I've known full well that the 2 micron filter I run in my racor was much smaller than that which is recommended by the manufacturer or conventional wisdom. I always figured that the 15gph rating of my Racor 200FG was so much more than the required 1 to 2 gallons per hour that running a smaller micron filter would provide better clean up at a marginally lower flow. TBH the racor is easier to change - I'd change 10 racors before 1 engine filter. I also installed a vacuum gage on the outlet side of my Racor. I figured that it would tell me when the 2 micron filter was starting to inhibit flow. The gage has a green, yellow and red band and reads in inches of mercury. I haven't changed the racor in ~4 years and the gage reads the same as it ever has, only ~1 or 2 inches - just barely off the peg when the engine is running. I'll definitely have consider changing to a higher micron filter in the future.
Josh Muckley S/V Sea Hawk 1989 C&C 37+ Solomons, MD On Jun 26, 2017 2:02 PM, "Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List" < [email protected]> wrote: > AFAIK best practice for a diesel is 10 microns before the fuel pump and 2 > microns on the engine after the fuel pump. Passagemaker had a series of > articles on this. > > > > > > *Joe Della Barba* > > Coquina > > C&C 35 MK I > > > > > > *From:* CnC-List [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Gary > Smith via CnC-List > *Sent:* Monday, June 26, 2017 1:54 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Cc:* Gary Smith <[email protected]> > *Subject:* Re: Stus-List Air in fuel line #2 > > > > I'd be very interested in the outcome. As I said, in my experience both > the old and new Racor filters suffered from the same problem with the 2 > micron cassette installed. A new racor unit was installed as part of the > fault diagnosis. > > My Yanmar has a 2 micron filter situated right on the engine (very short > hoses) and after the fuel lift pump, it has a 10 micron filter before the > pump. I really believe that your problem is a 2 micron filter under vacuum. > > > > On 26 June 2017 at 15:34, Charlie Nelson via CnC-List < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > Thanks for your responses. To answer some of the questions raised, the > pumps were placed downstream of the Racor for a couple of reasons. > > > > 1. The pump original location was upstream of the Racor (30 micron) which > was recommended by the Beta engineer because these small pumps do not have > much vertical lift capability. OTOH, their internals have a very small > orifice that can and did block the fuel flow since it was unfiltered at > that location. Since they were in-line pumps, the solution was to swap out > the pump or filter (some have a small one on the inlet to the pump). > However, doing this in the small confines of the pump location was a giant > PITA, especially since they failed while the motor was in use--while on the > water! Rigging a parallel set in this upstream location was also difficult > because of the limited space. > > > > 2. To mitigate this failure possibility, 2 pumps with check valves were > installed in parallel powered by the ignition switch, with another switch > that would select which pump to use. Both of these have enough lift > capability (I think!) to suck filtered fuel thru the Racor and push it to > the primary filter. They certainly pumped fuel well when I took the hose > off the engine filter--albeit initially with frothy fuel or just air in the > line. Plus at this location, any fuel they see has passed thru the Racor so > they are very unlikely to clog themselves. > > > > 3. My diesel mechanic is to determine the source of the problem today--if > he can. If not, he will replace the pick-up tube assembly and install a > new, possibly different Racor filter/separator. IMHO, the model I have > (500?) has a poorly designed, double O-ring top seal, which on my boat is > impossible to see because of where the Racor is mounted (high and on the > other side from the access panel). Getting the filter replaced, complete > with 2 new O rings, is possible but not easy. Plus there is no way I can > determine if the seas are clean except by 'feel'. > > > > Maybe I will know more by tonight--if nothing else, both the Racor and the > pickup assemble will be 'new'. > > > > Thanks again for your thoughts, > > > > Charlie Nelson > > Water Phantom > > 1995 C&C 36XL/kcb > > > > > > [email protected] > > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you > wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > All Contributions are greatly appreciated! > > > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you > wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > All Contributions are greatly appreciated! > >
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