Adding After Market Fuel/Water Separator

[stevedar]

I have a Mercruiser 3.0LX engine and an Alpha One Gen II sterndrive and I would like to add an after market fuel/water separator similar to this one:

http://www.sterndrive.info/sterndriveparts/id1.html

We are trying to decide whether to install it in the back of the boat, near where you add oils and other fluids, but quite aways further back and above the fuel pump. Or would it be better to mount it to the side of the engine housing at a point lower than the fuel pump? There's already a half inch thick piece of wood alongside the edge of the engine housing that has hose clips attached to it already. Easier to maintain it from the rear storage compartment but not so bad in the engine housing either.

Kind of a related question would be on a 1997 Maxum is it possible that a couple of inched of floorboard would come up so that I can get to the hose fitting for the gas tank. If we decide to run it clear to the back it would be nice if I could easily replace that 3/8" piece of tubing that carries the fuel to the fuel pump.

TIA for any advice you can offer...

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Adding After Market Fuel/Water Separator

Don't think elevation has any effect on the location of the separator in relation to the pump.

It should however be installed inline between the tank and fuel pump (on the suction side of the fuel pump), not between the pump and engine.

Try pick a spot thats relatively easy to get to. There's a chance you might have to get to it while out on the water.

 

[stevedar]

Re: Adding After Market Fuel/Water Separator

Thanks, it's kind of a small argument between my son and I - he wants to put it in back, but that means replacing the hose to the tank which is hard to get at. I want to just hook it to the existing hose coming out of the tank, then run a very short hose over to the pump. I worry a little bit too about having the pump work too hard by pulling the fuel all the way to the back of the boat, then forward again to the pump. Overall though it seems like a worthwhile project since the boat isn't equipped with one now and most other boats are....

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Adding After Market Fuel/Water Separator

Thanks, it's kind of a small argument between my son and I - he wants to put it in back, but that means replacing the hose to the tank which is hard to get at. I want to just hook it to the existing hose coming out of the tank, then run a very short hose over to the pump. I worry a little bit too about having the pump work too hard by pulling the fuel all the way to the back of the boat, then forward again to the pump. Overall though it seems like a worthwhile project since the boat isn't equipped with one now and most other boats are....

Yours is the correct answer.....