[C320-list] diesel fueling question

[sailorlew at aol.com]

While I have a C28 I found that when I can here the air coming out of the vent hole stop making noise it's an indication that the tank is full & I stop filling. 
Lew



-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Hare <Catalina at thehares.com>
To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Wed, Mar 2, 2016 5:20 pm
Subject: Re: [C320-list] diesel fueling question

Diesel foams easily if there's any splashing or churning.  The fuel dock pumps are meant to dispense at a very high rate since power boats are taking on hundreds of gallons at a shot.  When we fuel up, we fill at an embarrassingly slow trickle.  We also switch on the key from time to time during the fill to see the gauge reading. Takes us easily 10 min to fill our tank whereas a large power boat would have taken in 50+ gallons in that amount of time. The fill and vent hoses both enter the tank on the same side of the central baffle inside the tank.  This means if you pour fast, the foam is concentrated in the smallest area of the tank and can easily start to back up both the filler and the vent hoses.

We used to know what "full" looks like on the gauge with our stock tank.  Now that we have a larger tank and a different sender, it'll take us some time to figure out where full is now.  We opt for a little under-filling most of the time.

-Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Dave Ouimette
Sent: Wednesday, March 2, 2016 4:27 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] diesel fueling question


Jeff,
 
Thanks for the ideas. I'm still wondering what causes the fuel to foam so much even when trickling the diesel into the tank. I have noticed the foam only comes out of the filler itself, not the vent so the vent may be clogged. I will check this out.
 
Dave
Hull 174
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Hare <Catalina at thehares.com>
To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Wed, Mar 2, 2016 3:06 pm
Subject: Re: [C320-list] diesel fueling question

To expand on the plugged vent idea check whether there's a dip in your vent hose that allows fuel to pool.  If there's enough of a dip, it won't vent properly.   I like the fuel hose to come into the boat, go up hill right away for a few inches, before head directly down to the tank without any low points that can trap fuel.

The loop uphill helps prevent water that might splash up the transom from a wave slap or washdown hose from draining into the tank.

Allan's solution is a good one assuming that there is no clog in the vent fitting itself.  We've replaced ours once already.  Takes 10 min (if you're an elf and can fit into that locker).

-Jeff Hare 

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Dave Ouimette
Sent: Wednesday, March 2, 2016 2:25 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] diesel fueling question


Allan,
 
Thanks. I will investigate.
 
Dave
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Allan S Field <allan.field at verizon.net>
To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Wed, Mar 2, 2016 11:23 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] diesel fueling question

Try the Lifeguard LG-100.  We put one in about 10 years ago and have never had a spill since.
http://www.parker.com/literature/Racor/Racor_Fuel_Filtration_-_LifeGuard_Fuel-Air-Separators_-_RSL0184.pdf

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Dave Ouimette
Sent: Wednesday, March 2, 2016 8:44 AM
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] diesel fueling question


I have a 1995 C320 and struggle to fill the fuel tank without spillage. On this model year the filler is located under the aft, starboard railing seat and no matter how sloooooowly I try adding fuel, it foams up, blows out the filler and needs to be caught in absorbent pads. Any suggestions on how to make this a less eventful operation?  

Dave
Hull 174