[C320-list] Water in fuel

[Rick Sulewski]

Mark,

While I have not experienced excessive water in the fuel tank on our 1995
320 over the last 18 seasons, I have schedule a preventative measure by
periodically removing the very bottom level of fuel/water/gunk from the tank
every 4-5 years. I open up the fuel tank and insert a vacuum pump tube
(using a Topsider Pump) to draw an inch or so of fuel from the bottom of the
tank. The task is easy to perform by first removing the storage shelf in the
starboard aft locker and then removing the return line fuel fitting that is
easily accessible from the top of the tank. The small amount of water that
enters the system between the 4-5 year bottom draw cycles is captured by &
removed from, the Racor fuel filter bowel. I periodically use a biocide and
a Cetane booster/fuel treatment additive called Diesel Kleen that is also
supposed to disperse water in diesel fuel. There are a variety of additives
available, but must avoid using too much of a good thing that may attack
fuel system seals/o-rings, etc. 

 I suspect that the small amount of water I have removed from the tank is
either due to condensation or from the fuel dock station storage tank.
Sounds like your tank received a good dose of water from a mistaken water
fill, or your tank has simply gained so much water from prior owners running
a low amount of fuel in the tank rather than avoiding condensation
accumulation over the last 18 years. I attempt to keep the fuel tank topped
off in the off season and fill when below 1/2 tank during the season.  My
primary concern was not just water in the fuel only, but the increased risk
of corrosion from the inside of the tank from if a large amount of water is
present ( a few years back there were some owners reporting tank
leakage/corrosion issues on the earlier models). 

 To avoid the problem of mistakenly filling the fuel tank with water, I
simply brush painted the fuel filler cap with latex white so it stands out,
even in the dark.

Rick
My-Ria #277

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Marko Jamnik
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 12:43 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Water in fuel

I'm the only one who fuels the boat and haven't added any water to my aft
tank. My diesel cap is colour coded. After all these years I guess the water
has accumulated through fuel and condensation

Mark
Lake Ontario
#304



On 2012-06-25, at 12:19 PM, Chris Burti wrote:

> Catalina has moved the fuel and water fill fittngs around a bit over 
> the years. On our #867 they are side by side by the starboard stern 
> perch and owners with this configuration have reported accidental 
> filling of the water tank with diesel and the diesel tank with 
> water....best recommendation is to be very careful when filling 
> either, don't let anyone do it for you and replace the stainless caps 
> with color coded plastic ones.
> 
> On Mon, Jun 25, 2012 at 11:25 AM, Marko Jamnik 
> <mjamnik at markocreative.net> wrote:
>> Into my third sailing season with my 1995 - 320. Boat came from brackish
waters to fresh water.  I had the motor taken out and had the  motor mounts
replaced as well as reconditioning the engine, all of the hoses filters
primary & secondary filters, zinc nodes impeller etc.  after all that it was
tested and the result the engine was in A1 condition. The last two seasons
no problems until now.  It's a Westerbeke 30B with a total of 1000 hrs.
>> 
>> I tried starting the engine this week and after two minutes the 
>> engine stalled. I cranked it a number of times and no luck. The fuel 
>> gauge was full. I had a mechanic look at it only to tell me that I 
>> was pumping through water, out of the injectors that all I saw. The 
>> plan is to clean out the tank and replace it with cleaner fuel. I 
>> think it was a matter of time that the balance of water levelled with 
>> the fuel and with some sloshing around I reached that cutoff point. 
>> Now my concern is that this will be a costly fix especially since I 
>> have water in the system now. Concern of mine is that a complete 
>> removal of water has to happen, I can't afford water in the cylinders 
>> since it won't burn and once the fuel does kick in it can blow a 
>> seals. The mystery here is how much water is in the system already
>> 
>> 
>> I have checked the O ring and it's not cracked I still have to check the
vent fitting but this will be after the fact.
>> 
>> Before I hand over my retirement fund, just kidding. I'm wondering if
anyone else has had a similar experience.
>> 
>> If only it could run on water?
>> 
>> Mark
>> 
>> #304
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Chris Burti
> Farmville, NC
>