[C320-list] Diesel Spill/Odor

[jonvez at comcast.net]

Lamar,

As someone who did experience a fuel tank leak this summer, I can tell you it can be tough to isolate where the fuel came from and get it all out of the boat--

One way to ensure it is not the fuel tank is to take a couple of the 3M bilge absorber pads and lay them in front of the fuel tank. Place them just aft of the water tank and so they are just in front of the fuel tank. My leak was very sporadic so I kept trying to convince myself it wasn't the tank and it took me a while to verify it was a pinhole in the weld. 

The only way I got the spilled fuel out was to cut up pieces of bilge absorber and stuff them in the areas I could not get to...kept replacing and eventually all the fuel was removed. Once the fuel was out of the boat, I didn't have any problem with lingering odors...

Good luck...

Regards,

Jon Vez

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Lamar Desmond" <ldesmond at comcast.net> 

> After my marina winterized (including changing fuel filters and topping off 
> my tank) and hauled my boat I found diesel in the bilge. The marina cleaned 
> the bilge and around the engine but I really can't really figure out where 
> the fuel came from. I found a little water when I put my finger in the hole 
> where the aft water tank line runs but no sign of fuel. I can't see anything 
> around the fuel tank so I'm hoping it was from the filter change. The 
> filter is just above a conduit that the water line runs into on its way to 
> the galley. I can't really see where this conduit ends, even with the 
> galley drawers removed. 
> 
> I still have a strong diesel smell and found more fuel when I put my finger 
> in the aft limber hole of the bilge leading toward the engine. It looks 
> like if I pull up the floor I can get a little further aft but the area 
> under the floor at the base of the steps looks impossible to get to? 
> 
> Anyone been through this kind of cleanup; is it worth pulling up the floor 
> does it give any further access. Any good products to cut the smell, I saw 
> reference to Capt. Chomp in the archive. 
> 
> Thanks for any advise, 
> Lamar Desmond 
> C-320 #358