In 2015 Racor changed the filter media sealing process from a heat-cured glue in a plastic cap, to more of an embedding process. The type and amount of Aquabloc media, and the superior filtration performance, remains the same. The overall element diameter is slightly reduced due to not using the tan plastic cap.

"UL" stands for Underwriters Laboratory. Filters used for onboard marine applications require UL certification. The "T" in "TUL" means the filter is a 10 micron rated. On other Racor replacement filters, "SUL" means "2" micron rated, and "PUL" means 30 micron rated.

Heat, cold, and age can cause seals to stick and threads to bind; and the bowl may become very difficult to remove. For the best grip on the bowl, a Racor plastic bowl wrench is available (RK 22628); but a good rubber strap wrench will also work. It may be necessary to remove the assembly to a workbench, where you can apply a vise and wrench to the problem. The key to avoiding damage is to grip the filter element can only at the very ends, and never in the middle. If the bowl turns on the element can without loosening, try denting the can slightly at the very bottom to stop the internal thread ring from turning. The element must then be discarded. When installing a new filter assembly, it is a good idea to disassemble the element can from the head and bowl, re-lubricate, and reassemble by hand according to the instructions printed on the can.

Reach inside your empty housing, grab the rubber spacer, and discard. Long explaination: Many years ago the 2010 element was re-designed with a hollow area on the bottom end cap. For old 500 Turbines, it was necessary to place a rubber ring spacer under the element to keep proper height inside the housing. New 2010 elements have a bottom ring that serves as the spacer, making the rubber spacer unnecessary.

The bowl wrench for the GreenMax, Paccar, and Freightliner filters is: PFRK61730. Also available: Racor spin-on bowl wrench, part number RK 22628.

In both the 500 and 900/1000 turbine series, the flat side of the gasket goes towards the ball, and the ball is below the gasket. When re-assembling, the 500, the ball is dropped into the tan colored plastic turbine and the gasket goes on top in the flat area. For the 900/1000, the gasket is centered in the upper housing inlet hole, (a lip holds it up) before the plastic turbine is threaded into place.

The materials used in Racor filters for housings and seals are generally compatible with both diesel and gasoline. Racor's Aquabloc© medias filter contaminants and remove water in both diesel and gasoline. However, when choosing between Racor products, it is best to go with the filter type specifically designed for the fuel being filtered, as some gasoline applications should not use plastic filter bowls. Other exceptions: Gasoline ethanol content should not exceed 20%; 400 Series with hand primer buttons should not be used in gasoline.

For gasoline, multiply your engine horsepower by 0.10; for diesel multiply by 0.18. This will give you a rough estimate of the total system fuel flow through the filter. This extra flow is used to cool engine parts on most modern engines. This amount is usually much more than fuel consumption. Choose a Racor filter with a maximum flow rating that is more than your total fuel flow.

"Inboard" filters meet coast guard requirement for fire safety, and have metal bowls or bowl protection. "Outboard" filters use plastic bowls and drains and must be mounted in an open ventilated area. Fit, form, and function are the same.

Parker Engine Mobil OE (Racor brand) does not sell fittings, but fittings are available through many online and distributor store outlets. The external website www.fittingsforracor.com has an easy to navigate visual database featuring all types of fittings for every Racor filter model. Other resources: Parker Tube and Fittings (1-614-279-7070), West Marine stores, and FTG Inc. (1-800-734-1988 / support@ftginc.com / www.racorparts.com).

Depending on your vessel, you may be able to meet requirements by changing out your plastic bowl to an aluminum (non clear) metal bowl (RK 11734-03). You could also add the MA plastic bowl (RK 11-1606-1) and stainless steel heat shield (RK 11868). However, your unit will not carry a UL sticker or rating. In order to meet UL standards, marine units need to be assembled and tested at the Racor factory.

