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Fuel filter restriction gauge ?

Posted: May 11th, '08, 22:53
by AndreF
Are these worth installing on my RACOR?

Posted: May 12th, '08, 08:56
by In Memory Walter K
If you mean the pressure gauge that replaces the T-handle on top, They can be very helpful if you have an air leak or clogged filter. I had a hairline crack in the bowl base that was invisible because of where it was. My engine would start up, then die in a few seconds, after which it took a lot of cranking to start up again. Once started, all was fine all day long. Then, the next time I came back to the boat after a day or so, it was the same thing all over again. I changed the fuel line, lifter pump, filters and gaskets all to no avail. It wasn't until my son saw bubbles in the Racor bowl when I was cranking that we found the problem. Had a gauge been on that filter, we would have seen the loss of pressure much earlier. Walter

Posted: May 12th, '08, 09:02
by Bruce
Those guages are vacuum guages.

It can be a nice addition for diagnosis. The racor brand guages are over priced for their quality though.

Anything above 5" of vacuum should be looked into as it starts to pull air bubbles out of the fuel besides a fuel starvation problem.

Posted: May 12th, '08, 09:32
by AndreF
I'm having that exact problem, Walter, and wondered if that vacuum gauge (where the "T" handle goes, as you said) was worth it when I replace the bowl, thanks Bruce. I need to check clearance, Clarence, as the gauge sticks up alot. Around $60-$70 each.

Posted: May 12th, '08, 10:41
by DRIFTER31
Andre...you can use a tee to install them in line right off the racor between the filter and engine feed line. I used stainless ones from the local gauge shop and they were only about 15 bucks ea.

Posted: May 12th, '08, 16:11
by Rawleigh
I mounted mine like drifter did. Back mounted SS glycerin filled gauges are not very expensive from industrial supply places.vacuum