Why gas fuel / water seperator on diesel line ?

[Boulter]

Hi:

Today's crawling around the boat found the following: a Racor 320R-RAC-02 with filter element S3228UL in my diesel fuel line. It says right on the body "gasoline fuel/water separator". I could not find anywhere on the web the word diesel associated with this filter.

One possibility is that this is entirely useless and the PO was an idiot. It might be even worse than useless in some way.

Another possibility is that it is a well known fact (though not to me) that a gasoline separator also works with diesel, so well known, it doesn't even warrant mentioning on the spec sheet.

Which (if either) statement above is true? Or otherwise enlighten me!

Cheers,

Boulter

[zeehag]

i found much of these same things in my ericson when i bought her--po had owned a car repair shop and saved hisself some money by adding wrong stuff--is one reason why i bought a 600 hour overhaul on her when i first acquired her.
you may wish to place diesel/water separators in your racor unit....
enjoy and have fun--smooth sailing!

[David M]

Call Racor's technical help number.

Toll-free number
U.S., Canada, Mexico
1-800-272-7537

[Cheechako]

Is that the aluminum mount that holds a spin on filter with the plastic bowl on the bottom? Some of those have diesel spin on's available....although hard to find..... I think they are tan instead of white...?) I dont imagine there much difference in the filter paper right?... just microns make a difference. (anyone know if this is true?), although the water separator function make not work....

[phorvati]

They probably re-powered from a gasoline engine. I had Ericson and and now I have C&C, both of which had an Atomic 4 gasoline engine. I re-powered with diesel last winter, and I was considering keeping that same fuel filter. I didnt find a diesel element for the 320R-RAC-02 unit. So i ended up getting a new filter/water separator for diesel use. It has a prime lever on it and clear bowl for inspection.

[rtbates]

Isn't the separation process based on the fact that water is heavier than gas and/or diesel? Why would it matter? Wouldn't either gas or diesel be on the top?

[Boulter]

Originally Posted by David M

Call Racor's technical help number.

Toll-free number
U.S., Canada, Mexico
1-800-272-7537

I took this advice and called. I was eventually given a different phone number, and passed through, 1-800-344-3286.

The filter will work with diesel, except since diesel is thicker, it won't pass 60 GPH. Not an issue on my little 12 HP putter which on a good day won't need more than 1/2 GPH or so.

So I just need to move it, as it should be between the tank and the pump, not the engine and the pump.

Thanks to all for the responses.

Cheers,

Boulter

[phorvati]

Sweet, I am glad I didn't throw mine away. It can be a good backup.

[8000hrs]

Perhaps you should check first the diagram first whether a filter must exist in that line, and he uses that as an alternative, since their density is almost not apart gasoline/diesel, unlike bunker fuel. Even diesel fuel lines needed to be free from water , air, and other impurities.

edited:
sorry that i overlook the post, that you are already satisfied on the responses.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Boulter

I took this advice and called. I was eventually given a different phone number, and passed through, 1-800-344-3286.

The filter will work with diesel, except since diesel is thicker, it won't pass 60 GPH. Not an issue on my little 12 HP putter which on a good day won't need more than 1/2 GPH or so.

So I just need to move it, as it should be between the tank and the pump, not the engine and the pump.

Thanks to all for the responses.

Cheers,

Boulter

Great, glad someone finally nailed this down. I've wondered aloud over the years what the diff in filter elements could possibly be (other than microns). Most all the filters are rated for flow way beyond what us sailors need. For my money if outfitting a new boat, I'd probably go with two of the spin on types with the clear bowl in the bottom... 5 minute service job.