[C320-list] Winter surprise

[Marko Jamnik]

Thank you Rick for your in-depth reply. I will trace the fuel leak as you have indicated. I have cleaned up the fuel a couple of times this winter. Nothing is ending up in the bilge yet because the stern is sitting lower than the bow on my cradle. I have place  a couple of pads, one under the engine and the other one back of the engine where most of the pooling has happened. I didn't notice any sign of fuel aft of the fuel/water separator so my initial search will be with the fuel pump/filter area. I will check in a couple of days to trace the pooling and keep you posted.

Thanks again

> Marko Jamnik
> Marquesas 304
> Lake Ontario


On 2014-03-10, at 8:30 AM, Rick Sulewski <rsulewski at bex.net> wrote:

> Marko,
> I also have a Westerbeke and am familiar with the fuel system. You may have
> a leaking fuel line, leaking fuel fitting, a leaking fuel pump or a leak at
> the on-engine fuel filter/retainer. It is also possible that fuel is leaking
> from the fuel tank or lines/fittings from the tank migrating into your bilge
> area from under the liner. 
> 
> The fuel may be leaking because the fuel lines, filter and fuel pump are at
> a level below the  fuel level in the tank, which is higher than the source
> of the fuel leak.  The fuel leak can be gravity fed and fuel can escape at
> that breach point in the system. That is why you are seeing fuel under the
> transmission and in the engine oil bilge area. If fuel leak is nearest the
> engine, then the fuel is likely running down the fuel line or even the
> engine block and dripping into that immediate area under the fuel pump and
> is then captured by the oil bilge.
> 
> You are looking for any evidence of fuel being dripping from the highest
> point of the fuel pump down to all of the areas below on both sides of the
> fuel pump due fuel since gravity feeding the leak.
> 
> Using a several pieces of paper towels, begin by tracing the fuel leak by
> starting from lower regions of the engine fuel leak  to find where it is
> coming from. Begin by first checking the fuel hose leading from the
> fuel/water separator to the fuel pump area as there could be a crack in a
> hose  and even near, or under, the spring clamp where the fuel line coming
> from the fuel/water separator filter is attached to the fuel pump. The fuel
> pump is located high up on the engine tucked under the water line hoses and
> it has some wires leading into that small square like box which is the fuel
> pump. Also check the fuel fittings on the fuel pump for evidence of a leak
> as well as the fuel line leading from the fuel pump to the on-engine fuel
> filter. Then check the bottom of the on-engine fuel filter so If by chance
> you recently changed the on-engine fuel filter, the fuel could be leaking
> from that area due to a misaligned fuel filter retainer or seal. 
> 
> If there is no evidence of fuel leaking from the back side of the engine,
> check for fuel leaking into the area from under your liner in the event the
> fuel tank area is leaking. A large amount of fuel leaking from the  tank
> could cause some fuel to enter the bilge area under the transmission and
> under the stuffing box because there is a hole in the liner located at the
> lower region of the liner adjacent to the fuel/water separator location
> where a water line fitting emerges from under that liner that feds water to
> the water pump from the aft water tank.  The fuel tank or fuel tank
> hoses/fittings could also be the source of the fuel leak, but given the fuel
> under the engine, if the fuel is not leaking from the fuel pump area, then
> it would take a large amount of fuel to leak into the area below the
> transmission and into the engine oil bilge.   Check your fuel gauge to
> determine if a large amount of fuel was lost from the leak.  The fuel may
> have migrated from under the liner into the aft bilge area where the liner
> is closest to the hull. If you have a much lower fuel gauge reading, then
> the fuel tank area may be the source of the leak, if not, check the fuel
> lines or fuel fittings from the tank area The gravity feed will stop when
> the fuel in the tank reaches the same level as the leak which would result
> in about a 1/4 of a tank.
> 
> Please let me know what you learn so I am also prepared to check my fuel
> system. I am going to replace all of my engine cooling hoses and engine fuel
> hoses this spring so your info would be helpful. Thanks.
> 
> Rick
> My-Ria 1995 C320 Hull # 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: Sunday, March 09, 2014 11:50 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Winter surprise
> 
> As we come out of the coldest winter in some time. We wonder what surprise
> winter will leave with. As I inspect the inside of my boat I realized a
> diesel smell as I entered the cockpit. I noticed diesel in the well below
> the engine and also more fuel located aft below the transmission and the
> stuffing box area. It does not appear to be coming from the primary fuel
> filter but leaking somewhere on the engine and setting behind the engine.
> The engine is a 30B Westerbeke. I look forward to anyones input regarding
> this fuel leak.
> 
> Marko Jamnik
> Marquesas 304
> Lake Ontario=
>