Abstract: The invention provides a method for separating fuel from water in a marine propulsion system and a reusable device for separating water from fuel in marine and diesel engines thereby preventing or limiting water from entering the combustion process of the engine. The device includes two generally thin-walled housings which secure and contain a plurality of petroleum sorbent filter elements therein. The filter elements are constructed from multiple adjacent microfibers layers bonded to each other by entanglement of said microfibers between adjacent layers, each element allowing passage of fuel therethrough but being substantially impervious to the passage of water. At least some of the filter elements are treated such that the surface of the element which faces the incoming fuel is heated until at least some of the microfibers coalesce and bond together.