Fuel Line Filter / Water Separator

[Kelly Hanson East]

A bit more info

methanol , wood alcohol, methylated spirits, dry gas, HEET..... All synonyms for CH3OH

ethanol, grain alcohol, monkey shoulder,denatured alcohol. .... All synonyms for CH3CH2OH

denatured alcohol is mostly ethanol with some methanol in it to stop it from being used for drinking

[The Mutt]

Glenn

[waternwaves]

another common denaturant added to ethanol (especially at cornfed alcolhol plants) is unleaded gasonline. Especially in the midwest this is considered a very inexpensive denaturant.

we even practiced this out west here at an alcolhol plant outside of longview/portland..... The reason i mention this is because of the volatility of the denaturant.

It is very easy to start an alcolhol stove which has gasoline as a denaturant, and the vapors are slightly more explosive than simple ethanol or 95 ethyl/05 methyl.

yeah....it seems strange...... we add gasoline to ethanol...........to add to gasoline.......
but they really don't want anyone drinking industrial ethanol.

[Sloop John B]

The 10% methanol in current gas is bad for outboards. The methanol is a super cleaner and as pointed out above it will pick up everything and throw it into your motor. I changed out my 6 gallon fuel tanks and line.

Yamaha put my bulb between the filter and the motor. Motor starts right up but I run it at least a minute to get past the few coughs, probably air bubbles still in the line.

I carry 12 gallons out on a cruise and come back with around 8, unless I really hit the lulls. No way to get rid of gas inside a month or so. I siphon it out and pour it in the garden tractor and car. I add an ounce per gallon of Sea Foam which helps the carbs and acts as a stabilizer. This gas in turn will sit in the Deere for months (Deere would probably run on hangover urine).

Mechanic cautioned me to avoid 'red' stabilizers at all cost. Stabil, that I used to use for the long standing yard contraptions, is red.

I was told to hook up the muffs every few weeks and run the motor near idle, pull the line and let it run out of gas.

Some of you remember I had a lot of trouble starting the Yamaha TF 50 when cold. It came down to dirty carbs, guys charging me $400 + to clean them, but not really cleaning them (they’re now out of business).

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Good one about the Deere, John I think its like that for all lawnmowers though, a 20 yr old mower can sit there with 2 year old gas in it without starting for over a year and still start right up next season, and never need the carbs cleaned either. So why have I had to clean my Merc BF carbs twice in 6 years now...

Regarding the position of the bulb, I have a valve screwed into the input of my new Moeller water separating filter so that I can switch between 2 tanks without removing the connector. So in a configuration like that, you would need two bulbs if you put them before the filter. It seemed to work well with the bulb after the filter but it took a lot of pumps to fill it up. I expect that is only a problem when you start dry though.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I think you are all getting overly concerned about something that is really not a problem.

Up here in the Northwest the only gas that is sold has 10% alcohol, it's been that way for years. Even at marinas I've not seen an option to buy gas without it.

For the last 17 years that I have been boating I've always bought the cheapest grade unleaded gas available for my boats. I've run it in all my motors without a single issue. From the ancient 2hp craftsman that came with our first V21, the Yamaha 6hp two stroke we upgraded to and still use as our dinghy motor, the Tohatsu 50hp carb two stroke that came with our X, and now the Tohastsu 90hp TLDI fuel injection motor currently on the boat.

Between trips whatever gas is left just sits in the tanks until the next outing. At the end of the season it just sits over the winter with no additives.

The perfect example was this year. We sadly hadn't had the boat out since early July 2009. When I dropped the boat in the water a couple weeks ago the motor was still connected to the half full tank we had finished on in July. Yes, I know they say leaving a tank half full is the worst for moisture absorption, and yes, the vent was open all winter. I gave the bulb a couple squeezes, and turned the key. The motor started on the first turn and ran without a single couch or stumble.

This is the same experience I have had for years with all the motors using the cheapest grade of 10% alcohol gas.

