Water separator and sunlight

marco422 · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 5:52 pm Post subject: Water separator and sunlight

I was about to install a Sierra fuel filter (similar to Racor) in the splashwell in preparation for a trip to a unreliable fuel zone when I read that the filter should be installed away from direct sunlight. How important is this? I have seen lots of these installed in the splashwell, which obviously gets exposed to sun...

matt_unique · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 6:24 pm Post subject: Re: Water separator and sunlight

journey on · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:52 pm Post subject:

Having the water filter exposed to sunlight is probably OK, if BC means British Columbia and not Baja California. Especially if you're using gasoline. Alge develops in diesel over time, and heat and sunlight make the alge grow. Especially if the filters sediment bowl is clear.

I didn't believe this was a problem, until I had a diesel engine with the concomitant tanks, filters, etc. in Florida and the Carolinas. The diesel would turn cloudy in the plastic on-deck tanks in short order.

Boris

rjmcnabb · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:38 am Post subject:

Hi Marco, I know you are not in Baja! Can you get an opaque bowl? Or wrap it with aluminum foil? My filter is in the splashwell; the cover is metal, but it is not a big deal to crack the bottom plug and drain a little into a can to see if there is water in the gas. I think algal/fungal growth in diesel is a real problem only if you have water in your fuel, and then the buggers grow at the interface between diesel and water.
Rod on Pender Rainbow

Island.

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:18 pm Post subject:

I don't think it will be a problem in northern latitudes.

However, "algea" growth is not limited to diesel anymore. I was reading an article that another side effect of ethonal in fuel is that it has now provided a food source for the organisms that can grow in fuel. So gasoline is now able to support life!