2002 Volvo Penta MD2030 - B361

[onlinelee]

Hi Beneteau Friends,

I just completed my very first engine service, ever!! The closest I ever came to an engine was my lawnmower!! I have what I hope is a simple question... I suspect my model of engine has a self purging or bleeding fuel system, is that correct?

Its just that I know the pre filter had air in it when I installed the new cartridge, I loosened the bleed screw on the top ( see photo ) turned on the fuel and spent ages on the lift pump but failed to get fuel bleeding. I appreciate the engine may have needed a crank but there is no mark that I could see on the flywheel so not sure how to best line that up? If the pre filter is higher than the fuel tank will fuel ever lift to it or was I just sucking in more air?

Regardless, the engine fired up first time, a little rough to start with but I opened up the throttle at the start and left her running for 30 minutes and all good - Hence my possible self answering question!

Thanks in advance for any comments, Lee

 

[Philip_Oceanis 361]

I also have a 2002 Beneteau Oceanis 361 with a volvo penta md2030d engine. It takes ages to fill the prefilter with the pump so i always fill it myself (it's a racor filter with a 'cap'; simply open the cap, fill it up and then turn to close). The engine does indeed self bleed (or however you call it in English) unless everything is full of air. It is a good idea to use the pump first.

 

[onlinelee]

Thanks Philip, thats very useful confirmation of what I guessed. Yes, we call it " bleeding " this side of the pond too Lee

 

[Philip_Oceanis 361]

Yes, we call it " bleeding " this side of the pond too Lee

No it has nothing to do with the side of the pond! English is not my official language...

 

[forte]

Hi,

Same boat, same engine, same experience

Found during this years maintenance that there was a very tiny damage in the fuelhose going into the hand pump. Apparently caused by the hoses weight combined with vibration. Tiny hole was exactly on the place where the connection piece ends inside the hose. No fuel leakage occured, instead it sucked in air when increasing engine rev's.

 

[onlinelee]

Hi, thank you for your feedback. Im hoping thats not my problem, I will indeed check the supply pipes for damage. Today I did find the mark on the fly wheel, maybe thats all the problem was. I think the easiest thing to do if you don't have the same pre filter as Philip Oceanis is to prime the new filters with fuel before fitting, this negates the need to bleed at all. I appreciate some will cry "Nooooo, don't do it that way", but for every sailor that says this I can produce 2 that will say pre priming is fine providing you work cleanly.

Not sure if you saw my earlier post about my mast step problem, its worth checking yours.