learn from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVCtt1zpXFE
Fuel Filter vs Fuel Water Separator | Difference Between a Fuel Filter and Fuel Water Separator
Hello, as you know, fuel and water? Well they just don’t really mix well. So keeping them separated and keeping the fuel clean while you’re out on the water is really important. Now to do that, your boat probably has two separate systems:
a fuel water separator and a fuel filter.
Now you need to know the difference between
these two when you place your order, so if you’re ready to learn more, let’s go.
Okay, so you’ve got a fuel filter and a fuel water separator set up on your particular
boat. Now let’s start with the first stop on the fuel’s journey up to the motor,
and that is the fuel water separator. Now how does this work? Well the fuel pump draws fuel through
the fuel line into the fuel water separator, and inside you’re going to have two separate chambers.
Now the first chamber works like a cerntrifuge, especially on your larger diesel boats like a
sport fishing boat– that pull from the fuel pump and that causes the fuel to spin around and the
water gets slung to the outside chamber because it’s denser. Now that’s typically what you’re
going to find on your larger sport fishing boats: they’re going to have a diesel system where it has
a send and return line, and it has enough flow to create that vortex within the system. Now on your
gas powered boats, it’s going to be a little bit different setup, so you need to make sure that
you choose the correct fuel water separator. On a gasoline boat, the system is usually a little bit
slow as far as its amount of fuel that’s passing through the filter. So it really can’t generate
that centrifugal force. So the way they separate it is to actually have an area to where the water
can drop out, because that it is denser than the fuel so that allows it to collect at the bottom,
and then lets the fuel head onto the engine or the secondary fuel filter. Now when you
look at a filter like this, well, it looks like just a standard oil filter,
but honestly on the inside? What you’re going to find is the filter part would go down to about
here, and that the very bottom, well that’s completely open and that allows a space for
the water to drop out. Now on this unit from Racor, you can easily see the filter section,
and then you can also see a clear bowl on the bottom and that is meant to collect the
water. Now this is not the type of setup that you’d want to use on an inboard application,
as the catch pan down at the bottom needs to be metal and see-through like this which is okay to
use on an outboard application. Now once it enters into this type of fuel water separator, as I said
the water’s going to drop out at the bottom either by gravity or by centrifugal force. From there it
keeps heading on toward the engine where it’s going to find a secondary fuel filter, usually
inside of the VST tank on an outboard application. Or on an inboard application you’ll probably find
one of these which also is a secondary fuel filter, as well as a water separator. So you’ve
got two lines of defense, and that is not a bad thing at all. On a smaller outboard application,
you’re probably only going to see a filter like this because typically your tank is going to be
removable, and that lessens the likelihood that you’re going to have condensation built up on the
inside of it. But don’t be fooled: if you’ve got a six gallon tank and you only have it half full,
it’s going to let in condensation from that vent on the side of it if you don’t have it closed off.
And you’d be amazed how much water can accumulate down to the bottom of that. So just be aware of
it. And it’s actually pretty easy to see. All you would need to do is just open up your tank
and take a look down on the bottom. You’ll actually be able to see the water down to at
the bottom of the tank if there is any present. Now finding the right fuel filter or fuel water
separator that’s attached to the engine? That’s pretty straightforward. You go to your make and
the model engine, go to your fuel system to get your fuel filter part number. But the fuel water
separator? That’s a little bit different because it’s technically not part of the engine. Now what
should you look for in a fuel water separator? The most important thing to consider is the flow rate
of the fuel pump. If the flow rate on the fuel water separator is lower than the fuel rate on
the pump, well then the fuel water separator will end up inhibiting the fuel flow and your engine’s
performance. Now there’s an argument out there that you don’t even need a fuel water separator
if you have removable fuel tanks from your boat. The thinking on that is most of the condensation
and the fuel happens when the boat isn’t running. So if you’re removing the tanks and storing them?
Well they should be safe. Well, surprise, surprise: some fuel has water in it straight
out of the pump at the gas station. So you may still want to consider a fuel water separator
in place. And even if you’re super vigilant you can still get water through a breather vent or a
fill cap. In the end, you can get a basic fuel water separator for about 20 bucks,
so it may be worth it. Well listen, if you need a fuel water separator or fuel filter for your boat,
why don’t you come see us at boats.net and we can get you taken care of. Now
if you have any questions or comments, leave them in the section below and .warmly welcome to go through our website to find fuel filter and fuel water separator for your boat
or you can also place order through our alibaba shop sonexautoparts.en,alibaba.com
