Gasoline fuel/water separator?

[Paul_NY]

Which, if any, is the most appropriate gasoline/water separator make/model for use with the Atomic 4? And, if there is one, where in the line is the best place to mount it?

I do not have an electric fuel pump on my motor. Do I need one if I install a gas/water separator?

Paul

[dtinder]

Many of us use racors----which are top quality. If price is an issue---consider your local auto parts store that sells Wix filters. They make a spin-on that meets the micron size for gasoline----and also sorts out the water. Considerably cheaper than the fancy racors----Ive installed several of them on various boats---they are fine. Yet, I keep buying those expensive racor replacements---when I can find them---for my C/C 27.

Dave---Sunny & Warm Ft Myers

[Don Moyer]

Paul,

We recommend the Racor fuel filter/water separator pictured in our online catalog. The filter should be located between the fuel tank and the fuel pump.

Best regards,

Don Moyer

[Wade Rogers]

Don and forum,
I'm replacing an old Racor fuel/water separator and am looking at a less expensive model that doesn't have the bowl on the bottom. The old Racor has seen its day.
Any recommendations about using/not using the Racor with the bottom collection bowl? Also, is it really necessary to use a fuel/water separator since most modern automotive engines don't use them, even for fuel injection (that I'm aware)?
Wade

[hanleyclifford]

I use a Sierra filter housing with spin on cartridges - no bowl beneath. The only downside is that you need to spin it off regularly to check for water especially if your use of the engine is light. In the age of ethanol I would not be without a separator. The marine environment is much more conducive to the ethanol problem than the automotive.

[hanleyclifford]

Just a side note on the effects of ethanol. Today I had to diagnose and correct a fuel problem in one of my Gravelys. The float bowl on the carb was filling up with fine black powder which I determined to be from the gasoline tank fuel line. It then occurred to me that the fuel line predated the age of ethanol. The line was replaced with new. The lesson is clear - all old or questionable fuel lines should be replaced as a matter of policy.

[Antibes]

I have added a Racor fuel filter/water separator this year after having stalling issues. The fuel level was low and thinking the problem was fixed I added 15 gallons to top off the 20 gal. tank. Afterwards, I am still having stalling issues and traced the source to water in the fuel. I removed about a pint of water/ separated fuel, emptied the filter of water. It started fine. I added isopropyl heet and ran for about an hour and stalled again.

Do I need to remove all the fuel? or would removing 10 gallons from the bottom of the tank take care of the issue? I am on a mooring and this is a pita.

[Dave Neptune]

Antibes, yes if you can get to the BOTTOM of the tank all you will need to remove is a bit more than your pick-up tube in the tank can get to.
Once you get to good fuel you should be fine.

Dave Neptune

[Administrator]

I think it was Shawn who said:

"One gallon of bad fuel + five gallons of good fuel = six gallons of bad fuel

Bill

[ndutton]

Some time ago I was on a dive trip down our coast to La Bufadora at the southern end of Ensenada. We were diving out of inflatables and during the trip one of them was swamped with the outboard tank vent open, contaminating the fuel.

In an act of generosity, the owner of the boat decided to give the fuel to one of the locals. I asked what for? He said for his campfires. I asked for starting them or putting them out?

True story

[sastanley]

Bill, in all fairness, I stole that from someone else..but not on this forum, so I guess I can take credit.

Antibes..if you can do so, I'd burn all of the fuel out of the tank that you can, and then see where you are. Double up on the Sta-Bil ethanol treatment too. i don't know if there is scientific evidence that it will help, but my motor started fine after just a few gallons in the tank over the winter with Sta-Bil in it.

[JonnyQuest]

Originally Posted by sastanley

Bill, in all fairness, I stole that from someone else..but not on this forum, so I guess I can take credit.

Antibes..if you can do so, I'd burn all of the fuel out of the tank that you can, and then see where you are. Double up on the Sta-Bil ethanol treatment too. i don't know if there is scientific evidence that it will help, but my motor started fine after just a few gallons in the tank over the winter with Sta-Bil in it.

I see that Sta-Bil makes a Marine Formula version as well, website states:

Marine Formula STA-BIL

America's #1 Selling Marine Fuel Additive Brand!
BEST Ethanol Blended Fuel Enhancer!
More than FOUR TIMES the Fuel System Cleaner than in Regular STA-BIL
DOUBLE the corrosion preventer than in Regular STA-BIL
Prevents corrosion from moisture & water attraction
Improves marine engine performance YEAR-ROUND, not just for seasonal storage.

I take it that Sta-Bil "removes" water by running it through your engine and burning it off, correct? I assume that whether you have a lot or a small amount of water in your tank it will only mobilize a specific concentration of water so that your ignition won't suffer due to the water. If so, I'm guessing it could take a couple of treated tanks if you have a bunch of water in your tank.

Anyone else want to add input on how Sta-Bil removes water from the fuel?

[tenders]

I think of StaBil as a varnish preventer which somehow helps gas retain its volatility over the winter.

Heet is a water absorber. Once the water combines with the isopropyl alcohol it's mixed with the gas and burned off in the engine rather than batches of water lingering in the fuel system promoting rust or getting sucked into the carb, where it obviously won't do any good.

What has never been clear to me is whether ethanol alcohol absorbs water in the same generally helpful way that isopropyl alcohol does.

[jpian0923]

Neil, I can't stop laughing at your last comment.

[Laker]

On this beautiful Sunday morning I choose to not go on an anti-ethanol rant. I've done it enough that you all probably have it memorized anyway.

I will just say this : I am very pleased to have a non-ethanol gas source nearby. In a few days I will be fueling my GM 305 powerboat engine for an inland lake vacation ; 30 gallons of the "good stuff".

Corn belongs on a cob.

[JonnyQuest]

I just found a station a mile away that has good ole fashioned no-eth gas too!

[Antibes]

Thank you all for your input. Wound up using a electric fuel pump and pumping every drop I could reach to clean out the tank. Now she runs beautiful thanks to catching up on the other maintenance I thought might be causing the problem.

For those who have not done it rebuilding the carb is not as scary as sounds. Organization and patience.

Thanks for everyones help