We’ve had our Hunter 1985 28.5 since 1999. First question --- This summer, for the first time ever, when we launched we found one liter of clean diesel fuel in the bilge. How do I find the source? What are the possibilities? Second question --- how is the water that accumulates below the engine supposed to drain out? We can't find a drain to the bilge.
Diesel fuel in bilge
- Thread starter Marc3715
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Use a Diaper
I've never used one however my dock neighbor (we both have Hunter 340's) used an engine diaper placed under the engine to "spot" the diesel leak. Clean out the pan, place the diaper in the pan. The diaper will absorb any leaking fluid, you can then determine where it is leaking. Good luck!
I've never used one however my dock neighbor (we both have Hunter 340's) used an engine diaper placed under the engine to "spot" the diesel leak. Clean out the pan, place the diaper in the pan. The diaper will absorb any leaking fluid, you can then determine where it is leaking. Good luck!
Fuel line fittings
Check your fuel line fiitings. On my Yanmar 3GM I usually find a small puddle of fuel after running the engine for a while, and it can be traced to the fuel line fiitngs around the fuel filter in/out attachment points, and in particular, the short fuel line that runs from the fuel pump to the fuel filter. I like the idea that there is no drain to the bilge from the pan under the engine. It keeps your bilge clean. If you have any oil, fuel or water leaking from the engine, the pan catches it and if you check it often, you can easy clean it up, like with the "diaper", and it lets you know you have a problem. If it drained into the bilge, it would be much harder to clean, and you don't want it going overboard with the bilge pump. Good luck on finding the leak.
Check your fuel line fiitings. On my Yanmar 3GM I usually find a small puddle of fuel after running the engine for a while, and it can be traced to the fuel line fiitngs around the fuel filter in/out attachment points, and in particular, the short fuel line that runs from the fuel pump to the fuel filter. I like the idea that there is no drain to the bilge from the pan under the engine. It keeps your bilge clean. If you have any oil, fuel or water leaking from the engine, the pan catches it and if you check it often, you can easy clean it up, like with the "diaper", and it lets you know you have a problem. If it drained into the bilge, it would be much harder to clean, and you don't want it going overboard with the bilge pump. Good luck on finding the leak.
I have a 1986 Hunter 28.5. It would be hard to guess how diesel fuel could get to the bilge on this boat other than by running along the stringers under the engine pan and the cabin sole. For reasons I cannot fathom, Hunter built this model boat with drain holes under the engine in the AFT end of the engine pan rather than the forward end of the pan. If you look carefully at the upper edges of the pan aft of the packing gland, you should find a rectangular hole on the port and starboard sides of the pan. I think the theory of putting them there is that if water and or any other fluids built up in the pan they would find their way to these holes, and drain along the stringers to the bilge. I thought this was going to be a problem when I bought my H28.5 last year, but so far it has not. The engine pan stays relatively dry and whatever water accumulates there is easy to sop up or remove with either a "diaper" or better yet, a turkey baster.
Why are you guys getting water in the drip pan?
The purpose of the pan is to catch oil and fuel leaks. I've become VERY opinionated on this subject because of the way Hunter built my 34. On my web site, photo #44, I rant. I'll spare our precious viewers here.
The purpose of the pan is to catch oil and fuel leaks. I've become VERY opinionated on this subject because of the way Hunter built my 34. On my web site, photo #44, I rant. I'll spare our precious viewers here.
Engine pan theory.
I have always thought that part of the issue was alignment. When they put the inner liner into the hull the engine pan does not always line up correctly. The hole in the aft end is so the stuffing box can drip into the bilge, under the pan. I have seen them where the hole(s) was/were too far aft and the drips went into the engine pan. On my H37C the engine pan has a small hole in the forward vertical edge near the top. You cannot see it without a mirror or putting your noggin' against the flywheel. It would take almost two inches of liquid to reach that point. But it would keep it from draining out on the galley sole. Where is your tank relative to the bilge? A neighbor found 30 gallons of diesel in the bilge of his Pearson this spring. A seam had corroded through on his 55 gallon tank. I'm with the others, a leak in a fuel line connection is most likely. Could even be the vent line or the fill hose. Spill some baby powder around in likely areas. You will immediately see the trail.
