Water in diesel filter - advice please

[Twister_Ken]

Tech problem part one

Was going to start the engine today and as always checked the oil (OK) raw water strainer (OK) and the pre-filter (NOK).

For the first time in three years of ownership there was water in the bottom of the water separator bowl. Consulted my 'diesel doctor' book which says it happens, just drain off the water. Only thing even resembling a drain tap at the bottom of the bowl is a nylon device that looks like it might be a wing nut. This would not move clockwise or anti, even with some extra leverage on it. The filter is marked as a Delphi HDF 296. Does anyone know this model, and is the nylon wotsit likely to be the nut for the drain plug. If so how much force can one apply without doing damage, or alternatively is there a way to free it up?

Tech problem part two

While scratching my head over this, I noticed that there seemed to be approximately one drop of water falling to the diesel/water interface in the bowl about every 10 seconds, despite the fact that the engine wasn't running and the ignition was off. That got me really puzzled. Any words of advice?

 

[petery]

My engine wouldn't start the other day and I looked at the filter bowl and thought it looked strange - no warm reddish colour - just a white frosted appearance!

So, this afternoon, I struggled with that wing nut on the botton - turning it clockwise looking down on it . Yes it was very tight, but the water started to trickle out after a couple of turns - I did not have to remove the plug completely.

 

[Strathglass]

Ken.
That plastic wing nut is indeed the drain plug. It is a normal righthand thread and there is a slot in the thread so that it starts to drain before you unscrew it completely.
There is however available a metal replacement of exactly the same dimensions. I got one from ASAP.
They are a requirement of the Inland boat safety scheme.

Iain

 

[Freebee]

Your getting water now cos the ambiant temp has dropped causing condensation in the tank. You must have water in the tank so check tanks for water bottom and remove before the dreaded bugs appear.

 

[LadyInBed]

If you haven't had a recent bad fill, it sounds like condensation, is the tank tending towards being empty?
If you can get a funnel, hose and a clean plastic milk container under the drain tap at the bottom of the bowl, you could try draining off a pint or two to assess the scale of the problem.
The last resort is to drain the tank.

 

[hlb]

Na. You dont need to drain the tank. I accidently put about ten gallons of water in the diesel tank. (Dont ask). First took drain plug out of bottom of tank and ran off the bulk of the water. Then repaced bung with a tap, then a pipe, then another tap. Make sure the pipe is going down hill into bilge. Leave the first tap open and close the second. Drain off whatever water collects in the pipe. I've left my new water trap in as a perminant feature. Next job is to put some Soltron in the fuel, this will deal with any bugs, stop engines from smoking and maybe improve performance. I was so impressed with it. I bought a box full of the stuff.

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Haydn

 

[janstu]

I add 5% petrol in my diesel tank.Giving better starting performance on my Farrymann Diesel and have the ability to solve some water.Also to solve problems with soldifided components like parrafine during winter time.Try to fill up the tank complete to avoid condensation.I used this also for severall years in my John Deere tractor used for launcing my fishingboat from a sandy beach and stalled outside just under a coversail.Never had any problems.

regards Jan.

 

[omega2]

Hayden, I note your strong faith in Soltron, how do you start to use it? i.e do we start with near empty tanks. How much of the stuff to the gallon? We burn 8 gallons an hour which when warmed up and under load we are clean. Do I buy Soltron to placate the Raggies as they walk by on the finger just as I start up or would it really work on our 20 year old Sabre 180's

J HAMER

 

[bryantee]

If your tank is top access only(vetus) /borrow a pela suction pump and take the bottom 2 In. out of the tank. this usually takes the water and the gunge out.(starts like newcasle brown ale and ends like exhibition.) work that one out.
regards and fit a Racor215 .it helps

 

[hlb]

I'ved PM'd you. But. Yes it placates the raggies. I used to blank out Plymouth!! It wont do any harm if to much in. It's all writen on the bottle. Obviously it wont solve knacked engines and wont make new engines twice as fast. But it works on my 1989 Volvo's and my old Toyota 4x4 too. Has little efect in the newish merc.

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Haydn

 

[rich]

When I had a Sabre 212 I used to fill the harbour with white smoke on start up. the advice from Sabre was to let go all my lines , start the engine, get the hell out of the harbour and then go to full throttle as soon as possible. It would be interesting to know if Soltron has any effect on this problem.
However, my newest boat is 40 years old and has twin Perkins 4108s, which since I have been using Soltron run like sewing machines, without a trace of smoke or anything - I haven't replaced the filters for 3 years! everything is spotless and the fuel is ultra-clean

rich )

 

[jfkal]

Reason which it still trickles: Water has acummulated at the bottom of the tank up to where the fuel line exits. Gentle motion of the boat then flushes more water into the filter/water seperator. Open the drain, clear out the water. If your tank has a maitenance access; go in and suck out whats at the bottom. If it does not (like mine). You are talking Diesel-?-?-?--right; drill a hole from the top, insert a rigid tube and pump out. Taper the hole and close with a screw and neoprene seal. Clean the filter change the cartridge, bleed and start. Good luck.

 

[stubate]

Raggies ????
Oooooooooh !!
next thing well be seeing stinkpots !!!

 

[petery]

Why drill a hole? I just fed a tube down the filler pipe and sucked out the water -
but, I admit, my tank fills from above through the cockpit floor.

 

[chas]

The advice I had was not to touch the tank - I have a 27 yr old galavanised one - for fear of making it leak. Fit a good priamary filter (which I needed anyway) and be prepared to change the element at least three times in the season. After a little time. the diesel will be clean due to its circualtion to the engine and back. The cost of the filters is probaly on a par with the effort requires to bleed, clean the bilges etc etc.

I will let you know if it works!

 

[jfkal]

Yep agree. But mine fills from the side (grrrrr). No way to get down to the bottom through the filler (