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Old 13-01-2025, 16:03   #1
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Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

I have a low mounted CAV fuel filter in my boat that annoys the heck out of me. It requires a moderate degree of boat yoga to get to, and it just about requires a degree in engineering to disassemble and reassemble when changing the filter if air leaks are to be avoided. Relocating it would possibly help but I think I would still regard it with some disdain.



Can anyone recommend an alternative filter that still has a drainable water trap but is a cinch to swap the filters in? Preferably one where the filter can be changed from the top and not the bottom, if such a beast exists.
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Old 13-01-2025, 17:21   #2
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

You don’t want top load, you can’t prefill it with fuel…. Racor, the only way to fly….

Bottom clear bowl with drain so you can see contaminates. Even has a manual priming pump.

Remote mount into an accessible location…

https://www.racorstore.com/racor-215...-assembly.html
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Old 13-01-2025, 18:16   #3
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

Thanks! I see now that the solution to my problem is to use a screw on filter system. Adding a genuine Racor at the prices they're asking around my way would well over-capitalise my poor old boat. However a heap of cheap spin-on knockoffs are available online. I do already have a primer and 2 micron filter upstream so I reckon these could work?
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Old 13-01-2025, 19:19   #4
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

Racor 500 ticks all the boxes.
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Old 13-01-2025, 20:53   #5
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

Racor 500
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Old 14-01-2025, 01:48   #6
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

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Originally Posted by Reefmagnet View Post
......However a heap of cheap spin-on knockoffs are available online. I do already have a primer and 2 micron filter upstream so I reckon these could work?
I knocked up my own filter from parts off eBay etc.

The Chinese SS filter head was cheap as chips https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12665473...M3EFDSPW3Z01TZ

The water bowl was something like $50

There are hundreds and hundreds of filters available.

I THINK the filters were ~100mm diameter, there are many versions of heads and bowls available for ~75mm filters
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Old 14-01-2025, 05:39   #7
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

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Originally Posted by Reefmagnet View Post
However a heap of cheap spin-on knockoffs are available online. I do already have a primer and 2 micron filter upstream so I reckon these could work?

If you have 2um up stream why have another filter down stream?


my boat had a racor like I posted on the genset when I bought it, and a CAV type primary for the engine with a secondary two piece canister on the engine The racor was installed not long after taking delivery. 20+ years of service was enough of an endorsement for me to replace in kind and add one for the main engine when I ditched the CAV.

I have 10 um and 2um racors now..

There are plenty of ways to save money on a boat. IMO fuel delivery isn't one of the places where I want to get too stingy.
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Old 14-01-2025, 12:29   #8
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

ABYC standards (and most insurers) require metal bowl or a metal "flame-shield" below the bowl, also metal drain valve that cannot open under heat. ONLY Racor's marine "blue-label" 500 have these features (or you can cobble together the necessaries from parts - Racor sells those "flame-shields" as separate part). The "red-label" 500's are for trucks, which don't have enclosed spaces where flames could come up from below... see this article from Passagemaker magazine: https://www.passagemaker.com/channel...y-fuel-filters

In my years as SAMS marine surveyor, this was often a deficiency requiring "recommendation".
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Old 14-01-2025, 12:34   #9
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

... and those Racor spin-ons, as well as from other mfgrs (sierra, etc), ARE available with metal bowls, not plastic bowls as seen in pic in post above - may have to "fuss" to find a metal drain-valve, though. Racor's own (rather expensive) metal valve is doubly fire-safe, as its exit is a 1/4" npt female thread, with a metal threaded PLUG - never would "open" under heat, and really it's not so much inconvenience to remove said plug when you occasionally need to drain...
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Old 14-01-2025, 14:46   #10
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

Thanks for the advice. All duly noted.


For non commercial vessels around here, glass bowls are frowned upon a bit but that's about it for the most part. Reason for two filters is the marine engine OEM installed filter is for the benefit of the pump and injectors. The additional filter is deployed to catch gunk, sediment and water before it reaches the finer meshed and lower capacity OEM filter. And when you have a near 50 yo bilge mounted fuel tank with no access port for cleaning, you definitely need that extra filter!
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Old 14-01-2025, 16:21   #11
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reefmagnet View Post
........
Can anyone recommend an alternative filter that still has a drainable water trap but is a cinch to swap the filters in? Preferably one where the filter can be changed from the top and not the bottom, if such a beast exists.
There are dozens of spin on filters that incorporate a drainable water trap without having a seperate clear water bowl.
If you can live without having a see-through water bowl, then the possibilities are endless.

Here is a filter "head" knocked up from some scrap materials (75mm SS flat bar and a couple SS nuts and bolts machined into inlet/outlet posts).
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Old 15-01-2025, 11:29   #12
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne Gilham View Post
ABYC standards (and most insurers) require metal bowl or a metal "flame-shield" below the bowl, also metal drain valve that cannot open under heat. ONLY Racor's marine "blue-label" 500 have these features (or you can cobble together the necessaries from parts - Racor sells those "flame-shields" as separate part). The "red-label" 500's are for trucks, which don't have enclosed spaces where flames could come up from below... see this article from Passagemaker magazine: https://www.passagemaker.com/channel...y-fuel-filters

In my years as SAMS marine surveyor, this was often a deficiency requiring "recommendation".
33 CFR § 183.501 - Applicability.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-3...ection-183.501

33 CFR, Section 183.590, Fire Test.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-3...ection-183.590
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Old 16-01-2025, 05:24   #13
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Re: Alternatives to a CAV fuel filter that doesn't suck (air)?

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Originally Posted by Reefmagnet View Post
sediment and water before it reaches the finer meshed and lower capacity OEM filter. And when you have a near 50 yo bilge mounted fuel tank with no access port for cleaning, you definitely need that extra filter!
So your engine(oem) filters less than 2um?
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