I have always thought that part of the issue was alignment. When they put the inner liner into the hull the engine pan does not always line up correctly. The hole in the aft end is so the stuffing box can drip into the bilge, under the pan. I have seen them where the hole(s) was/were too far aft and the drips went into the engine pan. On my H37C the engine pan has a small hole in the forward vertical edge near the top. You cannot see it without a mirror or putting your noggin' against the flywheel. It would take almost two inches of liquid to reach that point. But it would keep it from draining out on the galley sole. Where is your tank relative to the bilge? A neighbor found 30 gallons of diesel in the bilge of his Pearson this spring. A seam had corroded through on his 55 gallon tank. I'm with the others, a leak in a fuel line connection is most likely. Could even be the vent line or the fill hose. Spill some baby powder around in likely areas. You will immediately see the trail.
What Rectangular Holes?
I bought my 1986 28.5 new and there were never any holes where you are describing them. Any shaft log dripps or fuel leaks end up in the engine pan and are easily cleaned up. Nothing ever builds up enough from the engine bilge to get over the forward edge into the main bilge. I'd check the rubber fuel lines from the tank to the secondary filter and replace the fiber washer and copper washer on the bleed screws of the primary (yanmar) fuel filter as they are the typical source of fuel leaks.
I bought my 1986 28.5 new and there were never any holes where you are describing them. Any shaft log dripps or fuel leaks end up in the engine pan and are easily cleaned up. Nothing ever builds up enough from the engine bilge to get over the forward edge into the main bilge. I'd check the rubber fuel lines from the tank to the secondary filter and replace the fiber washer and copper washer on the bleed screws of the primary (yanmar) fuel filter as they are the typical source of fuel leaks.
integrel tank
The tank is fiberglass and built right into the staboard hull. There is a 6"*8" aluminum access plate with two fuel lines coming out the top. Floor of the lazeratte is clean with no cracks. NONE of the diesel is in the pan under the engine. So far we've cleaned two liters out of the bilge and there is more every time we check. We've hand checked most of the connections (very limited visual/hand acess to that side of the engine). We had a suggestion to partially drain the tank and add fuel dye and let it sit for a few days --- the idea being if the dye shows up in bilge there must be a crack in the tank wall.
The tank is fiberglass and built right into the staboard hull. There is a 6"*8" aluminum access plate with two fuel lines coming out the top. Floor of the lazeratte is clean with no cracks. NONE of the diesel is in the pan under the engine. So far we've cleaned two liters out of the bilge and there is more every time we check. We've hand checked most of the connections (very limited visual/hand acess to that side of the engine). We had a suggestion to partially drain the tank and add fuel dye and let it sit for a few days --- the idea being if the dye shows up in bilge there must be a crack in the tank wall.
New Fuel Lines
I had a similar problem with another boat that I owned, not a Hunter. But close. The rubber fuel lines had rotted and become very briddle. The fuel had leaked into the bilge and become embedded in the fiberglass of the bilge. I replaced all the lines. Then, instead of the screw down hose clamps, (which can bite into the rubber and viberate a hole under the clamp), I went to my local diesel shop and had threaded connectors put on all the ends. Put everything back together and problem solved. However, never did quite get all the diesel smell out of the bilge area. GOod luck.
I had a similar problem with another boat that I owned, not a Hunter. But close. The rubber fuel lines had rotted and become very briddle. The fuel had leaked into the bilge and become embedded in the fiberglass of the bilge. I replaced all the lines. Then, instead of the screw down hose clamps, (which can bite into the rubber and viberate a hole under the clamp), I went to my local diesel shop and had threaded connectors put on all the ends. Put everything back together and problem solved. However, never did quite get all the diesel smell out of the bilge area. GOod luck.
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