Starboard side Raycor always needs topping up before staring

[Shaunc]

MY Raycor on the Stbd side always need to be topped up before I run the engine.

I have checked the seals and nothing seems to help. I am thinking of going to a larger micron filter next.

Anyone with any ideas?

 

[Finalee]

The fuel is either leaking out somewhere or being siphoned back into the tank. Tell us more. How long has it been going on, and has there been any recent work performed.

 

[Avenger]

Racors are fabulous air traps. It could be the Racors itself or it could be anywhere from the tank to the Racors. Clear tubing is an excellent temporary fuel hose for isolating air leaks.

 

[Andy B]

Did you replace the check ball and seal in the racor and if so is it installed correctly?

 

[Scarlett]

Had same problem, rebuilt Racors, no help, then I started turning off fuel tank valves after every run, that did it, have now installed check valves in fuel lines near Racors as backup. Hatteras boats with keel fuel tanks are more prone to this than boats with wing tanks outboard of engines at about the same level as the engines. John

 

[Shaunc]

All I have done is changed the filters. Had my Detroit guy look over the fuel hoses and no signs of any leaks. He did sau next time we need to start looking at the Racor filter itself. I was hoping to help narrow down some options to work on.

May have to do what Scarlett suggested and close off the filters to see if that helps.

 

[SereneWarrior]

Had similar problems a few years ago. My issue turned out to be a fuel line leak on the suction side before the RACOR filter. Never had fuel leakage anywhere because the hole was so small, but it sucked in air when the engine was turned over. In the end, I replaced all the suction side copper fuel lines with USCG approved flexible lines that a local shop made for me. Once I had the fuel lines in hand, the installation was a piece of cake.

 

[DCMY #92]

Depending on how old your Racor is, you may be getting the wrong T-handle Oring with the new filter. The older Racors use a square section Oring. What's supplied now is a smaller diameter round section Oring. I only know this because I happen to have a few unused older gasket sets to compare to what comes with the new filters.

 

[SEVEN]

Depending on how old your Racor is, you may be getting the wrong T-handle Oring with the new filter. The older Racors use a square section Oring. What's supplied now is a smaller diameter round section Oring. I only know this because I happen to have a few unused older gasket sets to compare to what comes with the new filters.

Great call. I had read about that but had totally forgotten about it.

 

[DCMY #92]

To temporarily seal the leak I installed 2 of the current Orings on the T-handle. I later replaced it with a fatter round section Oring.

 

[MVCaprice]

I later replaced it with a fatter round section Oring.

Do you happen to have the part number or dimensions to share?

 

[DCMY #92]

Do you happen to have the part number or dimensions to share?

An aftermarket gasket set (probably WIX or NAPA) that came with a replacement filter several years ago contains 3 gaskets. There is no part number, but the paper with the gaskets lists the contents as:
4.7" diameter gasket (used on all 900/1000 units)
.750" diameter T-handle gasket (used on all 900/1000 units except 900/1000 FG)
.620" diameter T-handle gasket (used only on 900/1000 FG units)

The square section Oring is .75" OD. The smaller round section Oring is .62" OD

A left over Racor (again several years old) gasket set contains the same gaskets, but no descriptive paper or part numbers.

 

[MVCaprice]

I have been troubleshooting air bubbles in the Racor/ Flowscan inaccurate readings / low idle / low fuel pressure. In my case it was the lines to/from the Racor assembly creating a vaccum leak. Old fuel lines have consistently been a problem on our boat and might be worth taking a close look at.

 

[MVCaprice]

An aftermarket gasket set (probably WIX or NAPA) that came with a replacement filter several years ago contains 3 gaskets. There is no part number, but the paper with the gaskets lists the contents as:
4.7" diameter gasket (used on all 900/1000 units)
.750" diameter T-handle gasket (used on all 900/1000 units except 900/1000 FG)
.620" diameter T-handle gasket (used only on 900/1000 FG units)

The square section Oring is .75" OD. The smaller round section Oring is .62" OD

A left over Racor (again several years old) gasket set contains the same gaskets, but no descriptive paper or part numbers.

Thanks for this. I took a look at our housings and they seem to be the round gasket type as far as I can tell.

 

[MVCaprice]

Had my Detroit guy look over the fuel hoses and no signs of any leaks.

One of our 3-4 air/fuel leaks was under the floorboard between the Racor and Manifold. It looked like the inner jacket has been permeated and then the outer jacket on the hose was the only thing preventing an air leak. A bit of chafing on the outer jacket was all that was required to cause a small air leak in this case.