I changed the fuel filters yesterday on the hard, which is always a delightful job (note sarcasm) and had an issue I thought I'd share. After I was done, having used my last absorbent pad and most of my paper towels/rags, I ran the engine to ensure no problems. I did have an impeller issue I had to resolve, but that is for another post. As I was just about to pack everything up, I noticed the water drain seemed to be wet with a bit of diesel.
So I gave it a little bit of a twist to make sure it was fully closed, and the rubber seal on the inside of the water bowl popped off. Best I can guess, as I was wiping it out during the change I pulled it partially off the plastic "screw" thingy and an extra half-turn was enough to pop it the rest of the way off. So I grabbed the paper towels that were still within reach to staunch the flow of diesel out of the bottom of the water bowl. I was alone on the boat and didn't want to leave it while I crawled into the back to shut the fuel lines off at the tank, but luckily my phone was on the nav table so I was able to call my wife to come to the boat so she could hold the increasing number of paper towels under the bowl while I went and shut off the fuel. I know there isn't a huge amount of fuel in the racor, but I wasn't sure if gravity would just keep fuel flowing into it or not and didn't want to take that chance.
With an extra pair of hands I was able to disassemble the filter (now for the second time that day) and got it handled without too much of a mess, and had just enough paper towels and rags to clean up (for the second time). My lesson learned is to double-check that rubber seal thing the next time I change the filters.
So I gave it a little bit of a twist to make sure it was fully closed, and the rubber seal on the inside of the water bowl popped off. Best I can guess, as I was wiping it out during the change I pulled it partially off the plastic "screw" thingy and an extra half-turn was enough to pop it the rest of the way off. So I grabbed the paper towels that were still within reach to staunch the flow of diesel out of the bottom of the water bowl. I was alone on the boat and didn't want to leave it while I crawled into the back to shut the fuel lines off at the tank, but luckily my phone was on the nav table so I was able to call my wife to come to the boat so she could hold the increasing number of paper towels under the bowl while I went and shut off the fuel. I know there isn't a huge amount of fuel in the racor, but I wasn't sure if gravity would just keep fuel flowing into it or not and didn't want to take that chance.
With an extra pair of hands I was able to disassemble the filter (now for the second time that day) and got it handled without too much of a mess, and had just enough paper towels and rags to clean up (for the second time). My lesson learned is to double-check that rubber seal thing the next time I change the filters.