Wxx3
Dauntless Award
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2013
- Messages
- 2,820
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Dauntless
- Vessel Make
- Kadey Krogen 42 - 148
Yesterday, I changed both my racor fuel filters for the main engine. Even though the fuel I could see (in the bowl) looked fine, my engine had stopped a few days earlier for no apparent reason.
Once the drain bolt was undone, a flow of the blackest, muddiest looking ??fuel/water came out. It drained at least half before clean fuel started draining. (this was from the filter that was in use when the engine stopped). The second filter was actually worse.
Both these Racors had that stupid vacuum gauge on top, which clearly may work sometimes, but not always. Both gauges where well in the green.
So at this point my drain bucket (normal 2.5 gal bucket) had about 2 inches of the black fuel/water. Once I was done rinsing both filters with kerosene, I had about 5 inches of muddy fuel/water.
I set it aside, wanting to see how it separated.
That's the crux of my question. After sitting more than two hours, it never separated. It Visibility was still not more that 1/8 of an inch. It looked as if it was a very dark solution, with clearly fine particle in suspension, but not settling out.
This is my first experience changing the filters on this boat. i had expected some water and dirt (mud) to separate, with relatively clean fuel on the top. there was NONE.
Is this normal?
Should I do anything to the tanks before i refill them?
How often should I change racor filters?
FYI I have just installed a Racor fuel polishing system. But have only used it sparingly.
Comments?
Thoughts?
Richard
Once the drain bolt was undone, a flow of the blackest, muddiest looking ??fuel/water came out. It drained at least half before clean fuel started draining. (this was from the filter that was in use when the engine stopped). The second filter was actually worse.
Both these Racors had that stupid vacuum gauge on top, which clearly may work sometimes, but not always. Both gauges where well in the green.
So at this point my drain bucket (normal 2.5 gal bucket) had about 2 inches of the black fuel/water. Once I was done rinsing both filters with kerosene, I had about 5 inches of muddy fuel/water.
I set it aside, wanting to see how it separated.
That's the crux of my question. After sitting more than two hours, it never separated. It Visibility was still not more that 1/8 of an inch. It looked as if it was a very dark solution, with clearly fine particle in suspension, but not settling out.
This is my first experience changing the filters on this boat. i had expected some water and dirt (mud) to separate, with relatively clean fuel on the top. there was NONE.
Is this normal?
Should I do anything to the tanks before i refill them?
How often should I change racor filters?
FYI I have just installed a Racor fuel polishing system. But have only used it sparingly.
Comments?
Thoughts?
Richard