Atwood Water Separator - Watch out

sdoomaha

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Oct 6, 2008
Messages
94
1994 Caravelle w/ 4.3 alpha one gen 2.

Got out of storage today, charged batteries, hooked up the muffs, fired right up, ran and idled great. Warmed it up, changed the oil and filter. Started up again to make sure I had no oil leaks, runs and idles great. Pull the Mercruiser water separator, nice clean gas until it gets to the bottom, had some sediment so doing it's job. Install a "Boating Essentials" separator made by Atwood...fires right up, then misses a bit (figured was air in the fuel line) and continues to miss. 1,000 RPM and up is fine, less than that misses, and will no longer idle at all. run it for a few minutes, still will not idle. Guess it's to the Mercruiser dealer Monday for another new separator..hoping that will cure it. Hoping no part of the filer element borke loose and got to the carb.

Sure glad I started it and had it running before changing it. I coud see trying to hunt down the inability to idle and never thinking it could be the separator since it was brand new.

Good boating all.

Steve O.
 

84Monaco

Seaman
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
73
Re: Atwood Water Separator - Watch out

This sounds a bit like what happened to me, but without the water separator. Let us know if going back to the Quicksilver filter did the trick...but I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't.

See this thread:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=303197

See Bond-o's post - #4. Sounds like it could be the same thing.
 

sdoomaha

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Oct 6, 2008
Messages
94
Re: Atwood Water Separator - Watch out - RESULTS

Re: Atwood Water Separator - Watch out - RESULTS

84 Monaco..prepare to be surprised!

Picked up a Mercruiser filter this afternoon, primed it and replaced the new Atwood I installed this weekend. Boat started, running rough as before, and after running about 30 seconds, the RPMs picked up and it started running very smooth once again. Reduced the throttle back to idle...and she ran as smooth as ever...idled perfectly. Let it run for about 10 minutes to get it up to temp and it continued to run perfectly. I'm 100% convinced it was the filter.

Not sure why....doesnt seem like with an electric fuel pump the filter would have provided a reduced flow at idle, all I can do is provide the facts and just be happy that it was an easy fix.

Steve O.
 
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