With winter upon us here in San Diego, I've had to start closing my ports to keep those icy winds from forcing me into a sweater. The loss of air circulation in my h420/centerCockpit has caused me to notice diesel fumes building up in the aft cabin. The fuel tank is located underneath the bed and my question before I start taking things apart/caulking/taping/venting.... What is the best approach to take in solving this problem? I really don't want to get brain damage from breathing diesel all night so much thanks for your help. I looked through the archives and found some info but nothing too specific. I'll be doing an oil change this weekend as well, so if anyone has a useful tip for that little adventure I'll be wise to listen. yanmar 3jh3e
Diesel Fumes in Cabin
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exhaust or fuel
I feel just awful that you have to wear a sweater - must be tough! I assume you don't use a diesel heater like an Espar - they can cause diesel smoke at times. If it is a smokey smell I would guess it is exhaust which can come from many sources. I had a major oil leak and sprayed all over the engine compartment. It has taken a year for all the oil that could not be cleaned to burn off the engine. If is is a fresh diesel smell I would look for leaks in the fule system, filters and all.
I feel just awful that you have to wear a sweater - must be tough! I assume you don't use a diesel heater like an Espar - they can cause diesel smoke at times. If it is a smokey smell I would guess it is exhaust which can come from many sources. I had a major oil leak and sprayed all over the engine compartment. It has taken a year for all the oil that could not be cleaned to burn off the engine. If is is a fresh diesel smell I would look for leaks in the fule system, filters and all.
yeah lifes tough
here in sunny san diego (aka. whale's va-jayjay). Yes the fumes are accumulating durring non-operation of the motor. I'll check for leakage first, something could of spilled last weekend, I was leaning pretty good in the 15kt breeeeeze.. any other ideas... bueller....
here in sunny san diego (aka. whale's va-jayjay). Yes the fumes are accumulating durring non-operation of the motor. I'll check for leakage first, something could of spilled last weekend, I was leaning pretty good in the 15kt breeeeeze.. any other ideas... bueller....
Yanmar...
Assuming you've tightened all your hose clamps and other obvious sources, check your secondary filter on your Yanmar (between the lift pump and injector pump). If it's the same kind as on my 3GM, you may find that the O-Ring on the filter canister may not be sealing as tight as it could because you can't get the knurled lock-ring tight. It has a very small diameter cross-section and may not be getting compressed fully all the way around. I discovered this probability after trying to cure a similar problem by replacing all the copper gaskets on the fuel lines and still finding a diesel smell and traces in the engine sump. A vinyl glove hooked around the filter confirmed this when the fingers filled after running the engine then letting it sit until the next weekend. I am going to try to cure it by fitting a slightly larger cross-sectional diameter O-ring to the filter canister in the Spring.
Assuming you've tightened all your hose clamps and other obvious sources, check your secondary filter on your Yanmar (between the lift pump and injector pump). If it's the same kind as on my 3GM, you may find that the O-Ring on the filter canister may not be sealing as tight as it could because you can't get the knurled lock-ring tight. It has a very small diameter cross-section and may not be getting compressed fully all the way around. I discovered this probability after trying to cure a similar problem by replacing all the copper gaskets on the fuel lines and still finding a diesel smell and traces in the engine sump. A vinyl glove hooked around the filter confirmed this when the fingers filled after running the engine then letting it sit until the next weekend. I am going to try to cure it by fitting a slightly larger cross-sectional diameter O-ring to the filter canister in the Spring.
Glove method
I recently replaced the fuel filters and I don't think I have leaks but I'll give the glove a try if it persists. I think I narrowed the source down to inside the engine compartment, which is good. I'm thinking that the excess diesel left in the lines and carb is prolly the source as I don't seem to have a fumey bilge, however there is some diesel under the the motor thats been drying there for awhile, prolly since the fuel filter job. Anyway, Next time I run her I think I'm going to try shutting off the fuel valve at the tank and just letting her run herself dry. Maybe that will help. ROLL TIDE!
I recently replaced the fuel filters and I don't think I have leaks but I'll give the glove a try if it persists. I think I narrowed the source down to inside the engine compartment, which is good. I'm thinking that the excess diesel left in the lines and carb is prolly the source as I don't seem to have a fumey bilge, however there is some diesel under the the motor thats been drying there for awhile, prolly since the fuel filter job. Anyway, Next time I run her I think I'm going to try shutting off the fuel valve at the tank and just letting her run herself dry. Maybe that will help. ROLL TIDE!
Good Luck
In finding a solution. I have (almost) decided on purchasing a 420 CC. I have read the reviews, but what would you advise as a 420 owner. Just sold a 40.5, a great boat and I don't want to make a bad decision on my next one. My wife and I will be living aboard and cruising the southeast and Caribbean. By the way, have you had an engine replacement? All of the 420s I have seen had 4 cyls.
In finding a solution. I have (almost) decided on purchasing a 420 CC. I have read the reviews, but what would you advise as a 420 owner. Just sold a 40.5, a great boat and I don't want to make a bad decision on my next one. My wife and I will be living aboard and cruising the southeast and Caribbean. By the way, have you had an engine replacement? All of the 420s I have seen had 4 cyls.
