4.3 spin on water separator

gtfireftr

gtfireftr

Member
Oct 9, 2014
292
Westport MA
Boat Info
1997 Sea Ray Sundancer 290
Engines
Twin 4.3 liter w/Alpha Drives
I am going to change the water separators on the 4.3's.
Do I need to fill them with gas in order to assist with the priming of the fuel system?
I don't want to burn out a starter trying to fill them.....
 
Yes, it's always good practice to manually fill them with gas.
 
There are a whole bunch of threads out there on this topic. My takeaway (when preparing to do my filters this year) was to fill the filters if you have carbs, skip it if you have fuel injection. Cycle the ignition a few times on fuel injected models after you install and all is well.

When I replaced mine I did not fill them. Worked like a charm.
 
In most cases, it's not necessary as multiple key-on/key-offs will fill it since the fuel pump runs when you turn the key on (attempting to start is not needed). BUT, very occasionally you could get an air lock so filling first is one of those "it certainly can't hurt to do it" things.
 
OK - by your response, I thought that maybe you didn't think you had a fuel pump. Meaning, carb=no fuel pump and fuel injected=fuel pump. Very good, carry on!
 
I changed 3 of them for 4 years on the same boat, I never filled them. Maybe it's not best practice, but that's my experience.
 
fwiw i filled ours the first time on the 5.7EFI's and even so the boat stalled the first start. Give it a couple key on/off's and fired again and they run fine. Happened on both motors, so if she chokes after the first start don't panic ( I almost did )
 
I do not fill them on my boat because it's in a tricky spot and I would rather not have a bilge full of raw full because I have a feeling I would end up spilling. I do the turn the key on and off a couple of times assuming that fills it up. Whether it does or not who knows but I can tell you the boat starts and runs fine with no problems.
 
I have never filled mine. Always seems to start and run fine. Merc 7.4 L carb. I don't want to spill gas in my bilge.
 
When I had my 190 Sport with the 4.3 MPI, I changed that filter once. I did not fill the filter with gas or cycle the key, and the engine ran horribly for a couple minutes immediately after the change. Once the fuel had a chance to build back up in the filter the issue resolved itself.

Personally, I agree with not filling the filter directly. Whatever benefit is gained from doing so is quickly cancelled out with the risk of spilling fuel in the bilge.
 
On my old carb engines, I never filled the filters and the boat started and ran normally. On my twin 4.3MPIs the 1st time I changed them, I put them on empty. Both started and ran great for about a minute. Then both died. Couldn't restart. Checked filters and they were less than 1/2 full. Filled them and both ran great.

The next year I did a test and tried the key on/off method. Same problem. It seems mine air-lock and won't fill. So I must fill prior to installing.

Tom


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