Diesel in Bilge

When I got to my boat this past Friday evening, expecting to relax and have a nice diner, I opened the boat and smelled diesel fuel in the main cabin. After pulling up the floor boards, I found the bilge full of fuel. I spent the next 3 hours soaking up 2 gallons of fuel and washing down the bilge. I traced the fuel back to where I believe?? the leak was coming from. There is a filter on the fuel tank that has a peacock value at the bottom. This value had a drop of fuel ready to drop. I turned this value 3 turns counter clockwize until seated. Now the guessing starts. On conversations with my dealer, he indicates this is a water strain valve that should only be open to remove water from the fuel. If so, why has this been open for the last 2 years without a problem? No one has ever had access to this area.  (Can anyone confirm this is the use of this valve?). Is there any reason this value should have been open? Is it possible this is a fuel cutoff valve? The only unusual activity here is this is the first time I have completely filled the boat tank and left it that way for 3 weeks. Maybe the the level forced fuel into the filter until it leveled out??? So, if anyone has any thoughts, thanks for the info.

Also, a maintenance question. My dealer said that he does not believe that filter is available in the US markets. How often should this type of filter be replaced and has anyone tried to get a replacement?

Regards, Mike

Stella Maris 370e#166

Some good information.  It makes sense to have a water seperator and hense the valve should be closed unless extracting the water. My dealer and I just can not explain why the valve was open for 2 years without a problem. The boat had to have been delivered with the valve open but I never noticed any fuel in the bigle (never had to pull up flooring). My dealer did hint that I might have to replace this assembly with a Racor since parts are available in the US. It may be worth checking on all new boats to be sure this valve is closed. This may eliminate a potential overflow of fuel like I had. Thanks for the reply.

'The only unusual activity here is this is the first time I have completely filled the boat tank and left it that way for 3 weeks.'

Maybe the drain at the bottom of the filter/water separator is not the problem but you may have a poor seal to the top of the tank, either the fuel gauge sender, inspection plate, the filler pipe, air breather pipe, fuel delivery, fuel return or heater fuel pipework.

Regards
Mike.

Edited by Brightside - 29 September 2008 at 20:54

Three years ago as I want to change the delphi filter for the very first time in my last Hanse 341, I detected that the little faucet at the bottom of the glass was not to open. I checked it a saw that there was some sikaflex between glass and faucet. Possibly it was to avoid exactly was has happened to you lukemi.

I checked it again - its almost the same, almost. The right powder ist baking soda - not vanilla sugar. I found it in a german forum - its not my experience. Another hint was to put coffee powder in a cup. Sorry for confusion.