Draining sediment from RACOR- need to bleed engine?

[c2cSailor]

I am a first time boat owner (Catalina 27) who has an older RACOR model 200FG with the clear bowl at the bottom. I can see quite a bit of sediment that needs to be drained. If I loosen/depress the nipple and drain the gunk, will air be introduced to the filter housing? Can I just fill the filter with fresh diesel without having to bleed? I have a Universal Model M-18 (14hp) that I'm sure is not self bleeding like the new Westerbekes.

Guess I have a little stage fright with having to bleed my engine for the first time if in fact I will need to. I guess my filter is about the same height as my fuel tank but I think the end of the fuel pick up tube is below the lowest level of the fuel filter drain.

[Pamlicotraveler]

Just open the top and bleed it via the nipple then pour enough diesel into the bowl to refill. You should change the filter at the same time though...No air should get in.

[sailingdog]

Even if a little air gets in...IMHO it is better that you learn to bleed the fuel system now, rather than trying to figure it out in the middle of a storm, with the boat blowing down on a lee shore line... BTW, I generally have new owners mark the various screws that you need to bleed the diesel fuel system with a neon or or other brightly colored paint. That way, in an emergency, you can find them easily and quickly.

[capttb]

In a "new, used" boat if there's enough sediment to disturb you in the bowl I'd change the filter, and try to get as much fresh fuel as possible into the tank. The fuel in the tank now must be a little old and you are going to need to keep an eye on the amount of sediment that collects until you are able to run for 100 hrs. or so with no crap collecting in the bowl. Bleeding the air is pretty easy usually and as dog remarked it can be a REALLY important skill.

[Omatako]

If the worst comes to the worst, normally there will be a bleed screw on the back end of the injector pump where the air can be bled out before it gets into the pump or injector lines.

I don't know if your setup has a lift pump on the engine but if it does (normal)and the bleed screw referred to above is easily found then bleeding the air out should be simple.

Andre