Should clear bowl on Raco fuel filter be empty?

[belfert]

I have a Raco primary fuel filter that has a manual priming button on top.  When I ran out of fuel earlier this fall I had to use the priming button to get the engine primed.

I also managed to fill the clear bowl on the bottom of the filter assembly with diesel by being a little over zealous with the priming button.  I drained some of the diesel out later, but if I completely drain the bowl will I end up draining the diesel from the filter too and cause another priming issue?  I assume not, but I am just checking to be sure.

[junkman42]

If You have a racor fuel filter with the bowl on the bottom and the replaceable filter on top that is accessed by removing the T handle that holds the top cover on, the clear bowl should be completely full.  Different story if You have a davco.  Hope this helps.  regards John

[Iceni John]

On my Racor 900FG the clear bowl is where the nasties accumulate, and it needs to be occasionally drained of crud.   When I opened the drain on the bottom not much came out, so I opened the top to let it drain better.   Bad idea!   Long story  -  I introduced air into the fuel system, engine spluttered to a stop, major anguish ensued.   I then installed an electric fuel pump plumbed in parallel to the Racor's output, so now it just takes a few minutes to reprime the engine.

another John

[belfert]

I believe what I have is a Racor 490R which should not have anything in the bowl from what I find in my research.

I ended up with so much pressure inside the filter that diesel was being forced out the drain valve on the bottom of the bowl.  I know better now.

[DaveG]

If You have a racor fuel filter with the bowl on the bottom and the replaceable filter on top that is accessed by removing the T handle that holds the top cover on, the clear bowl should be completely full.  Different story if You have a davco.  Hope this helps.  regards John

FWIW the Davco filter (with the clear "bowl" on top) should be almost empty when filter is new, filling up as filter becomes plugged.

[BG6]

The Davco is a "surge progressive" filter.  The fuel saturates the entire filter, but is only drawn through it as needed.  When there is a high flow, the level will go up, but at idle will return to the normal level.  As contaminants are trapped, that normal level will rise. 

This design is superior in some ways -- and inferior in others -- to the type with the bowl on the bottom.  The greatest advantage is that you can see how rapidly the filter is being expended. 

FWIW the Davco filter (with the clear "bowl" on top) should be almost empty when filter is new, filling up as filter becomes plugged.