This depends on the size of the air bubbles and the source of the air. Small streams of "champagne" bubbles are probably just air coming out of fuel solution. At about 4"Hg vacuum, some air may begin to appear as small bubbles. A filter mounted 3 or 4 feet above the fuel tank and/or fuel passing through elbows and tee's creates low pressure zones where air and fuel separate. Air that is the result of low pressure is usually no concern, because the air is compressed back into solution at the injection pump. Large "blobs" of bubbles that appear to come out of the "turbine" in the bowl must originate outside of the Turbine Series housing itself. The path from the inlet port to the bowl "turbine" is direct, and surrounded by fuel; so any air must be entering somewhere from fitting to the tank. With the engine off, even the smallest fuel leak will eventually reveal itself as a wet spot. Fix these immediately. In the end, all fuel filters eventually plug, and if not changed, air and vapor will come out of the fuel, and the engine will stop. Best to change elements at 5 to 8"Hg above start point or risk an unscheduled complete loss of power.

The Racor SNAPP fuel filter/water separator was designed and tested for use in both gasoline and diesel fuels. When "2 micron" Aquabloc© media is selected, the SNAPP can filter up to 40 gph gasoline flow.

As a guideline, change a fuel filter element every 500 hours, 10,000 miles, every other oil change, annually, or at first indication of power loss, whichever occurs first. Ideally, you use a vacuum gauge to monitor filter restriction, and change your filter when the gauge reads 5 to 8 inHg above the starting vacuum (about 7 to 10 inHg is typical). This insures that your filter is still removing water at high efficiency. You can change out at higher vacuum, but water removal efficiency will be impacted as the vacuum goes up.

The acutal FBO filter element part number is not written on filter, because different Parker divisions sell the replacement elements with different part numbers. The code gives the specifications, which can be crossed to a part number. The first letter can be "C", "F", or "W", meaning Coalescer, Particulate, or Water Absorbing element. The next number is either "10" or "14", meaning for the FBO-10 (10 inch long) or the FBO-14 (14 inch long). The last number is "1", "5", "10", or "25", which stands for the micron rating. Consult a part number cross over chart to find the actual part number.

Racor filters are available for purchase from Racor distributors located online and around the world. A list of Racor distributors (subject to change) is available online. Visit www.racor.com or on www.racornews.com. The list on www.racor.com contains distributors and their parent companies, which may involve a second phone call. The map and list on RacorNews.com includes many independent, secondary distributors. If you have difficulty locating a distributor, please call Racor at 1-209-521-7860 or write racortech@parker.com.

Unfortunately, that gauge is an obsolete part with no replacement. The only fix is to remove the gauge, and tap and plug the holes. Put a tee fitting and gauge at one port to monitor element restriction.

The gauge connection must be to the vacuum side of the filter, between the filter and any pumps. You can tap into an unused outlet port or a T-fitting at the filter housing outlet. There are three needles on the gauge. The first one is the indicator, and moves with the increasing vacuum. When the filter element is new it might read about 2 inches Hg. The second needle is a follower, and is set when the element is new by turning clockwise until it rests on the indicator needle. When the engine is off, the indicator needle returns to zero, and the follower stays at the highest point it saw. The third service needle is static, and set by hand where there was loss of engine power minus an inch or so of Hg. So when the follower reaches the service needle, the element should be changed, and the follower returned to sit on top of the indicator.

As a standard practice, your fuel system should be inspected regularly for problems. As part of the fuel system, Racor clear bowls must be inspected as well. Racor recommends replacing clear plastic bowls used in gasoline once a season. However, if a bowl is found to be cracked, fogged, deformed, or seeping fuel, it must be replaced immedately.

There is no maximum shelf life as long as the filter is still in the original packaging. Filters out of their packaging should be used as soon as possible. A date code is printed on top of cartridge element or on the spin-on can.

Always use new gaskets and seals before filter re-assembly. High temperature and fuel exposure can cause gaskets and seals to change shape and hardness over time. Not replacing them risks future leaks. New gaskets and seals are included with every Racor replacement element and replacement part. Gasket and seal rebuild kits are available from Racor distributors.

