Abstract: An oily water separator method and means using a suction pump to withdraw oil and water from a ship's bilge or sump. To decrease emulsification of the mixture, the pump is positioned downstream of an initial filter and the separator. The pump draws the oil-water mixture by suction through a particulate filter and then into a separator. Fluid flow is slowed by the specially configured baffled separator to allow the majority of the inter-mixed oil to separate from the water by gravity before reaching the pump. The suction pump draws the water from the lower portion of the separator housing and pumps the now almost oil-free water through two additional filter stages. Means are included for reversing the pump direction to force accumulated oil floating on water from the separator housing to a holding tank.