I will cut the story way down..
On Friday a boat I have been re-fitting most of the winter was splashed. Unfortunately before launching the yards fuel system was not yet up and running because ValvTect needs to do a full system inspection before they allow it to be turned on.
The boat had a 100% BRAND NEW fuel system from the fuel tank to the hoses, fittings, fuel sender and gauge, Racor filter, shut off valve and fuel pump. The system was brand spanking new and bone dry, a complete fuel virgin. I had only installed the tank about 4 days prior to launch, talk about a crunch schedule, and just two days before the launch had tapped the screw holes for the new tank sender and vacuumed out any "shavings" from the bottom of the fuel tank. The cover of the boat was still on and we've not had rain in weeks.
So the boat splashes and the yard brings down a 5 gallon Jerry jug of fuel. We pour it into the tank and fire up the motor. The motor ran well for a few minutes then sputtered and died. Figuring I needed some more bleeding I cracked the bleed screw and PURE WATER!!!!!! This was at 4:00 on Friday afternoon.
To keep the long story short the yard guys got a fuel transfer pump, mine was at home, I removed the sender and we pumped the tank dry. But, not before the hose on the transfer pump BLEW APART and covered the engine and cabin in wattery diesel...
I had just spent MONTHS getting the smell of diesel out of this boat..:cussing::cussing:
Once the tank was dry I zip tied a microfiber rag to a dowel and cleaned any remaining droplets of water from the bottom of the tank bringing it back to its virginous state..
By 5:30 we had cleaned & drained tank, purged the fuel lines & pump and installed new filters. Fresh road diesel was used this time. Engine purrs again..
The yard is at a loss as to where the wattery diesel came from but they were good enough to send someone for fresh road diesel at 4:45 PM on a Friday and get an on-engine filter delivered by 4:55 PM on a Friday... They were great about it and I appreciated how they dealt with this. Stuff/$hit happens...... Doh'!! I suspect I just got the ONE Jerry can that had the bad fuel in it. I will not be going to Vegas any time soon......
Some days you'd be better off to stay in bed.......
Oh and don't even get me going on the new TackTick instruments ......:cussing:
On Friday a boat I have been re-fitting most of the winter was splashed. Unfortunately before launching the yards fuel system was not yet up and running because ValvTect needs to do a full system inspection before they allow it to be turned on.
The boat had a 100% BRAND NEW fuel system from the fuel tank to the hoses, fittings, fuel sender and gauge, Racor filter, shut off valve and fuel pump. The system was brand spanking new and bone dry, a complete fuel virgin. I had only installed the tank about 4 days prior to launch, talk about a crunch schedule, and just two days before the launch had tapped the screw holes for the new tank sender and vacuumed out any "shavings" from the bottom of the fuel tank. The cover of the boat was still on and we've not had rain in weeks.
So the boat splashes and the yard brings down a 5 gallon Jerry jug of fuel. We pour it into the tank and fire up the motor. The motor ran well for a few minutes then sputtered and died. Figuring I needed some more bleeding I cracked the bleed screw and PURE WATER!!!!!! This was at 4:00 on Friday afternoon.
To keep the long story short the yard guys got a fuel transfer pump, mine was at home, I removed the sender and we pumped the tank dry. But, not before the hose on the transfer pump BLEW APART and covered the engine and cabin in wattery diesel...
I had just spent MONTHS getting the smell of diesel out of this boat..:cussing::cussing:
Once the tank was dry I zip tied a microfiber rag to a dowel and cleaned any remaining droplets of water from the bottom of the tank bringing it back to its virginous state..
By 5:30 we had cleaned & drained tank, purged the fuel lines & pump and installed new filters. Fresh road diesel was used this time. Engine purrs again..
The yard is at a loss as to where the wattery diesel came from but they were good enough to send someone for fresh road diesel at 4:45 PM on a Friday and get an on-engine filter delivered by 4:55 PM on a Friday... They were great about it and I appreciated how they dealt with this. Stuff/$hit happens...... Doh'!! I suspect I just got the ONE Jerry can that had the bad fuel in it. I will not be going to Vegas any time soon......
Some days you'd be better off to stay in bed.......
Oh and don't even get me going on the new TackTick instruments ......:cussing:
