In-Line fuel filter under cowling needed with a seperator? Why is there air in there.

stewfish1818

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 14, 2010
Messages
42
Why not put the in-line filter above the separator to collect large particle to save my brand new $87 Acor filter a little more life?

After the primer bulb in the engine would collect line/hose breakdown but I changed to all new line for ethanol so I should be good. Plus it's a major pain to change.

My plan:
My fuel line comes out at the top of my transom / engine well about 9" to a foot above the fuel pump. I think put the in-line filter here so I can also see with a clear one what's going on and change in like 5 minutes. It then goes down a few inches to the Acor fuel separator/ filter with clear purge chamber at the bottom. Then to the bulb and then to the engine. I took out the engine filter. The In-line fuel filter is staying empty no mater where I put the filter within that 12" drop and whether it is facing up or down. I had only read once somewhere that is normal but why is it not priming even when under the fuel separator input?

Do I just need to take it out and drive it fast?
 

DargelJohn

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 14, 2010
Messages
337
Re: In-Line fuel filter under cowling needed with a seperator? Why is there air in th

The basic setup is: Fuel Tank>>>Fuel Filter>>>Primer Bulb>>>Engine. Taking out the engine filter is fine. So you want to put in a clear, inline filter upsteam of the Acor system? You should have a screen, on the tank pickup, for large stuff. Also keep in mind that every break/connection in your fuel line is a potential leak.

If not already, use a fuel stabilizer like Stabil or Pri-G. Good Luck
 

stewfish1818

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 14, 2010
Messages
42
Re: In-Line fuel filter under cowling needed with a seperator? Why is there air in th

You got it correct.

I'm not sure about a pickup filter I'll look. I saw some stuff in my old separator so I didn't want to waste money on clogging my new Acor quickly.

Update 1 hr later:
I started with the fuel sender and got it off and 1/3rd of the rubber float end was deteriorated away. Found one of my culprits. I guess it's the original from 1990. Now I need to get a new one. I imagine the screen needs to be cleaned as well unless the particles fell off from the trailer drive home.
 

stewfish1818

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 14, 2010
Messages
42
Re: In-Line fuel filter under cowling needed with a seperator? Why is there air in th

I took the boat out for a 45 minute drive with a friend and the small filter above the racor seperated out as much black stuff as about a couple dashes of pepper and it settled to the bottom of the filter so I took off the input side and drained it when we got home. Same thing after a scalloping trip this weekend. I hope to get the tank down to empty and clean it out. The small filter prior to the Racor is working good so far.
 
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