Major Fuel Filter Fail

[levittownnick]

Cleaning up the yard and just looked in on the boat because I noticed the smell of gasoline when I spotted the Bowl from the bottom of the Gasoline Filter laying in the motor well. I knew that it was properly secured to the filter when I covered the boat. This filter was last changed Oct. 20, 2016. (Today is 1-28-2017) The bowl is for viewing the gasoline and draining any water that may have been in the gasoline. What A Shock! Imagine this happening while running the boat and the Fire hazard that would have been presented. Just the disabling of the outboard would have been troubling without the fire risk. This filter Parker Racor S3213 made in the USA. The Bowl is made from a clear (yellow tint) plastic that screws on to the bottom of the filter. I went to the Marine Store and spoke with the parts expert who advised me to replace the entire assembly with a standard can filter without the transparent section. He said that this happens often and he would not use the 2-piece assembly. He feels it is related to the ethanol in the gasoline's reaction to the plastic causing it to shrink. On the failed filter, the bowl's threads just spin in the base of the filter even without the "O" ring seal. How in H___ can they market such a product?

 

[dingbat]

Forty years using Racor seperators in both marine and industrial application. Never experienced or heard of such a thing.

Having said that they can freeze, distorting the can, if not drained (water) before storage.
I change filters and o-rings as part of my winterization

 

[levittownnick]

I hear you. I have had this system for a number of years also but note that this filter was recently changed (Oct 20, 2016 and the boat has been in dry storage since then. It did happen and I do have the Failed Parts.

Nick

 

[robert graham]

Maybe just a faulty filter from the factory?.....Normally a Racor spin on clear plastic bowl would be good for years. Don't suppose some meatball cross-threaded it at a previous time?.....

 

[GA_Boater]

When the filter was changed in October, was the transparent portion reused. Cross threaded perhaps? :noidea:

Never heard of one failing like this.

 

[dingbat]

I hear you. I have had this system for a number of years also but note that this filter was recently changed (Oct 20, 2016 and the boat has been in dry storage since then. It did happen and I do have the Failed Parts.

Nick

Did you trying screwing the see-thru on a new can?

Both OEM parts?

 

[frantically relaxing]

.,..Having said that they can freeze, distorting the can, if not drained (water) before storage...

Bingo...That's my bet, water froze. Here's what a little (very little) water did to the prop housing on Mariner 115 on the Party Cruiser---

--- note the broken mounting tabs sitting in front of the housing on the left. There was at most, a couple of tablespoons of water in the drive oil, which I didn't drain. but It was enough that the expansion pushed the housing out, breaking the tabs, and bending the mounting studs--

==========
Your filter is designed to collect water. It's almost a given that it did, and ice did the damage

 

[robert graham]

I guess that draining these filter bowls should be a part of normal winterizing procedure from now on.....

 

[levittownnick]

I can assure you that I did not cross thread the filter and never have. There is no apparent distortion of the parts. I have seen freeze damage several times, and there is no noticeable damage to either the filter or the bowl. I purchased this boat new in 1997 and other than a control cable, I am the only one that ever worked on this boat or engine. Since the engine has not been run after the filter was changed in Oct. 2016, (3-months) the bowl was cleaned and the filter/bowl was filled with fresh gasoline. Draining/cleaning as part of storage does not come into question. Examination of the threads on the plastic bowl shows them to be smooth, without nicks or burrs. I did not purchase off-brand parts, they are Racor. This bowl will not be part of my normal winterizing procedure as I have switch to a Mercury metal can filter (no bowl).

Nick

 

[Chris1956]

Nick, Just remember to dump the water separator can into a clear container, maybe mid-season to check for water.

BTW - I never liked the clear filter bowls, as I liked the can filters with their 1 metal-to-metal seal, versus the second seal between metal and plastic.

 

[robert graham]

Maybe this is why coast guard doesn't approve these clear plastic bowls in inboard/enclosed motors....too much fire hazard!....

 

[GA_Boater]

I think the reason is in case of fire, the plastic bowl can melt and add to the fire. The bowl itself isn't a fire hazard, but it can make a bad situation worse.

 

[robert graham]

I think the reason is in case of fire, the plastic bowl can melt and add to the fire. The bowl itself isn't a fire hazard, but it can make a bad situation worse.

Yep, that makes sense....

 

[dingbat]

Racor released a service bulletin on the problem....I need to check mine for the ?PUR or Z? mark
http://www.parker.com/Literature/Rac...on_Filters.pdf

 

[GA_Boater]

This is interesting;

In addition to high ethanol concentrations, other factors such as age, temperature, ultraviolet light, and various fuel additives may negatively impact clear filter bowls.

A couple of things.

UV - You said you found the bowl in the bottom of the motorwell. Is the filter exposed to sunlight?

And additives - Are you using any? I doubt you are using any gas higher than E10 and the bowl is made to withstand E10, however many additives have ethanol and derivatives which bump the fuel to higher than E10.

 

[H20Rat]

I think the reason is in case of fire, the plastic bowl can melt and add to the fire. The bowl itself isn't a fire hazard, but it can make a bad situation worse.

That could be the reason, but my bet is that it is a shatter risk. Something as simple as a tool box moving around from a big wave could shatter the plastic bowl.

 

[dingbat]

Something as simple as a tool box moving around from a big wave could shatter the plastic bowl.

all hose used under deck are fire rated to X. The plastic bowl doe not met this requirement.

The bowls are heavy duty injection molded. Trying to remove one stuck to the can removes any worry about it shattering.

 

[levittownnick]

Racor released a service bulletin on the problem....I need to check mine for the “PUR or Z” mark
http://www.parker.com/Literature/Rac...on_Filters.pdf

GA_Boater="In addition to high ethanol concentrations, other factors such as age, temperature, ultraviolet light, and various fuel additives may negatively impact clear filter bowls."

Home Run, you hit the nail right on the head.
My filter doesn't have the mark, the absence of the mark indicates that it should be replaced. I do have the filter in the motor well but I have a cover over it, and 3rd, I do use gasoline stabilizer year round. Three strikes and I'm out. I have never seen this bulletin before and I would expect that when a Racor replacement filter element were purchased, a notice should have been included.

I thank both of you gentlemen for your expert advice and active participation.
Thank you dingbat, Fleet Admiral
Thank you GA_Boater, Supreme Mariner

Sincerely,
Levittownnick/Nick

 

[GA_Boater]

Your right about any replacement filter after 6/2015, the date of the bulletin, should have the warning. The warning should be included with any new filter since the bowl is made to be reusable and the original bowl may not be ethanol resistant, as yours wasn't.

Nick - Wondering how long it took for the bowl to fall off, how long have you been using the original bowl?

 

[levittownnick]

Your right about any replacement filter after 6/2015, the date of the bulletin, should have the warning. The warning should be included with any new filter since the bowl is made to be reusable and the original bowl may not be ethanol resistant, as yours wasn't.

Nick - Wondering how long it took for the bowl to fall off, how long have you been using the original bowl?

Hi GA
The filter was replaced Oct. 20, 2016 when I winterized the boat. I don't remember when I purchased the initial assembly but a guess is about 10 years.

Happy boating,
Nick