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13-11-2015, 06:31
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fort Pierce, FL
Boat: Hunter, Legend, 35.5
Posts: 15
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Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
Hello. First time poster and long time reader. After water contamination problem on ICW we're back in the slip. We've been running the Yanmar 3gm30f daily to ensure water out of system.
Now it has come up that we are adding 1-2 oz of fuel to the Racor after every 30' engine run to bring the fuel level in the filer housing up to the top of the plastic top of the filter. (About 1/8th inch below rim of Racor housing)
Some are saying this can be normal and some are saying not! Any input appreciated.
Original reason for all the engine test runs was to remove water and air from the fuel line we replaced. Most if not all replaced clamps on the fuel line has been checked and tightened ... Again. The fuel tank pressure relief value has been checked and is free and clear to make sure there was't a vaccum.
Thanks.
Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum
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13-11-2015, 06:47
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Tampa Bay area, USA
Boat: Beneteau First 42
Posts: 3,961
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laser fun
Hello. First time poster and long time reader. After water contamination problem on ICW we're back in the slip. We've been running the Yanmar 3gm30f daily to ensure water out of system.
Now it has come up that we are adding 1-2 oz of fuel to the Racor after every 30' engine run to bring the fuel level in the filer housing up to the top of the plastic top of the filter. (About 1/8th inch below rim of Racor housing)
Some are saying this can be normal and some are saying not! Any input appreciated.
Original reason for all the engine test runs was to remove water and air from the fuel line we replaced. Most if not all replaced clamps on the fuel line has been checked and tightened ... Again. The fuel tank pressure relief value has been checked and is free and clear to make sure there was't a vaccum.
Thanks.
Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum
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There should not be any "air" in the FG500 Filter Housing in normal operation. Assuming the O-Ring at the top of the filter canister is properly seated, loosen the locking screw on the top of the filter assembly and manually pump your lift pump until fuel flows out, around the screw, and then lock it down. If air appears again, you have a leak in either the fuel line seals to the filter, at the lift pump; or, at the O-Ring.
__________________
"It is not so much for its beauty that the Sea makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from the waves, that so wonderfully renews a weary spirit."
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13-11-2015, 07:41
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Boat: Research vessel for a university, retired now.
Posts: 10,406
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
Put a little pressure in the system and look for diesel bleeding out.
__________________
David
Life begins where land ends.
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13-11-2015, 07:56
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Santa Cruz
Boat: SAnta Cruz 27
Posts: 6,683
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
I've been on boats where the level in the Racor was down on the order of an inch from the top when I went to replace the filter. If the engine is running good I'd not worry about it.
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13-11-2015, 08:34
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Los Angeles Harbor
Posts: 223
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
Mine always ran an inch or so from the top, never had a problem. If there was an air leak, it didn't cause any issues. I changed filters every 100 hours.
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13-11-2015, 08:56
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,453
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
Quote:
Originally Posted by svHyLyte
There should not be any "air" in the FG500 Filter Housing in normal operation. Assuming the O-Ring at the top of the filter canister is properly seated, loosen the locking screw on the top of the filter assembly and manually pump your lift pump until fuel flows out, around the screw, and then lock it down. If air appears again, you have a leak in either the fuel line seals to the filter, at the lift pump; or, at the O-Ring.
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With the screw out you have no vacuum to draw fuel into the filter......right? To fill it up you would need a pump prior to the Fuel filter. Most are installed before the lift pump that I have seen.
I always fill the filter to the top manually prior to closing . But as mentioned, I have seen them below the top many times and running fine.
My question for the OP is: did you find the problem that got water in your system?
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard
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13-11-2015, 09:16
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 18
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
The air in the top of the filter is from somewhere "upstream" in the fuel system. The design of the filter housing has the input and output low enough that it doesn't get air to the injection pump in normal operation. However, the source of air should be located as it could get worse and cause a problem. Simply put, you don't want air in a diesel fuel system. Among other problems, this makes the lift pump work harder. Replace the small o-ring on the T-handle as well as the bigger one on the lid. Get a vacuum gauge (Mity-Vac or equivalent) and test each section of the lines upstream until you find where it is getting air in. I once found a crack in a fitting that caused a truck to stop. A $2 part left a fellow on the side of the road. Don't wait until it gets worse when you are in a dangerous situation.
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13-11-2015, 09:40
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,105
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
There is an air leak in your system. Find it, yourself, or hire a pro.
If there is a fuel shutoff valve right at the tank, close that and pressurize the line to the filter by connecting a reservoir to its other end, held higher than the shutoff valve. For every 2' of height, you will get ~ 1 psi. Temporarily extend the hose, if necessary. Be certain the hose is full of fuel. Raising it a few feet should be sufficient to cause fuel to wet the leak.
