[C320-list] Winter surprise

[Rick Sulewski]

Marko, 
Once you find the source of the leak,  you may want to cut off the fuel that
is gravity feeding your leak by turning off the valve on top of the tank or
at the fuel/water separator before you remove/replace the hose clamp, fuel
filter, pump or fittings, etc.
Rick

-----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, March 10, 2014 10:19 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Winter surprise

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=
>