[C320-list] mysterious fuel leak

[Pat Moriarty]

Check the tank vent line, the hardest line to get to on my boat cause 
it is under the AC and you have to be a snake to follow it. If it has 
pulled from the breather it will leak on a port run.

Pat #130

At 07:31 AM 8/14/2006, you wrote:
>Hi Jeff,
>
>About half a pint or so that I could get at. I suspect more made 
>it's way further forward under the liner because we now have the 
>smell of diesel in the head. None has made it to the bilge yet.
>I haven't changed the filters since Spring and the smell in the aft 
>cabin/head is the dead giveaway that this is a very recent occurance 
>since we lived on the boat for 2 weeks with no odor or sign of 
>diesel. Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated....
>
>Regards,
>
>Jon
>
>
>-------------- Original message --------------
>From: "Jeffrey Hare" <catalina at thehares.com>
>
> > Jon,
> >
> > Just curious, but how much fuel are you talking about? Is there any
> > chance that during a filter change/prime, some fuel ran back 
> along the fuel
> > line and dripped off into that compartment? Since it wouldn't 
> evaporate, it
> > could have been there a while. (but you would have probably detected some
> > oily fuel lines where it passes through behind the water tank in that area
> > still.)
> >
> > Curious...
> > -Jeff
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: jonvez at comcast.net [mailto:jonvez at comcast.net]
> > Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 8:01 AM
> > To: 320 List
> > Subject: [C320-list] mysterious fuel leak
> >
> > After coming back from a sail on Saturday, I found fuel pooled between the
> > liner and the aft water tank where the blue water hose exits the tank. It
> > was aft of the engine and after thoroughly checking both the 
> engine and the
> > primary I worked my way back to the tank. I haven't been able to find any
> > source of a leak. The top of the tank's fittings are dry and hose 
> clamps are
> > secure. There's basically dust on the top of the tank. I traced every hose
> > with no luck and I am now completely perplexed.
> > I put some rags under the tank towards the aft bulkhead overnight 
> and there
> > did not seem to be any fuel coming from that area. On Sunday, I 
> started the
> > engine and did all of this again with still no sign.
> > Saturday I was convinced I would be calling Catalina how to remove and
> > replace the fuel tank, by Sunday I was pretty certain it isn't 
> coming from a
> > leak in the tank.
> > Does anyone have any other thoughts on this? I really would like to figure
> > out the source...thanks in advance....
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Jon Vez
> >
> >