[C320-list] Fuel

[Warren Updike]

Just a thought... if a loose connection before the fuel pump, perhaps it is tight enough that it doesn't leak, but there is negative pressure when running that is sufficient to pull air in.

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay


-----Original Message-----
From: John Meyers [mailto:jcmeyers7 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2016 1:40 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fuel

David,

I had a air-in-fuel problem this spring. I saw a few drops (less than a
teaspoon) amount of fuel in the tub below the engine which got wiped up.
Got the engine started by bleeding. Later there was more drops of fuel in
the tub and engine didn't start right away. Bottom line is that I tightened
the fuel line connections and the leaking stopped completely and since then
no problems with starting or keeping it going.  So I wonder, as in your
instance, if there are leaks where fuel comes out is it possible that air
is sucked in?

By the way, there was something about some of the Yanmars needing some sort
of fuel system recall/fix that was a possible cause for the hard starting.
I looked on my 1997 engine and didn't see the item that needed removing so
was must have been fixed by PO.

Hope your problem goes away one way or the other.

John Meyers
#406 Wind Chime

On Sat, Aug 27, 2016 at 1:19 PM, Dprudden <dprudden at comcast.net> wrote:

> For the second time in two years, while under power, the engine died with
> about a half tank of fuel. Apparently, air got into the fuel line, as
> bleeding the air out got her going again. Anyone else have this problem?
>
> I know some have said they never run with less than half a tank of fuel.
> That effectively leaves the boat with at most 9.5 gallons of fuel before
> refueling. For most coastal cruising, that's fine-they are sailboats, after
> all. But that does restrict some trips-can't risk having to power too long.
> Any thoughts?
>
> David Prudden
> #787
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>