DARN Racor filter

S

SEA3PO

New member
I am upset !..... I changed my Racor fuel filters and when I opened the little black plastic fuel drain valves they fell apart...a funny looking little seal at the top of the valve gets fuel rotted and falls apart.... their answer... buy a new cheep little plastic valve from them for $38 each....
I tried finding a plug for the hole but they use a funny thread pitch..so that is out....

I finally just ordered two new clear fuel bowls with the darn drain valves ...but this time from Sierra for $22 each... still robbery but what ya gonna do..

Think I will go think about kicking the dog or sumthin like that...

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Send them an email and you'll probably get a coupon for some free ones or a check. The beauty of the internet is its easy to get restitution when your cause is just! Let them know you're loyal but very disappointed. If guaranteed satisfaction isn't built into their price, it should be!
 
When I install one I always wipe the O ring and the threads with a tiny bit of silicone grease.... grease not sealer... and they are much easier to remove even a year later... just a wipe, not a glob... it is amazing stuff.

The upper part of the filter where it attaches to the mounting base I lube with engine oil...never install a filter dry.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
SEA3PO":1avywccs said:
When I install one I always wipe the O ring and the threads with a tiny bit of silicone grease.... grease not sealer... and they are much easier to remove even a year later... just a wipe, not a glob... it is amazing stuff.

The upper part of the filter where it attaches to the mounting base I lube with engine oil...never install a filter dry.

Joel
SEA3PO
Click to expand...

Yep!
 
Both Mercury and Evinrude sell a fuel filter that has a screw on metal canister. (Like an oil filter)

No plastic bowl or drain to worry about.
 
I noticed that the fuel filters (canister type - oil filter w/o drain) are much cheaper to purchase.

Is it ok to use the filters w/o the drain?
 
Sierra filters, distributed by SeaStar, advertises several levels of filtering: 21 micron and 10 micron. The description states that a 10 micron Sierra fuel filter will remove 90% of the 10 micron particles. Here is the SeaStar rreference:Sierra Fuel Filters.

Racor, manufactured by Parker, advertises that their 10 micron fuel filter has 98% filtration efficiency and 100% water removal per SAE test procedures. It also removes water, not only by settling, but by filtration. Here's the Racor brochure:Racor Marine filters. The brochure also gives cross reference to many other brands, Sierra included. and they also offer a spin-on. I don't know if that solves the removal problem. The threads are the same.

So, Sierra removes 90% and Racor removes 99%. Racor removes water, Sierra makes no claim to do so. I've found the same in oil filters. Bosch claims to remove >95% of oil particles, Fram >90% and the Bosch weighs more than Fram by the old hand balance test. Guess which costs more. Guess which I use.

I've cursed Parker for not solving the removal problem, but they do make good filters. And good o-rings, just not the ones they use on their fuel elements. Again you pays your money and takes your choice. So, your call.

Boris
 
Despite Racor's claim that they remove 100% of the water, I have had water get by them, on several occasions.

I use Racors. I have also used Sierra, and dual frame, in series, with a water separator, then a particulate filter.

The problem with the canister type is that you cannot see the water in the bowl, and cannot drain the bottom of the bowl, which I do before I start the engine (if it has been sitting for at least a week). If I am running every day, and there is no evidence of water in the bowl, then I only drain the bowl once a week.
 
BRAZO":1aivwcn5 said:
I noticed that the fuel filters (canister type - oil filter w/o drain) are much cheaper to purchase.

Is it ok to use the filters w/o the drain?
Click to expand...

Seriously, I run twin Yamahas. The standard Yamaha filter is the canister type and no drain. I used them for a while but would remove and drain from time to time to check for water. They are not cheap so I would reuse. From time to time the secondary filters on the motors would pick up water and go to alarm mode so I switched to the Racor. Now I check for water in the Racor and drain when I see it. I change the Racor cartridge every year. No secondary alarms for 2 years though I do clean annually.
 
I have twin Yamaha's (40's) and also twin Racor's, one for each, with each tank serving it's own closest engine. I have never found water in my Racor's. They are changed annually, and I do drain them a bit when first starting in the spring before and after the first run session.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
I also have twins with each engine having it's own tank and Racor filter.
The one time water got in a fuel tank thanks to the clear bowl I was able to detect and deal with it.
 
Maybe someone could refresh my memory. Probably nothing to do with outboards but aren't there certain installs where the racor (filter with drain) are not permitted?

Jake
 
Chester":4i3tiitg said:
Can't have the clear bowl on inboard engine applications. They have a metal bowl with a drain that is OK for those applications.
Click to expand...

Thanks Chester, I wonder why the difference?
 
Jake,

Inboard gasoline engines and fuel systems are regulated by the US Coast Guard. Those regs do not allow for plastic bowls and drain valves.

Outboard engine boats are exempt from those inboard regs.

For maximum safety, follow the inboard regs.
 
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