Hey guys just looking for some advice on a fuel water separator/filter. Just purchased my boat a couple months ago and it doesn't have anything for filtering the fuel... Kind of a shotty setup right now. I have an eletric fuel pump with a fuel pressure regulator and they seem to be working find but I've been warned about the ethanol fuels and marine life! so I definitely want to get a system in place asap. I was shown a few at my local marine supply store but they seem to be about 20% more expensive than amazon. I would really like to hear your opinions on products you would recommend and maybe some pics of your setups?! Maybe I'll do a post on my install when I get started!

Thanks
Howard

unless the engine is high hp you can run a standard mercruiser style fuel/water separator before the electric pump. it would help to tell us what you have now and how it is set up. I have seen some boats that were dangerous because of the crap setup.

I haven't spent a bunch of time looking at it yet. I know it has a electric fuel pump with a regulator. The guy I purchased the boat from said he bought the boat to flip. When he got it she wouldn't run. He spent and bunch of money on getting it up and running at a local boat shop. They had to install the regulator and rebuild the carb due to all the seals being blown out. They said it was running 40psi fuel pressure when the got it running and fuel was almost spraying out of the carb. They installed new pressure regulator and fuel line from the regulator to the carb with a pressure gauge. I am planning on getting a fuel water separator soon and installing and cleaning up the fuel lines too. I am currently storing the boat all wrapped up in a boat cover and tarp but will be moving it indoors shortly where I will be able to work on it with out getting soaked in this lovely NW rain!

You can kind of see the setup in the bottom left corner of this picture. When I get the boat inside I'll take better pictures and post them. I'm planning on taking some time off from work around Christmas and wanted to get some parts stock piled to work on the boat on my staycation! I see some off the kits have the filter element with a clear plastic bottom to see and be able to drain the water out... and some just have the filter element. Not sure which is best?

My engine is basically stock 502. I think the intake manifold and carb are after market but other than that its stock. But I want to upgrade power next year! This winter is about maintenance, reliability, and safety!!!

Thanks for the help

Howard

https://www.amazon.ca/Wix-24770-Filt.../dp/B000CSGT64

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...&ppt=C0024

if that is true then it sounds like it has an efi pump on it. that would be the only ones that make that kind of pressure. sounds like you need to pull all of it out and replace it all. if the engine has the provision for a mechanical pump then that would be the best way to go.

Its a 502 but what year and carb, serial numbers are best?

Prob not going to matter - OEM Stock Merc carb apps never had an fuel pressure regulator installed in production.

Prob a boat owner did his own build and parts buying from jegs catalog.

Constant 40 psi on a carb app, the engine will not run nor start - that much fuel pressure will lift the needle off the seat and flood the hell out of the carb over flowing fuel all over.

Stock Mercruiser carb apps except the 3.0 - 4 banger and alot older V 6 apps all had spin on fuel filters for many years now.

The current carb and intake manifold are not factory and I will get specs when I get it moved in doors and start working on it. The fuel pressure is under control now. I have used the boat a few times in the last couple months and the fuel system seems to work well. I think the gauge on the fuel line stays nicely at about 5psi which I believe is acceptable for this carb.
I think they way the system is setup is ok just want to add the fuel/water separator. I meant to post a picture of the engine bay where you can kind of see the fuel set up in my last post and forgot to so here you go. The way it was before the previous owner had the fuel system repaired and rebuilt it was leaking fuel out of the carb like crazy. The intake is all stained yellow and the engine bay smells of gas really bad. Sniffing around it seems most of the smell is coming off the intake that is soaked in gas. I have plans to rewire most of the engine bay and I'm installing 2 new blowers with proper ducting.
From what I know of the boats life before I got it a guy who ran a dragster shop had the boat and did some "mods" I think I can see where he has messed with it and that is all stuff I'll be changing!

The boat is a 1992 Mirage Trovare 257. As far as I can tell it came from the factory with a 502. This how ever is the third engine. I have receipts for when the original engine was replace and then 10 hrs later that engine was replaced under warranty due to a lifter bore issue or something. As far as I can tell this engine was installed in 2008 and has approx 50hrs on it. I was told the boat was in a warehouse being stored for almost 8 years. I will get more info and update as I tear into it in the next couple weeks just wanted to get your opinions on the best fuel water separtors. I like the one getrdunn posted cause its simple and the wix filters should be easy to come by. Any thoughts on the clear bottom ones? being able to see if there is a water issure?

Thanks

Howard