How often do you check your Racor water-separating filter bowl?

[skydiver]

For those with outboards and Racors that have the clear bowl, it's easy enough to do. But for those with stern drives or inboards and Racors with the metal bowl, how often do you open the drain to check for water and have you ever really seen much?

 

[Myers]

Never, on a regular basis...

Never, on a regular basis...

I am pretty much on a regular schedule of always checking mine just about never. Fact, I can't remember the last time I forgot to not check mine.

Sorry Scott, I had to be a smart a-- I never have had a water issue, usually fill up at Fred Meyer, sometimes at the fuel dock in Seward or a gas station there. But, now that I have jinxed myself I will be checking soon...

Hey, did you fire that thing up yet? I haven't yet.

 

[potbuilder]

I have a alarm on mine that goes off if water comes up to a certain level.

 

[akroxy]

I do not have a clear bowl on my racor, so I am with Myers. I usually check my bowl when I change the filter..........which is another question regarding racors - how often do you change your filter?

 

[Halibutgrove]

Steve, you running gas or diesel? The racor alarms I have aren't recommended for gas if I remember correct.

 

[kuskoblues907]

If I didn't have the outboard with clear racor bowl, I would probably check it after every couple of outings or after running gas from a new source. Replacing the racor filter is part of my every spring tuneup even if it doesn't show much wear or water damage. IMO it's an easy preventative part to replace.
I try to get gas from the same place throughout the year/summer for the simple fact I know what I'm getting. When fuel tanks/farms look sketchy, I use a Mr. Funnel to determine if there's water in the gas and buy accordingly.

 

[skydiver]

Myers - I did fire it up. Sort of. Put the muffs on it and fired it up but didn't get any water returning so I shut it down. This was 2 days before I was going to take it to Whittier and after I'd loaded it all up. So I unloaded it and took it to Burkeshore Marine at Big Lake to have the impeller replaced and some other minor things done. If I could reach the water pump I could have fixed it myself, but as it is I can barely see the pump using a spotlight and mirror. You have a new engine, right? I'll bet you're anxious to try it out.

 

[potbuilder]

Steve, you running gas or diesel? The racor alarms I have aren't recommended for gas if I remember correct.

It was on my volvo diesel.

 

[Myers]

Very anxious! It better change the ocean into it's own fuel supply, make time go backwards when it's on step, and suck shrimp up in it's wake, or I will be slightly disappointed.

 

[C-Dude]

Replace every spring prior to start up and usually inspect one time per year in middle of season. I have been thinking of getting the clear bowls for the boat for easier inspection. Maybe this spring.