Water Separator?

[Smokinal]

One of my customers in my shop yesterday started some small talk and come to find out, he owns and runs a marina in my area. We got talking gas, water, ethanol etc... and he said I should install a water separator inline in my fuel line. I have  96 Nitro with a 75hp Merc on it. I thought it would b a good idea but wanted some other opinions on it.

He suggested something like this with just a thread-on replaceable filter:

http://www.starmarinedepot.com/seachoice-universal-fuel%2Fwater-separator.html?gclid=CKqp1bezlcoCFdMYHwodcNMLfg

 

Anyone else install one of these? Thoughts?

[scbassin]

By all means put one on. I have the kind that has a plastic bottom with a valve on the bottom of it. I can easily tell if I get water or dirt in my fuel.

[WIGuide]

A lot of the newer boats come with them straight from the factory. It's definitely a good idea to have one.

[Way2slow]

As mentioned, lot of motors now come with them.

If you buy gas from smaller stations and especially marina gas, it definitely pays to have one in line.

Ethanol gasoline's are bad about absorbing lots of water when it's agitated, like when the trucks dump the fuel in the tanks etc, and then when it sits for a day or so, the excess separates back out and can cause you problems.  A separator will help keep that excess out of your fuel system.  That's also why, when you see the fuel truck unloading fuel at your station, you might want to drive on down the road to the next one.   I never buy gas from a station that's getting fuel delivered or I know has just recently had it delivered, especially if it's an ethanol gas. 

[BassnChris]

1 hour ago, Way2slow said:

 I never buy gas from a station that's getting fuel delivered or I know has just recently had it delivered, especially if it's an ethanol gas. 

X2

[Smokinal]

Thank you folks; going to pick one up and install this winter. Does this mean I can do away with the filter on the engine?

[Way2slow]

If it's a spin on, it may already a separator, check you manual and with a dealer and see.  As for doing away with it, I wouldn't.  I run the external filter/separator plus the one that's one the engine.  I just only change the one on the engine every two or three years and the external one every fall when I do my other PM stuff.

[Ohio Archer]

How do you tell when a water separator is full?  We used to run one on the motorhome we used to haul a race trailer with around the country but it was clear and we could drain it when needed.  The ones that look like oil filters don't have a drain.  Do you just replace it each year regardless?

[Smokinal]

1 hour ago, Way2slow said:

If it's a spin on, it may already a separator, check you manual and with a dealer and see.  As for doing away with it, I wouldn't.  I run the external filter/separator plus the one that's one the engine.  I just only change the one on the engine every two or three years and the external one every fall when I do my other PM stuff.

  Is that one I linked a good one for my boat or is there another you would recommend?

1 hour ago, Ohio Archer said:

  Do you just replace it each year regardless?

That's my plan.

[Way2slow]

Yes, to both.

I replace mine every unless the lake levels are looking good for stripers to be moving into the backwaters I fish, then I wait until the end of Jan/Feb to replace it and do my annual PM's.   Like I said though, the one on the motor, I have gone three years.  With the fuel already being filtered, it should just be seeing clean fuel anyway.