Or you can empty the hose, blow in the filter end, and see if bubbles form at soaped connections. Check also for damage to hose. Replace old/damaged hoses with one continuous run from tank to filter.
Never heard of a fuel tank pressure relief valve. It should at all times be vented to atmosphere using 5/8" fuel hose.
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
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13-11-2015, 09:56
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#9
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Boat: Retired Delivery Capt
Posts: 3,683
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
+1 on air leak. Assuming you cannot see an obvious leak---
I have always had good luck "papering" the engine. To do this, bleed the system and get it running. Immediately turn it off and place paper towels under the fuel line and filters. Check back the next day. The towel under the leak will have a small stain.
Sent from my iPhone- please forgive autocorrect errors.
__________________
"Whenever...it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off- then, I account it high time to get to sea..." Ishmael
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13-11-2015, 10:09
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#10
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: UK and Central America
Boat: Tucker CA41 Steel 40 foot Ketch
Posts: 402
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
I have a Racor 500 installed before the mechanical lift pump and the fuel level is always at the top when I open it up to change the filter.
The only time it was not up to the top was when I had a problem with the (28 year old) lift pump. Swapped the pump out and the problem went away
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13-11-2015, 11:00
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Alert Bay B.C.Canada
Boat: Whitby 42 , Ketch
Posts: 47
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laser fun
Hello. First time poster and long time reader. After water contamination problem on ICW we're back in the slip. We've been running the Yanmar 3gm30f daily to ensure water out of system.
Now it has come up that we are adding 1-2 oz of fuel to the Racor after every 30' engine run to bring the fuel level in the filer housing up to the top of the plastic top of the filter. (About 1/8th inch below rim of Racor housing)
Some are saying this can be normal and some are saying not! Any input appreciated.
Original reason for all the engine test runs was to remove water and air from the fuel line we replaced. Most if not all replaced clamps on the fuel line has been checked and tightened ... Again. The fuel tank pressure relief value has been checked and is free and clear to make sure there was't a vaccum.
Thanks.
Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum
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The Racor filters 5oo/900/1000 series are never all the way full when the engine
is running. Created by the vacuum from the fuel transfer pump on the engine.
Your racor filter should be installed before the transfer pump in the
Vacuum side of the fuel system
I never heard of a pressure relief valve on the fuel tank, we usually
install a vent as big as possible to prevent spills when you fill up.
Installing a vacuum gauge on the filter is a good idea to check for
leaks and when to change the filter cartridge.
So don't worry!
Siggi
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13-11-2015, 11:06
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central California
Boat: Catalina 30
Posts: 880
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
Quote:
Originally Posted by svthreecheers
filter should be installed before the transfer pump in the Vacuum side of the fuel system
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Why??
(I added a question mark to increase my
response to 5 characters or more, so it would
post. Now it's long enough to post, because
if it were only 4 characters, like "Why?" it
wouldn't post, so now it will. I'm so relieved
that it's long enough to post now. Carry on.)
__________________
Bill
...........................................
You can't buy happiness, but you can buy ribeye.
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13-11-2015, 11:31
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Kingston Ont Canada
Boat: Looking for my next boat!
Posts: 3,101
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
I had the previous model, racor 200, and it was always filled totally to the top. The filter was lower than the fuel tank. I wonder if you should compare the level of the fuel in the filter to the level of fuel in the tank...what I mean is, gravity feed or fuel pump? If its gravity, it can't go higher than the level in the tank.
Its good that you are on top of this. Better to figure it out at the dock than on a rough passage.
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13-11-2015, 12:12
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Alert Bay B.C.Canada
Boat: Whitby 42 , Ketch
Posts: 47
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
Quote:
Originally Posted by hamburking
I had the previous model, racor 200, and it was always filled totally to the top. The filter was lower than the fuel tank. I wonder if you should compare the level of the fuel in the filter to the level of fuel in the tank...what I mean is, gravity feed or fuel pump? If its gravity, it can't go higher than the level in the tank.
Its good that you are on top of this. Better to figure it out at the dock than on a rough passage.
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Hello hamburking
The Racor 200 is not a turbine filter, I believe it is a spin on cartridge wich works
different than the 500/900/1000 system.
If the filter and the engine is below the fuel tank than you don't have a vaccum line anymore
You have a gravity fed system under pressure all the way.
Cheers
Siggi
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13-11-2015, 12:49
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Boat: Bieroc 36 foot Ketch
Posts: 4,953
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Re: Racor 500 series fuel filter and fuel level therein
Quote:
Originally Posted by jongleur
Why??
(I added a question mark to increase my
response to 5 characters or more, so it would
post. Now it's long enough to post, because
if it were only 4 characters, like "Why?" it
wouldn't post, so now it will. I'm so relieved
that it's long enough to post now. Carry on.)
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It helps to protect the pump that way.
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