Likewise, I've never had any problems with fuel from any marina, and we use a lot of fuel. As I've admitted many times, we motor 90%+ of the time. On a typical week long outing we will top up our 24 gallon tanks two or three times depending on the distance and speed we choose to travel. On last summers 12 day trip we started with full tanks, topped up again in Port Townsend after 46 miles, and topped up again in Pleasant Harbor after another 41 miles. We did the final 61 miles on the full tanks from there. All these miles were motoring. Our average speed for the trip was 7.5 knots over the 150 Nm. One leg we went at 15 knots.

I'm also very happy I have four 6 gallon tanks in the cockpit. Not only are these great for removing and filling via car at gas stations, but their portability is also handy even out on the water. At the Pleasant Harbor marina last summer we had been snug in our slip for 2 days when it became time to prepare for the next days departure. Rather than go to the hassle of leaving the slip to motor over to the fuel dock and back, I simply put the two empty tanks in a dock cart and rolled them over to the fuel dock. Once I filled them there I rolled them back to the boat. Even full the 6 gallon tanks are easy to handle. Personally I've had too many times where it has been more convenient to remove the smaller tanks for filling to ever consider larger 12 gallon tanks or a permanently installed tank.

[Kelly Hanson East]

I will echo Duanes experience.

By the way, most of the gas sold in summer in 'urban areas' is 10% ethanol, not methanol.

Ive often started and run my Merc on gas left over from the season. I think electronic fuel injection (EFI) is the thing that helps here. When I head to the Cape for a week cruise, I empty the tanks both for trailering and to have fresh gas. I can easily run gas from my boat tanks to the cars in the driveway by removing the engine fuel line fitting, pulling the car alongside, and siphoning using the standard engine fuel line - starting the siphon with the fuel bulb of course. Just make sure you have enough space in the tank...

[hoops]

I have two 12 gallon tanks. Does anyone have a suggestions and or photos of where I should locate a Fuel line filter / Water separator?

[hoops]

I have two 12 gallon tanks. Does anyone have a suggestions and or photos of where I should locate a Fuel line filter / Water separator?

[hoops]

I have two 12 gallon tanks. Does anyone have a suggestions and or photos of where I should locate a Fuel line filter / Water separator?

[Rick Westlake]

I put my fuel/water separator under the helm seat, and its intake line has the same quick-connect fitting as my engine's fuel line. I put a tank-side quick connect fitting on the separator's outlet, so I can snap off the engine's fuel line and connect it directly to either tank if the need arises.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1217

[DaveB]

Rick, putting the water/fuel separator under the MacX seat, wouldn't that restric. passage way and length of fuel line when you raise the seat?
I would think haveing a water/Fuel seperator in the gas tank cubby port and starboard.
I am use to a screw at bottom of the seperator to drain water, looks like yours need to unscrew the bowl.
The quick disconnect is great way for fast on/off.
Dave

I put my fuel/water separator under the helm seat, and its intake line has the same quick-connect fitting as my engine's fuel line. I put a tank-side quick connect fitting on the separator's outlet, so I can snap off the engine's fuel line and connect it directly to either tank if the need arises.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1217

[Rick Westlake]

Dave, I didn't attach it to the seat itself, as you can see from the photos of my mod. I don't find there's any restriction. The intake hose (original from my engine, but cut off just short of the priming bulb) is PLENTY long enough to trail on the cockpit sole when it's connected to the other-side tank.

You could go with two water/fuel separators, but I decided it was better to put my single separator outside of the gas-tank cubby where I can see it.

I have a spare bowl, and I'm thinking of drilling/tapping it to install an airplane fuel tank quick-drain. If I had known how easily the bigger size separator (with its built-in quick drain) would have fit where I put my separator, I would never have gotten the small one.

[DaveB]

Rick,
I had to copy picture than blow it up in Paint Shop pro to see what you did. Must be getting blind.
Dave

[Rick Westlake]

Rick,
I had to copy picture than blow it up in Paint Shop pro to see what you did. Must be getting blind.
Dave

Maybe I should have zoomed in closer and made the separator more visible.

I just added a photo to show the fuel-line spaghetti under the helm seat, and changed the one you had to "blow up in Paint Shop Pro."