water separator and fuel filter
 

I'm having some ethanol related problems . Can anyone recommend a good replacement fuel filter and water separator for a shabah 180 with mercruiser alpha one?

Thank s

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

Why not use the original Mercruiser filters :)
Racor makes nice filters but you'll pay for em dearly.

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

I'm not sure i have ever replaced mine. Are they all the same? Where are they located?

newbie - I ran some lucas ethanol fuel additive and redline ethanol additive whenever i had to run gas with the ethanol blend. Luckily the local station still gets premium without the ethanol mix.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

Here's where mine is.... Fortunately we dont have the ethanol 'problem' up here that you have. I change mine every two years or more often if i'm spending a lot of time running the boat during the summer.

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

Pretty sure they are all the same. My 4.3 and 7.4 use the same one. NAPA has them. I'm sure most auto store carry them.
I'd change it every season for the cost of 10$.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

I'm going to have to look at mine - I swear it looks different.. but it's been awhile since i've looked in the hull.

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

There's only so much a fuel/water separator can do. If the gasoline has phase-separated, it needs to be pumped-out and discarded. There's no way to get what was an ethanol blend to re-blend after it has phase-separated. A common fuel filter won't help at all.

Undetected phase separation is the biggest danger. Imagine your engine running along at speed and all-of-a-sudden its fuel supply is replaced by water. Bye-bye engine.

From Three Myths About Ethanol

From E-10 in Winter: Recommendations on Storing Ethanol-Enhanced Gasoline


The fuel in Shazaam! is on its third season. I no longer trust it. So I'm going to buy a high-performance electric fuel pump, hook it to the fuel line, and pump it all out into cans. As long as it keeps looking good, it'll go into the cars. Then I'll refuel the boat from scratch.

If I run into water, I'll pump it out and pay to dispose of it.

Ethanol is one of the biggest scams ever to have been perpetrated on the consumer, and this time with government help.

Jim

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

OK, so I can remove the Gas, assuming it's gone that bad.

I also read that the ethanol can strip built up deposits off the inside of the tank, so I figured a water seperator/filter would help with that?

Can anoyon share a know compatible water filter for a mercruiser AlphaOne 3.0 LX?
I just spent 45 minutes on a chat with iBoats, just to have them tell me they can't help me with an "after market" product, go figure.

Thanks

Chris

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

You should look into this as well:

USA Fuel Service Gas-Shok

I've used it and had great results. Initially I thought it was a gimmick snake oil type of stuff, but I can honestly say the stuff works wonders. My old Z250 ran better than it ever had after adding a treatment to the tank.

You can also read their advice on ethanol:
Ethanol Basics

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001HBX3IC
here you go buddy. This is the model filter. They should coat right around 10$ for quicksilver™. The shipping on this is outrageous but its the # you need. NAPA or Autozone can cross reference it to something they have in-house. Or a local boat shop should have them in stock, they are very common.
Like Shabah says, run some sort of ethanol treatment in your fuel. Its worth the extra $ to save your fuel.
I don't know where you live but have a look at this site is you are interested in running real fuel- ethanol free fuels.
http://pure-gas.org

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

Thx, I found the quicksilver filter, but not the bracket yet, I can dig some more for that.

Let me ask a real silly question. I don't have a separator in there yet, so I think I'll be installing a kit from scratch.
That being the case, what do I look for to match say a Sierra kit to my engine, am I over thinking this?

Thx

Chris

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

I'm going to take a look at my boat this weekend to see if I actually have a filter like this (3.0L boat). I also found this pdf while trying to do some online research. Does anyone know if Mariah added these to the 2001 3.0L Diablo 180's?

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

Thx, I found the. Quicksilver filter, I now just need to find the bracket.

But... Let me ask a silly question....
I don't have a separator installed now, so I guess I'd be looking for a kit.
Do I have to match a new kit to my engine, or will something like. A Sierra separator for mercruiserr engines do the job?
Maybe I'm overthinking this?

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

I don't think you are over thinking it - if anything this is going to help me as well (assuming my 3.0L doesn't have one). If it doesn't this thread will help me find a kit. Glad you brought this subject up.

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

Here you go.

Filter/Seperator

They are not model specific....other than the inline design as noted in the description.

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

Great, thanks so much!
I don't think I have the "in-line" fuel filter, mine is attached directly to the engine.

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

I finally made it out to my boat. I don't have any type of Fuel/Water separator in my Diablo. I'm going to add this to my list of "to buy" items. I also noticed my fuel line from the fuel pump looks as if it has dirt in it?

Here is a picture of my line and pump (also - is there a filter in these that should be replaced?)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...6c73cbeb17b6f5

It's awful how dirty my engine looks - I'm going to need to clean it up. It looks like it has stuff growing on it.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...7fd548d98007fe

Do I need to replace this fuel line with anything "special", or should I even replace it?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...7dfcfd08f1f078

Thanks everyone who helped "newbie", as this will help me as well.

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

Great pic nglauer, you have the same fuel pump/filter as I do.
Looks like the ceramic filter type, you can get replacments but.... I think the water seperators are also filters as well, so I'm guessing that if I add a water seperator I don't have to replace the existing fuel filter???

Let me ask a dumb question, what is the propoer name for the fuel hose that connects the pump to the tank?

I have 0 slack on mine, so I'll need some extra, is it marine specific hose?

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

I am assuming one would call that line the "supply line" or "tank to filter" line.

As for the type of line I assume you are referring to the green/yellow line? That stuff is called Tygon. It is a fairly common fuel line. It could be replaced just because it is old let alone it is too short. A local marine shop or even auto shop should have fuel line for you. Take your line with you to get the correct size.

Here is a link to online tygon. http://www.ebay.com/bhp/tygon-fuel-line


Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

Sorry, I meant the black hose, from the pump/filter to the tank, is that marine specific & any idea of the diameter?

Thx

Chris

Re: water separator and fuel filter
 

It says on the tubing 3/8 ID... That means inside diameter is 3/8".

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2