fuel filter/water seperator with clear view bowl

[by'eck]

I've found many for sale online using the very common HDF 296 element, even specifically under marine parts, but all are described as having a glass bowl. As these are now illegal for use on boats can I assume they in fact use polycarbonate bowls (or similar) which I believe are legal.

 

If not can anyone point me to ones specifically for use in a boat. I want to be able to see whats in the bowl.

[Timleech]

I've found many for sale online using the very common HDF 296 element, even specifically under marine parts, but all are described as having a glass bowl. As these are now illegal for use on boats can I assume they in fact use polycarbonate bowls (or similar) which I believe are legal.

 

If not can anyone point me to ones specifically for use in a boat. I want to be able to see whats in the bowl.

 

Can't help with your quest (I believe there's a heating test they have to pass), but although they may be 'illegal' for inland boats that doesn't necessarily apply for proper 'marine' craft.

 

Tim

[Arthur Brown]

Certainly seagoing vessels use use see through sight glasses, read the BSS rules carefully in conjunction with your examiner for inland use.

 

When I used to fly there were no sight glasses for the fuel BUT every aircraft had a glass bottle and you would sample each tank before each flight. The tap was at the bottom (below the take-off to the engine) so the odd drop of water could be removed by hand before causing trouble.

[gary955]

I've found many for sale online using the very common HDF 296 element, even specifically under marine parts, but all are described as having a glass bowl. As these are now illegal for use on boats can I assume they in fact use polycarbonate bowls (or similar) which I believe are legal.

 

If not can anyone point me to ones specifically for use in a boat. I want to be able to see whats in the bowl.

Not sure if they're "illegal" as such, but they would fail a BSS. So perhaps you might consider that it would be alright to remove them or temporarily replace the bowls with aluminium once every three years?

[Arthur Brown]

When refueling aircraft from cans we would always line the funnel with real chamois leather as this absorbs water but passes petrol.

 

Does anyone know (or can anyone test) whether chamois passes diesel and still retains water.

[Albion]

I may be a bit out of touch with the BSC requirements these days but at one time I believe that you had to have a metal bowl and additionally a conversion to a metal drain screw (as opposed to the standard plastic one). Has that requirement been relaxed in recent years?

Roger

[by'eck]

Thanks for replies. My local chandelry offered a CAV filter assembly with, if memory serves me correct, a polycarbonate see through bowl. They claimed it was complaint with current RCD requirements. Can anyone confirm this.

 

BTW, the only reason I didn't buy it there an then was the price, around £50. So am still looking.

[Albion]

Thanks for replies. My local chandelry offered a CAV filter assembly with, if memory serves me correct, a polycarbonate see through bowl. They claimed it was complaint with current RCD requirements. Can anyone confirm this.

 

BTW, the only reason I didn't buy it there an then was the price, around £50. So am still looking.

 

Just checked the BSS section on fuel filter 2.12.2 and 2.12.3 and it only words the requirement as follows:-

 

2.12.2

Non-marine fuel filters can be vulnerable to damage from fire and

impact damage as well as, the vibration, shock, corrosion and

movement found in marine use. The failure of a fuel filter could lead

to a very significant leakage of fuel, which if the cause was a fire,

could add fuel to the flames.

Are all fuel filters of a suitable proprietary marine type?

Check that all fuel filters are marked or recognised as suitable

proprietary marine filters. If not marked or recognised as suitable,

verify this by examining any presented declaration from the

manufacturer or supplier.

Fuel filters must be of a suitable proprietary marine type.

 

2.12.3

Are all fuel filters inside engine spaces fire resistant?

Check all fuel filters (including drain plugs) located inside engine spaces

are marked or recognised as fire resistant. If not marked or recognised

as being suitably fire resistant, verify this by examining any presented

declaration from the manufacturer or supplier.

Fuel filters (including drain plugs) located inside engine spaces must

have intrinsic fire resistance of at least 21⁄2 minutes at 600ºC (1112ºF).

