Bad Fuel or Fuel Line

[Dennis]

A couple of months ago my 2gm20f shutdown on my 30T. I found the fuel at the Racor filter dirty. The secondary filter on the engine was clean.I replaced both filters and checked the tank. The fuel in the tank looked clean. This past weekend it shut down again - same problem. This time I replaced the primary filter and the hose from the tank to the filter. I am hoping the hose was the problem. Anyone else ever have this problem? I plan to drain the tank if it happens again, even though the fuel looks good

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Try this

Using the same pump you deploy for an oil change, adapt a second fitting that has a rigidbrass pipette available at any Ace Hardware. Then simply go through the top of the fuel tank by removing the small round cover. (Be careful not to let the screws get away from you, namely into the tank.) Manuever the pipette to the lowest part of the tank and pump out a couple of gallons. Let settle and view for sedimentation. If it's a lot, come back after you've had a day's sail and pump out the entire tank while the sediment is still suspended.

 

[Miles]

Just don't do what I did...

Bill's idea of sucking up some diesel with a pump is a good one. I did that when I was having some fuel problems. BUT I made the mistake of attaching the pickup tube to a dowel rod with some duct tape so I could run it around inside the tank. Needless to say the diesel dissolved the duct tape adhesive and the tape floated away into the tank. It was a "duh..." moment.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Simple test.

Bill is right. But a simple test when the diesel quits is to blow back through the hose. Use your dinghy or fender pump if you don't want to put your mouth on the hose. I can hear the gurgling in the tank. Frequently the problem is gunk at the pickup tube. If yours has a screen then remove it and let the Racor take care of it. But if it starts after clearing the end of the pickup(and bleeding) then Bill is right, the "stuff" is settling at the lowest point which is where the pickup is.I carry about 3 gallons of diesel in a Tempo outboard tank just for that emergency. Attach it to the Racor and three squeezes of the hose bulb and she starts right up. No bleeding necessary.