[C320-list] A Diesel Fuel Tank Leak

[Karl Mielenhausen _/)]

Regarding the diesel fuel smell, I've been told that washing down affected  
surfaces with Calgon Liquid Fabric Softener helps cut the odor. Try a 1:1  
dilution with water.
This would be after a clean-up using Dawn dishwashing detergent 1:3 with  
water or Simple Green as Chris suggests.

On Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:36:14 -0400, Jon Vez <jonvez at comcast.net> wrote:

> My fuel tank leaked after about 8 seasons. The first thing to do would  
> be to
> get some oil absorber pads and place them forward of the tank. This will
> keep the fuel from continuing to build in the bilge. If you remove the  
> board
> over your aft water tank you will be able to slide a few pads right up to
> the front of the tank. This will also show you what side of the tank the
> leak is coming from (and verify it is the fuel tank). Mine was a very  
> slow
> leak, so I spent weeks trying (hoping) it was hoses, filters etc. At the
> end, I bought a new tank from Catalina (as I recall it was about $450 or  
> so)
> and replaced it. The job is fairly easy and straightforward and if you  
> end
> up going this route, I will be happy to give the specifics on this job.  
> The
> leak ended up being a pin hole in the fwd corner weld of the tank. They  
> can
> be repaired, but it wasn't worth it in my opinion as they supposedly  
> have a
> life of 7-10 years (although most last much longer)....good luck...
>
> Regards,
>
> Jon Vez
> Solstice #582
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Ken Danko
> Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 10:18 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] A Diesel Fuel Tank Leak
>
> I have developed a diesel fuel leak. I only had a few minutes to look at
> it so I don't have all the details as I write this. I'm really surprised
> because it appears that the hoses and all connections are ok. The leak
> seems to be coming from the tank itself but I don't yet know where.
> Grace is a 2001 model so a tank failure seems to me to be highly
> unusual. The last time I was out on Grace, I hosted a post sailing BBQ
> and went back the next day to clean up (no diesel leaks then). A week
> went by, I was out of town, during which time the leak developed while
> the boat was sitting at the dock. My questions are numerous. How could
> this happen? Has anyone else experienced a sudden tank leak? Should I
> contact Catalina and see if they warranty such a failure? Can tanks be
> fixed or do I need to get a new one. How do I clean the area from the
> tank to the bilge which is somewhat inaccessible? Any and all advice
> would be greatly appreciated. One last thing, what cleaning product
> works best on diesel fuel.
>
> Ken Danko
> Grace
> #802
>



-- 
Karl Mielenhausen
Catalina 320 Hull 690
New Bern, NC