fuel filter

[tyce]

hi, my new to me, boat is fitted with a yanmar 1gm10, the lay out for the fuel is standard, i.e. fuel tk- clear filter -engine - filter engine, there are two things i am not to sure about, first there is no valve on the whole system so fuel cannot be shut of in emergency is this normal, and secondly the clear filter, as i cannot shut fuel of before this it makes it very difficult to open this so does anybody know if there is a filter element in this or is it just a water seperator, it is roughly twice the size of the engine filter.
the boat is a hunter horizon 272.
also does everyone change there sump oil after winter lay up or later in the season.
thanks in anticipation

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[leechips]

got exactly the same problem. My pre filter water seperator is a CROSLAND 522 and Ive just bought a replacement for it - yes it should open!!!! Is the fuel cut off at the tank? I don;t have one at all so looks like I'll have to be quick changing the pre filter. The fuel filter is fine though as its beyond the pump so without operating the pump you shoul dget no fuel coming through

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[leechips]

got exactly the same problem. My pre filter water seperator is a CROSLAND 522 and Ive just bought a replacement for it - yes it should open!!!! Is the fuel cut off at the tank? I don;t have one at all so looks like I'll have to be quick changing the pre filter. The fuel filter is fine though as its beyond the pump so without operating the pump you shoul dget no fuel coming through

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[Guest]

I would guess that about 80 - 90% of 'sea-going' sailing yachts similar size to yours do not have fuel valves - nearly all sailboats up to 30ft I surveyed are so set-up. In fact compared to many you are well equipped - as you have a separator filter in the line.
Mobo's on the other hand unless a small engine job - are fitted with fuel cut-offs etc.

If you fitted one - it could only be for the good


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
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[bob_tyler]

Suggest that a tap is not necessary. Fuel is (normally) sucked out of the top of the tank. As it won't run uphill I don't think that a tap is necessary. System may need priming after filter clean.

As to "does everyone change there sump oil after winter lay up" I suggest that the answer should be no. Oil should be changed at the end of the season so that the engine is full of clean oil without deposits throughout the layup - no acid etc.
This old oil should be drained (pumped out) when hot to get as much as possible out.

If using diesel, I would suggest filling the tank to the brim at the end of the season so as to leave as little room as possible for condensation

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[Guest]

Bottom feed ....

My tank is bottom feed ..... without cut-off - a point that I have never liked - but never got round to sorting.

As to engine oil - change when hot ! Before / after winter etc. etc. - main point is get it warmed up and thinned to get as much out as poss.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
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[charles_reed]

Good practice is to fit a fuel tap just by the tank - the problem of free-flow will only occur when you free off a pipe by the pump with a full tank because of the siphon effect.

As most boat engines are thoroughly badly by builders you may have a tap in an inaccessible position.

The good news is that, unless the head of fuel is above the separator, you should have no leakage. The easiest thing to do is just drain off the water at the bottom of the bowl using the tap.

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[ditchcrawler]

Most Hunters(British) have a fuel tap(red) at the bottom of the cockpit locker which is difficult to reach.When I asked Hunters about this they recomended leaving it in the on position anyway.

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[oldharry]

Gravity fed fuel feeds from the tank really must have some means of cutting it off at the tank. When a fuel line fractures how are you going to stop your entire fuel supply ending up in the bilges? How then are you going to remove it? (No NOT with the bilge pump sending it o/b! - that will earn you a very large fine indeed from Marina, Harbour board, DOT etc.)

Secondly, occasionally injector pumps stick open usually as a result of internal failure. If you cannot cut off your diesel supply, how are you going to stop the darned thing? With a high engine speed, it is often not possible to even get out of gear..... not much fun if you have just topped up a large tank!

Thirdly: the nightmare scenario of an engine room fire being fed copiously from a ruptured fuel line.

Fourthly - what a mess every time you service the filters! And remember you may have to do this at sea if a filter clogs up on passage. What fun!




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[seaboy]

If you do fit a valve to your fuel system, I would use a 'ball' shut off valve with the bore as your fuel line. Its for safety as well as a maintenance help no matter where you draw fuel from the top, side or bottom of your tank.

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[Close hauled]

Nigel Calder has, in my opinion, a lot of good informatio in his book on marine diesels. I'm in the process of re-doing my fuel tank and filters having spent some time with a liveaboard marine engineer recently. He emphased how critical it is to ensure that only super clean diesel gets to the injector pump. Any time/money spent on effective water separation and filtration is well spent in my book.

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