Changing water fuel seperator

[firemangr82b1]

Anyone changed there water fuel seperator themselves? I have a 2005 22i, 350 GM vortec MP, I bought a water/fuel seperator from tige dealer, they gave me what looks like an oil filter from Merc. (says water/fuel seperator on side) its bigger than my oil filter on the engine, not sure where it goes, looked at the engine and manual and what they have pictured as the h2o/fuel seperator looks nothing like what they sold me, much smaller....anyone with information or pictures for clarity would be awesome..as always! Thanks L

[chpthril]

In the search drop-down across the top, between New Posts and Quick Links, type in "Marine Power Fuel Filter" it will pop up with a bunch of threads with pics and tips.

[firemangr82b1]

Thanks chpthrl, will check it out....L

[kko]

you have a marine power engine right. only option in 05 as far as I know. mabe if it was a real early 05 they could have still put a mercruiser. but if you have a marine power engine that is not the right style of filter.

[twinturbostroker]

The marine power filter is a 10 micron element which has water seperating capabilities. But after seperating the water and/or emulsified fuel, where is it discharged from the fuel system?

On another boat I own the fuel system generates enough water from condensation and seperation that my spin off fuel water seperator is often completely filled with water, which impedes fuel flow to the engine and has filled the carburetor fuel bowls with water more than once.

[boatwakes]

If you live on either coast and now some inland states, water no longer separates from gasoline (until roughly 10% saturation with water) due to the 10% or higher concentration of ethanol in the fuel. Ethanol ABSORBS water and was introduced as a non-toxic alternative to MTBE and has since become a boiling cauldron of mayhem causing extensive and expensive fuel system related problems in the marine industry. If you have an older boat with fiberglass fuel tanks and your engine(s) are gas, you WILL have a leaking gas tank because of ethanol. If you get water in your gas tank, either from condensation or by accident, your octane rating could fall to as low as 84 before phase separation occurs (finally the gas is saturated and the water separates from the fuel) and you won't be able to get sustained rpm until the fuel is changed or burned at slow speed. Blah blah blah. Solution: 1) lay your boat up with EMPTY gas tanks between uses 2)Use a gasoline additive to help stabilize your gas between uses (do not use additives that contain ethanol) 3)Don't expect gasoline older than 3 months to provide a good running engine, use additive in old gas to help keep deposits from accumulating due to older fuel.
Finally in response to, "Where does the separated water in fuel go to?" question, it actually now gets burned through your engine. So if your separator has continuing issues with water, it's not condensation and you are leaking water into the fuel system either through the cap (check o-ring) or through the fuel sender (check gasket material). Ethanol is horrible for an engine and fuel system if not addressed properly, so get as educated as possible regarding the type of gasoline you're running in you engine. Safe wakes!