Note – All-metal fuel filters are considered ‘sufficiently fire resistant’.

Fuel filters marked with ISO 10088 are acceptable.

 

Hope this helps.

Roger

[Arthur Brown]

2.12.3/R REQUIREMENT

Are all fuel filters inside engine spaces fire resistant?

Check all fuel filters (including drain plugs) located inside engine spaces

are marked or recognised as fire resistant. ...

 

Note – All-metal fuel filters are considered ‘sufficiently fire resistant’.

Fuel filters marked with ISO 10088 are acceptable.

 

Snipped heavily from the BSS inspection PDF http://www.boatsafetyscheme.com/downloads/BSS_Guide_chap2.pdf as 31st march 2012.

 

This section ONLY regulates the fuel filters for use in an engine compartment so if the filters are NOT in the engine compartment can clear filter bowls be used.

 

Would the BSS Office care to say whether this is a fair and correct interpretation of the regs please?

[Arthur Brown]

More worrying would be the requirement that the filters are from a marine supplier.

 

Would this apply to the filter elements too? A CAV, Fram, or Crossland (et al) filter element could come from a car shop or a boat shop or even a specialist diesel fitter, would the element have to have "marine" marked on it, including the mandatory +100% price increase for the same element?

[Albion]

More worrying would be the requirement that the filters are from a marine supplier.

 

Would this apply to the filter elements too? A CAV, Fram, or Crossland (et al) filter element could come from a car shop or a boat shop or even a specialist diesel fitter, would the element have to have "marine" marked on it, including the mandatory +100% price increase for the same element?

I believe that this only refers to the housing and not the element. From a fire viewpoint then what is inside the housing is of no importance as long as the housing meets the requirements.

Roger

[by'eck]

BSS requirements aside, this is the quandary I'm in.

 

 

Here we have a well known supplier advertising a marine fuel filter with glass bowl. Have established that polycarbonate is fire-proof so just want to know if this is, and they are using the word glass loosely.

[Albion]

BSS requirements aside, this is the quandary I'm in.

 

 

Here we have a well known supplier advertising a marine fuel filter with glass bowl. Have established that polycarbonate is fire-proof so just want to know if this is, and they are using the word glass loosely.

 

I don't think that fire-proof is the correct term. To quote from the manual:

Note – All-metal fuel filters are considered ‘sufficiently fire resistant’.

Fuel filters marked with ISO 10088 are acceptable.

 

so even metal ones are only 'sufficiently fire resistant' (although this seems an understatement as far as I am concerned).

 

But, at the end of the day, it's not what WE think, it is the interpretation of a BSC examiner that counts so I think you should seek the advice of one of them before you get too heavily into buying and installing anything. There are BSC examiner(s) on this forum so perhaps they could advise.

Roger

[Arthur Brown]

Where you fit it is the important question. IN and OUT of the engine room the rules are different. Ask BSS Office for their specific ruling in writing. ONLY their official opinion counts everything else is a guess.

[by'eck]

I don't think that fire-proof is the correct term. To quote from the manual:

Note – All-metal fuel filters are considered ‘sufficiently fire resistant’.

Fuel filters marked with ISO 10088 are acceptable.

 

so even metal ones are only 'sufficiently fire resistant' (although this seems an understatement as far as I am concerned).

 

But, at the end of the day, it's not what WE think, it is the interpretation of a BSC examiner that counts so I think you should seek the advice of one of them before you get too heavily into buying and installing anything. There are BSC examiner(s) on this forum so perhaps they could advise.

Roger

 

Hopefully a BSC examiner will respond.

 

In the meantime I'm sure that if I have documentation confirming its proprietary marine use and fire-resistance or approval to ISO 10088, I will have no problem with any BSC examiner. Without such I imagine they are going to be suspicious of a filter bowl described as and looking like glass.

 

I think I therefore need to take the matter up with the suppliers.

