Does Ethanol remove water from the separator?

[Chris1956]

I know that ethanol in gasoline will absorb water. Suppose you have some water in the water seperator, and you run several tanks of water-free E-10 in the boat. Will the gasoline + alcohol actually lessen the water trapped in the separator? It sure seems like it should.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Does Ethanol remove water from the separator?

I hope not because that means your separator isn't separating. Fuel and separated water are not mixed in a separator.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Does Ethanol remove water from the separator?

That would make that unit a fuel/water "combiner" and therefore a useless accessory since water and E-10 will combine without any help.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Does Ethanol remove water from the separator?

Yes it will, a water separator will only filter free floating water from the fuel, any water mixed into the ethanol fuel will pass right through, this includes any water already in the filter.

The filter allows water to settle out of the fuel, but the water is still in contact with the fuel, so as the ethanol fuel passes by it will pick up water even from the filter.

This is why in a good fuel system when using E-10 you will rarely find water in the filter.