That stuff is slime and soil bacteria that have traveled from your fuel tank. These “diesel bugs” grow and make a protective mat of slime between the water at the tank bottom and your diesel fuel. With tank agitation, or if they die due to a biocide additive, the dark slime will travel to your fuel filter, quickly plugging it. Biodiesel is more prone to this problem, but it can happen in any fuel tank; especially tanks sitting half full for a long time. That’s why diesel fuel should be filtered at every transfer. In short, your tank needs cleaning; or at least a dose of biocide and several replacement filter elements.

The all engineering-plastic SNAPP has no gaskets to leak, no metal to rust, requires no tools to change the filter, and can be serviced anywhere with less waste. Spin-on filters have more possible leak points, are prone to corrosion, and require tools to change the filter; which often requires a bench to complete. Finally, the SNAPP has the maximum amount of Aquabloc© media in a compact size, along with a clear (non-removable) contaminant collection bowl.

Use 30 micron when the Racor filter is used as a pre-filter (primary), and there are secondary (final), high efficiency filters downstream. 30 micron pre-filters protect downstream filters from excessively dirty fuel. Use Racor 10 micron for the same reason as 30 micron. 10 micron captures more contaminants and is better at stopping water at the expense of somewhat shorter filter life. However, the fuel system will still have longer life when compared to a system without a pre-filter. Use 2 micron (98%@4 micron) when the filter is the only, or final filter in the system. Racor 2 micron media is designed to protect all modern injection systems. 2 micron is sometimes used to protect difficult to service on-engine filters, moving the majority of the filtration burden to the pre-filter.

You can alway use a micron level smaller than what you have been using. Filter life might be a bit shorter depending on the fuel quality, but you can't go wrong on particulate and water protection. If the filter is the only one in the system or the last one before the engine, it must be a 2 micron. Some much older engines can use 10 micron, but just in case, always go with the 2. If the filter is a pre-filter ahead of the engine mounted filter, a smaller micron size (10 instead of 30 or 2 instead of 10) will work fine until you can find the micron rating you usually use.

RK 21113: Old-style non-venting drain, plugged 9/16” WIF port. RK 21113-13-04: Old-style non-venting drain, no WIF port. (John Deere RE500187) RK 21113-13-11, RK21113-13-13 : New self-venting drain, plugged ½”-20 WIF port. All above bowl numbers superseded by the following part numbers: RK21113-01: New self-venting drain, plugged ½”-20 WIF port. RK21113-02: New self-venting drain, plugged ½”-20 WIF port, included WIF probe.

The Winn fuel is no longer in production and most replacement parts are no longer available. The recommended direct replacement is the Racor 790R30.

First, Racor no longer sells or services Webb fuel filter/ water separators/ coolant heaters. For parts and futher information, contact FTG Inc. (1-800-734-1988 / support@ftginc.com / www.racorparts.com). Answer: The screen should be inspected for any damage and replaced if necessary. You can clean the screen in a mild solvent, followed with a detergent cleaning, using a soft brush. When installing the screen, care must be take to insure no oils come in contact with the screen (don't touch with your fingers).

Racor no longer sells the 'Hot STK" or tank fuel senders. For parts and futher information, contact FTG Inc. (1-800-734-1988 / support@ftginc.com / www.racorparts.com). The FTG parts catalog can be viewed and downloaded at this link: http://bit.ly/FTG_Product_Catalog

Racor no longer sell fuel additives of any kind. Please contact Parker Hydraulic Division: 1-419-644-4311

Contact Racor Technical Service; or call Mid Atlantic Engine Supply Corporation at 1-800-257-8133. Mid Atlantic has years of experience specifying and installing Sentinel systems. http://bit.ly/Mid-Atlantic_Sentinel_Page

Racor 3-wire water-in-fuel "WIF" probe = RK30880E Water Probe Kit Racor cross to Fleetguard FS19754 = R120P (30 micron element with bottom opening for a deep bowl.) Brass Petcock shut-off valve for Racor Marine Turbine series = RK 19492 Bowl Wrench for Paccar / Freightliner / GreenMax = PFRK61730 Bowl Wrench for all Racor Spin-on bowls = RK 22628.