 

BTW it will be fitted in the engine room.

Edited March 31, 2012 by richardhula

[Rob@BSSOffice]

2.12.3/R REQUIREMENT

Are all fuel filters inside engine spaces fire resistant?

Check all fuel filters (including drain plugs) located inside engine spaces

are marked or recognised as fire resistant. ...

 

Note – All-metal fuel filters are considered ‘sufficiently fire resistant’.

Fuel filters marked with ISO 10088 are acceptable.

 

Snipped heavily from the BSS inspection PDF http://www.boatsafetyscheme.com/downloads/BSS_Guide_chap2.pdf as 31st march 2012.

 

This section ONLY regulates the fuel filters for use in an engine compartment so if the filters are NOT in the engine compartment can clear filter bowls be used.

 

Would the BSS Office care to say whether this is a fair and correct interpretation of the regs please?

 

It is a correct interpretation.

 

The other ways of providing 2.5 minutes fire protection for filters in an engine space include:

Some manufacturers offer clear bowls that are intrinsically fire resistant for 2.5 minutes,they may be marked as meeting ISO 10088, or provide documents stating the same.

Some manufacturers offer OEM steel 'dog bowl' flame shields that attach underneath the filter. The makers have had these independently tested to certify that they meet ISO 10088 standards.

 

HTH

 

Rob

[by'eck]

Thanks for reply Rob. I have sourced this filter part # 2-76938 from Aquafax.

 

This item has a Lexan (polycarbonate) fire-resistant bowl & metal drain screw.

 

As there is no documentation with it to confirm ISO 10088 compliance they have heard its down to the individual BSC examiner if its accepted or not when located in an engine room on an inland waterways vessel. Some have accepted its fire-resistant status others not it seems

[Naughty Cal]

It would be handy to know if anyone can find out if these filters will pass a BSS examination as we would like on fitted to NC. Currently we have a metal filer with a metal drain plug fitted to the tank but the only way to check the quality of the fuel is to drain some off periodically. It would be helpful for us to be able to check at a glance wether we have dirty fuel particually before heading out onto the coast.

[tosher]

It would be handy to know if anyone can find out if these filters will pass a BSS examination as we would like on fitted to NC. Currently we have a metal filer with a metal drain plug fitted to the tank but the only way to check the quality of the fuel is to drain some off periodically. It would be helpful for us to be able to check at a glance wether we have dirty fuel particually before heading out onto the coast.

 

My feelings as well. A lot easier to check with a transparent bowl than messing about draining fuel off.

[by'eck]

It would be handy to know if anyone can find out if these filters will pass a BSS examination as we would like on fitted to NC. Currently we have a metal filer with a metal drain plug fitted to the tank but the only way to check the quality of the fuel is to drain some off periodically. It would be helpful for us to be able to check at a glance wether we have dirty fuel particually before heading out onto the coast.

 

Well if it helps I've now confirmed my (narrowboat) builder has used the exact same lexan bowl model on more than one occasion without issue, although he normally uses the metal bowl equivalent.

[Rob@BSSOffice]

Well if it helps I've now confirmed my (narrowboat) builder has used the exact same lexan bowl model on more than one occasion without issue, although he normally uses the metal bowl equivalent.

 

The chaps at Aquafax are usually very helpful. You could ask them for information about the clear bowl. I couldn't find any specification suggesting that the clear bowl meets ISO 10088 on that link. However, the guys at Aquafax should know.

Rob

[by'eck]

The chaps at Aquafax are usually very helpful. You could ask them for information about the clear bowl. I couldn't find any specification suggesting that the clear bowl meets ISO 10088 on that link. However, the guys at Aquafax should know.

Rob

 

Thanks again Rob. It was in fact from the guys at Aquafax that I gleaned the info in post #17.

 

Despite the suggested documentation not being available with this filter, they told me some BSS examiners accept it, particularly in the Thames area apparently, others though don't

Edited April 3, 2012 by richardhula