all the gas going into the remote tank.

One of the things we have done for the past 20 years is to use a empty tuna fish can upside down placed over the fill/vent on the remote gas tank.

With intense tropical rain we have seen the rain bounce back up at least 6”. Always thought that it might get in the vent opening.

Crazy ? Maybe but it’s a cheap trick

When we had some excess West system mixed up we coated both sides of the can to keep it from rusting

Safe travels

Chuck
Jacaranda

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by chouliha

We always filter all the gas going into the remote tank.

One of the things we have done for the past 20 years is to use a empty tuna fish can upside down placed over the fill/vent on the remote gas tank.

With intense tropical rain we have seen the rain bounce back up at least 6”. Always thought that it might get in the vent opening.

Crazy ? Maybe but it’s a cheap trick

When we had some excess West system mixed up we coated both sides of the can to keep it from rusting

Safe travels

Chuck
Jacaranda

Actually, I think it's brilliant. You noticed something many people miss. I've had a tank separate after a single hard rain when I left the vent open. I've always assumed a few drops would sneak in underway in a wet dingy or in the rain. The vent designs are pretty vulnerable. I've always covered portable tanks, one way of the other, but integral tanks remained a puzzle. Maybe it is that simple.