Update, I pulled the suction tube and found the strainer to be gummed up. I am almost certain this was the cause. So my hypothesis is that in high seas and full RPMs debris got stirred up from the bottom of the tank and clogged the mesh at the bottom of pickup tube. After stopping the engine and adding 5 more gallons from jerry can it’s likely that debris got loose and freed up the filter mesh enough to allow me to bleed and start the engine.
So as per one your recommendations, I cut the strainer part of the pickup tube. I will just look at primary fuel filter for signs of gumming up. The tube itself is of flexible rubber or plastic material so it had no holes or corrosion. That material is obviously not dissolvable as I’ve had it since I owned the boat, and it’s still in good condition. On another note, my fuel sender stopped working indicating always empty. After ohming out the terminals at the top of the tank, I discovered that it was the variable resistance mechanism that is sitting in the tank. Ended up ordering a new one that has fuel return fitting on it. While at it, I made sure that air vent hose is clear and free of clogging. Anyone know what minimum size intake fuel line should be for a 40HP diesel. W40? I am just wondering if that line is too small so at high RPM engine might be starving. It appears to be either 3/16” or ¼”. I have to double check. Thanks. Petar Horvatic Sundowner 76 C&C 38MkII Newport, RI On Jul 10, 2015, at 12:40, Petar Horvatic via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Update: So half tank gauge reading was about half tank. After another 5Gal jerry can I was full to the top. So two 5gal cans got me to the top. Tank is 20 gallons. I did not pull the tube yet. Not sure if this matters, but I noticed that my return line form injection pump Tees into the vent line just before it goes to the tank. I opted to do this since I didn’t have another hole in the tank. It used to be a gasoline engine tank. And those don’t have return. Heading to block again tonight after work. No wind and seas are lot calmer. It will be a straight 4h motorsail. Once I get there, fuel level in the tank will be down enough to pull the pickup tube and see how low it goes. Does anyone know if I need to bleed the injectors again after disconnecting the fuel line at the tank to inspect the pickup tube? My intuition says yes. Petar Horvatic Sundowner 76 C&C 38MkII Newport, RI From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Joel Aronson via CnC-List Sent: Monday, July 06, 2015 11:29 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Joel Aronson Subject: Re: Stus-List westerbeake sucking in air on a half tank Peter, How low did the gauge read? How much did you think you had before adding the 5 gallons? What did it read after? Did you top it off and see of the numbers added up? I agree it sounds like a plumbing issue with the vent or pickup. I hope your access to the tank is better than mine! Joel 35/3 Annapolis On Mon, Jul 6, 2015 at 9:36 AM, Petar Horvatic via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: So if the pickup was blocked, why on both occasions after bleeding(once in calm water and second time in rough water but after adding 5 more gallons to the tank) it ran without a problem for hours, 2nd time in the same rough seas. The tank was out (dried out and inspected) over the winter in 2011/2012. So was the pickup and sender at which time I don’t remember seeing any signs of corrosion etc. It might be good to mention that prior to 2012, I had atomic 4 (gasoline) engine. I put westrerbeake in the spring of 2012 after a full rebuild. I kept the tank. Hoses were all new. My primary is the Racor 230R Diesel Spin-On Series filter/water separator. I change that and secondary filter every commissioning. No signs of water whatsoever. Also fuel that comes out while bleeding is clean. From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Paul Fountain via CnC-List Sent: Monday, July 06, 2015 9:18 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Paul Fountain Subject: Re: Stus-List westerbeake sucking in air on a half tank Or the pickup becomes blocked, and air gets sucked in elsewhere in the fuel system. Paul Fountain From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Frederick G Street via CnC-List Sent: Monday, July 6, 2015 9:12 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Frederick G Street Subject: Re: Stus-List westerbeake sucking in air on a half tank Petar — it might be that the fuel pickup tube is corroded, and either doesn’t drop as far down into the fuel as it should/used to, or you have some pits in it above the half-tank level that allow air it. Sounds like time to pull and check it. Fred Street -- Minneapolis S/V Oceanis (1979 C&C Landfall 38) -- Bayfield, WI On Jul 6, 2015, at 8:09 AM, Petar Horvatic via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Anyone has an idea why this happened twice in a row. Two trips to Block island this year and at about the same spot, right where seas get a little lumpy, and on about half full tank, diesel sucks in air and dies. First time was pounding into 20-kts (not a good way to travel), second time with no wind but large confused seas. The first time I sailed and dropped a hook before bleeding the injectors. Second time I added 5 gal jerry can and after bleeding injectors in 6 foot swell got her started without a problem. Ran fine after that in same conditions. I guess I should check to make sure fuel gauge is calibrated, although I’ve been using it the past 3-4 years. Petar Horvatic Sundowner 76 C&C 38MkII Newport, RI _______________________________________________ Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com -- Joel 301 541 8551 _______________________________________________ Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com
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