Racor filter bowl leaks

[dmksails]

I've replaced my R20P filter, using the new o-rings that came with the filter for both the filter top and the bowl. Carefully lubed both o-rings before screwing it together hand tight as hard as I could by bare hand.

I was priming it and suddenly fuel starts spurting out from around the top of the bowl. I tighten the bowl on by hand, but I'm going to need a wrench to remove it.

What did I do wrong?

BTW - I've done many oil filters over the years the same way with never a leak.

[JC Reefer]

I don’t typically hand tighten something to the degree that you described, “as hard as I could”

You can over tighten these. Hopefully though, it’s just a bad ORing.

[Boatwright]

Don't know about your specific filter, but our Volvo Penta setup has two slightly different dia o-rings, one for the bowl, one for the filter.

Mix them up and it leaks. Also very easy for the o-ring to get out of the groove and fail to seal properly.

[Nord Sal]

You overtightened it.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Boatwright

Don't know about your specific filter, but our Volvo Penta setup has two slightly different dia o-rings, one for the bowl, one for the filter.
Mix them up and it leaks. Also very easy for the o-ring to get out of the groove and fail to seal properly.

The upper Head seal is a Beveled Gasket, whilst the lower Bowl seal is a Round O-Ring.
Hard to mix them up.
Easier, though, to improperly seat the seals, or over-tighten.

[Stu Jackson]

And sometime I once thought I'd removed the old one but hadn't, or was it that I forgot to put one on?