External Filter on MEP-803A Aux Input

[gatorbob]

I don't have a lot of experience with diesel (in general) and was hoping to get some advice. I figured out to use better oil and coolant (like JD) but now I'm trying to tackle fuel quality.

I bought a Goldenrod water block filter bowl kit on Amazon to learn how it works with my cheap 12V gasoline pump. Gas goes in, gas goes out. But I don't see how you can tell if water is being removed short of waiting for the output to slow down because the filter is clogged. I just see fuel in the bottom of the bowl.

I ran that filtered gas through my Mr. Funnel filter, which for $15 can't be all that great, but it looks like it actually caught quite a bit of water in the sump. I need to see if the Goldenrod is assembled wrong or something.

For my MEP-803A, I'd like to get something portable that I can put between a diesel container and my MEP's auxiliary fuel pump.

So, two questions...

1. Will an extra filter burn out the MEP auxiliary fuel pump by putting too much stress on it?

2. Is this Goldenrod type bowl filter kit the right way to go or is there something better?

Thanks

 

[Zed254]

Search the auction site for "R12T" to find some fuel water separators. I installed one of these on an aux fuel cart and it has worked well for 15 or 20 gallons on an MEP803A and an MEP802A. Both of my generators have the Airtex fuel pumps.

 

[devilphrog]

I like your corrosion control cart conversion. do you have both sides filled up with fuel and have them teed together or something?

 

[Bmxenbrett]

The idea is the water is bigger than the micron of the filter and drops down in the bottom of the bowl. At least thats my understanding of it.

 

[devilphrog]

That filter has what's called a super absorbent polymer in it. It's basically the same stuff that's in baby diapers. It can absorb up to 300 times it's weight in water. One saturated, it should stop flowing because it's swollen up. You may have no "free" water, or even entrained water, and only dissolved water which you can't see but that filter would be able to catch.

 

[Zed254]

I like your corrosion control cart conversion. do you have both sides filled up with fuel and have them teed together or something?

Yep, I connected both vessels through the bottom openings, but my design has much to be desired. Each side has a top opening: I put a dip tube in the 26 gallon side and a breather in the 7 gallon side. Problem is the draw down side does not breathe until the 7 gallon side starts gulping air. I could have saved $$ and just used the 26 gallon side alone or at least punted the breather in the 7 gallon side. I have to loosen the fuel cap so the 26 gallon side can breathe. It would be nice to be able to punch holes in the inner vessel wall, but that's beyond my capability. It works well so far.

 

[gatorbob]

Search the auction site for "R12T" to find some fuel water separators. I installed one of these on an aux fuel cart and it has worked well for 15 or 20 gallons on an MEP803A and an MEP802A. Both of my generators have the Airtex fuel pumps.

So is R12T the Racor filter itself? What did you buy for it to be inserted into?

Thanks

 

[Zed254]

Yesterday there was a complete unit made in USA offered. Today everything looks to be Chinese. I think one of mine is Chinese, one is Racor. This size works for me and you want to buy the complete setup that includes the aluminum filter mount. I've also seen much larger surplus water separator/filters with the mount. I wanted something smaller than what is mounted on a military truck, so bought the ones with the R12T size filter.

 

[uniquify]

The Racor R12T filter works pretty well. It is also used as the primary filter & water separator on 831's. I believe the filter base is Racor # 120AT.

Personally, I like to keep things simple, so I bought a filter base (Donaldson P560382) that uses the same filters as the primary fuel filter & water separator on my 802/803's. The commonality means I don't have to keep as much variety on hand.

On one of my genset trailers that has an older steel auxiliary tank, I put a goldenrod bowl with a cleanable steel mesh filter ahead of the Donaldson filter head. It's probably overkill, but it's on my in-law's ranch 4 hours away and I like the piece of mind.