Fuel breather leak? Need some help here...

[causeway]

Having been pottering on my new boat i cleaned out the bilges... somewhat, to clear an oily smell in the cabin. I've cleared oil which came from some old shell oil which leaked into the rear cockpit locker but now something else has arisen.

Sorry for the massive image. The front left pipe seems to have been repaired but is still leaking. Having traced back the line to its exit from the hull, i believe this next image is where it exits the boat.

Would i be right in thinking that this is a fuel tank breather? Why would the black crud be around the skin fitting? I'm very new to all this so just wanted to check for advice.

I did just Brim the tank to very full and suspect this is why i never noticed it before.

Better still, can anyone identify all the pipes? Breather, lift, drop??

 

[Kylora]

I assume that you have an Albin Vega. On my Vega the fuel tank is also in the bilge but the breather outlet is on the outside of the coaming, so on the grey grp, forward of and higher than the filler. It has a gauze insert. I'm not convinced that the outlet in your pic is the breather - it seems to be too low in relation to the filler. OTH, I don't know what else it might be.

Just noticed your secondary question. My top plate on the fuel tank is rotated 90 deg clockwise from yours. The spare connector is forward, starboard side. I use this to dip the tank. I've never tried removing the little cap to see if the fuel level indicator still floats. I don't think that I could remember the connections despite replacing all the pipes when I re engined but I could have a look next weekend.

Ash

 

[I never get the name I wa]

I think that the breather is just to the right and below the winch.

To test it try blowing some air into it ... a dinghy pump should do it.

Listen for bubbles in the tank.

The thicker pipe in your pic. is probably the fuel feed ... should go to a filter ... the final pipe should be the fuel return pipe.

 

[BruceDanforth]

Having been pottering on my new boat i cleaned out the bilges... somewhat, to clear an oily smell in the cabin. I've cleared oil which came from some old shell oil which leaked into the rear cockpit locker but now something else has arisen.

Sorry for the massive image. The front left pipe seems to have been repaired but is still leaking. Having traced back the line to its exit from the hull, i believe this next image is where it exits the boat.

Would i be right in thinking that this is a fuel tank breather? Why would the black crud be around the skin fitting? I'm very new to all this so just wanted to check for advice.

I did just Brim the tank to very full and suspect this is why i never noticed it before.

Better still, can anyone identify all the pipes? Breather, lift, drop??

Are you sure that skin fitting isn't your bilge pump or something?

 

[sarabande]

To test it try blowing some air into it ... a dinghy pump should do it.

Listen for bubbles in the tank.

I think that breather pipes are taken from the top of the tank, so listening for bubbles is probably not an option. If you do try an air pump, then you should not find any resistance to the air flow if the breather is clear.

 

[I never get the name I wa]

I think that breather pipes are taken from the top of the tank, so listening for bubbles is probably not an option. If you do try an air pump, then you should not find any resistance to the air flow if the breather is clear.

Totally agree. I was just thinking that as the OP said:

I did just Brim the tank to very full and suspect this is why i never noticed it before.

that the breather may be actually IN the diesel ... hence the leak.

 

[A1Sailor]

If the breather does exit on the side of the boat, as shown, their might be a chance of water getting in - although to be fair if the pipe bends up then down to the tank it is unlikely that it'll reach the tank. On my current boat, and the last, the breather pipe exit was on the transom and partially covered.

 

[Martin999]

It could be something to do with the exhaust

I have a similar skin fitting on my boat (Hunter Channel 31) and a trickle of water comes out when the engine is running and is linked to the exhaust outlet. No idea why it does but that may explain the black stains (which I also have)

 

[causeway]

Just checked again this morning and the dirty skin fitting is from maybe the exhaust manifold? I've circled its location.

I'm going to try and trace the other one (from the fuel tank) now.

 

[causeway]

I have a similar skin fitting on my boat (Hunter Channel 31) and a trickle of water comes out when the engine is running and is linked to the exhaust outlet. No idea why it does but that may explain the black stains (which I also have)

Fits with my picture. Would like to know why it does this though!

Can't locate where the leaky pipe is from, i need another set of hands. I'll try and get someone else later today to help.

 

[Martin999]

Fits with my picture. Would like to know why it does this though!

I would too

 

[Kylora]

I've only just realised that your picture of the skin fitting is of the starboard side of the boat.

The fuel tank vent is on the port side, just forward of the winch, on the outside of the coaming.

Ash

 

[aquaplane]

Fits with my picture. Would like to know why it does this though!

Can't locate where the leaky pipe is from, i need another set of hands. I'll try and get someone else later today to help.

If water comes out when the engine is running it's the anti syphon outlet from the exhaust. It stops water sucking back into the exhaust manifold as the engine cools down.

It should have a one way valve in it to stop it weeing when the engine is running but these often get salt/crud in and stick open. Sticking open is better than sticking shut! Some folk take out the one way valve (and hang a fender over the outlet to keep dry feet when berthing).

 

[Martin999]

If water comes out when the engine is running it's the anti syphon outlet from the exhaust. It stops water sucking back into the exhaust manifold as the engine cools down.

It should have a one way valve in it to stop it weeing when the engine is running but these often get salt/crud in and stick open. Sticking open is better than sticking shut! Some folk take out the one way valve (and hang a fender over the outlet to keep dry feet when berthing).

Many thanks for the explanation

 

[causeway]

Many thanks for the explanation

+1.

Not had a chance to track that pipe yet but there is a proper smell of diesel in here