portion 626 of outer filter media stage 602 outer filter media stage 602 may be secured in u shaped engagement member 624 and to lower surface 616 of upper end plate 606 by several attachment methods including but not limited to embedding potting with adhesive and welding outer filter media stage 602 has a length greater than that of inner filter media stage 600 the difference in lengths forms a gap 605 between a lower surface 601 of inner filter media stage 600 and a lower surface 603 of the outer filter media stage 602 horizontal or radial gap 652 is present between outer edge 650 of inner filter media stage 600 and an inner edge 654 of outer filter media stage 602 horizontal gap 652 allows water that has coalesced in outer filter media stage 602 to travel downwardly once the water droplets formed by outer filter media stage 602 exits outer filter media stage 602 although not illustrated filtering element 250 can be positioned in a shell 302 that includes a nutplate 324 similar to that disclosed in previous embodiments lower end plate 606 includes a flange 628 that extends upwardly from a base portion 630 of lower end plate 606 a portion of an outer edge 632 of outer filter media stage 602 is connected with flange 628 of lower end plate 606 referring to fig1 a cross sectional view of another representative filter element 700 is illustrated as in the previous embodiments filter element 700 includes an inner filter media stage 702 and an outer filter media stage 704 outer filter.