Want drier gasoline or fuel? Try vent filters.

Post here for issues with outboard engines (i.e Yamaha 9.9) on PDQ yachts
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thinwater
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Want drier gasoline or fuel? Try vent filters.

Post by thinwater »

Skip past the fuel filter part, to after the divider. Where the discussion of phase separation starts.

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2012/ ... rkill.html

As you can see, I've mounted one vent filter on my boat and another type on an identical PDQ 32 in Florida.

What's the value proposition?
* Drier gas/fuel.
* Less evaporation, to the tune of $8-12/year. The unit should last ~ 10 years without service, so that would nearly pay for it.
* Less loss of volatiles means better starting.
* Less loss of volatiles means better resistance to phase separation/emulsion blobs. I have only been able to recreate true phase separation from atmospheric absorption if the ethanol evaporates after it is saturated, and I've tried many combinations. This is why we generally only see it in carbs (they're small).
* Less loss of volatiles mean less gum formation (better solvency).
* Less oxygen (less convection, more vapor space) means less gum formation.
It won't stop these things from happening in the carb, but it should extend stability in the tank considerably.

I've also started a set of bench test for Practical Sailor. Obviously, these have been common in cars since 1971. The application and installation in boats is different--different safety and operational issues--and you can learn about all of this by Googling "evaporative emissions boats" or some similar string. Carbon filters are required on all boats with built-in tanks beginning July 2011 with a phase in period.

So, what do you think? Any PDQ-specific issues?
Writing full time since 2014.
"Rigging Modern Anchors,"Seaworthy Press, https://www.amazon.com/Rigging-Modern-A ... 1948494078
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