Let the chase begin
Its a little better, after I caulked the transducer? port in the tank with lifeseal and tightned up the hose clamps, but I still have that odor after several hours un-ventilated. I didn't try the, running it dry, idea cause it just seemed like a band-aid. I did an oil change last weekend for the first since buying the boat and that went well until I went to pull the old filter off and spilled the excess under the motor. That was real easy to clean up...NOT! still have some oil down there that i can't quite reach, anybody got a good way to clean under the motor? also, Vinny, how the heck did you manage to get to all the bilge areas that need sniffing and cleaning?? I need a small child or a trained minkey would do. As for the h420 passage CC 2001, so far its been great. I saw someone comparing it to the 41 on another thread recently and to tell you the truth I dont have enough experience to know if he's right, but I have had the boat out in 20+kts. I reefed a little but I never felt like the boat was having problems. It was a little tough pointing high in the strong wind but that was more due to my own in-experience trimming I think more than anything. Also I don't remember any of the mast shimmy he was talking about happening to my boat. Possibly the standing rigging needed to be tuned on the boat he was on. I really like the HUGE aft cabin, it makes it feel like a real master bedroom making it great for living. I'll be mounting my LCD flat panel soon as well as chasing that damn diesel odor. I'm also thinking of installing a timer on the blower so I can just leave that on to take care of the odor until i find the source. I have tripped the breaker on the windlass a couple times while anchoring which wasn't so fun but the systems panel is easy to get to and wasn't a big deal to run below and reset. I put the wrong motor info out there, mine is a 4cyl. 4jh3e so no I didn't replace the motor, in fact mine only has 270 hours on it and the boats a 2001
The previous owners were Zonans so they didnt use her too much, so my boat is still practically new As far as sailing big boats this is my first so I'm prolly not the best source but I can tell you that I have no problems single-handing. All rigging runs right to the cockpit and I kinda like being up high when I'm at the helm which is what you get with the CC. The arch keeps everything safe but the bimini does block your view of the main. However, there is a small roof window, also I hear the chrome tube arch (which I have) is the way to go as the fibergalss arch runs the traveller lines inside, which maybe hard to access. For someone wanting a liveable boat with all the amenities I think your gonna be happy with the 420.
Its a little better, after I caulked the transducer? port in the tank with lifeseal and tightned up the hose clamps, but I still have that odor after several hours un-ventilated. I didn't try the, running it dry, idea cause it just seemed like a band-aid. I did an oil change last weekend for the first since buying the boat and that went well until I went to pull the old filter off and spilled the excess under the motor. That was real easy to clean up...NOT! still have some oil down there that i can't quite reach, anybody got a good way to clean under the motor? also, Vinny, how the heck did you manage to get to all the bilge areas that need sniffing and cleaning?? I need a small child or a trained minkey would do. As for the h420 passage CC 2001, so far its been great. I saw someone comparing it to the 41 on another thread recently and to tell you the truth I dont have enough experience to know if he's right, but I have had the boat out in 20+kts. I reefed a little but I never felt like the boat was having problems. It was a little tough pointing high in the strong wind but that was more due to my own in-experience trimming I think more than anything. Also I don't remember any of the mast shimmy he was talking about happening to my boat. Possibly the standing rigging needed to be tuned on the boat he was on. I really like the HUGE aft cabin, it makes it feel like a real master bedroom making it great for living. I'll be mounting my LCD flat panel soon as well as chasing that damn diesel odor. I'm also thinking of installing a timer on the blower so I can just leave that on to take care of the odor until i find the source. I have tripped the breaker on the windlass a couple times while anchoring which wasn't so fun but the systems panel is easy to get to and wasn't a big deal to run below and reset. I put the wrong motor info out there, mine is a 4cyl. 4jh3e so no I didn't replace the motor, in fact mine only has 270 hours on it and the boats a 2001
The previous owners were Zonans so they didnt use her too much, so my boat is still practically new As far as sailing big boats this is my first so I'm prolly not the best source but I can tell you that I have no problems single-handing. All rigging runs right to the cockpit and I kinda like being up high when I'm at the helm which is what you get with the CC. The arch keeps everything safe but the bimini does block your view of the main. However, there is a small roof window, also I hear the chrome tube arch (which I have) is the way to go as the fibergalss arch runs the traveller lines inside, which maybe hard to access. For someone wanting a liveable boat with all the amenities I think your gonna be happy with the 420.
Having a Minkey is a help but
it can be done with a pressure washer as well. Just be prepared to clean up some water if you are not careful. We found that on our 40 (1990) there is a hole half way up the side of the pan under the engine through which factory wire runs through that can fill with oil and diesel. But it really takes some doing to get oil in there. Lesson number one. Never under estimate the doing possibilities of the PO. Anyway after forcing soapy water into the hole we found a limber hole into the bilge that just kept spewing fowl smelling oil and diesel fluid into the bilge. It took several washings to clear the area of oil and diesel. This was a major contributor to the smell in the boat. I also changed all of the engine fuel hoses to the new 1/4" USCG approved hose and changed all of the hose clamps. Tighten all clamps with a 1/4" ratchet set to insure a tight clamp. You can't always get there with a screwdriver. Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Vinny
it can be done with a pressure washer as well. Just be prepared to clean up some water if you are not careful. We found that on our 40 (1990) there is a hole half way up the side of the pan under the engine through which factory wire runs through that can fill with oil and diesel. But it really takes some doing to get oil in there. Lesson number one. Never under estimate the doing possibilities of the PO. Anyway after forcing soapy water into the hole we found a limber hole into the bilge that just kept spewing fowl smelling oil and diesel fluid into the bilge. It took several washings to clear the area of oil and diesel. This was a major contributor to the smell in the boat. I also changed all of the engine fuel hoses to the new 1/4" USCG approved hose and changed all of the hose clamps. Tighten all clamps with a 1/4" ratchet set to insure a tight clamp. You can't always get there with a screwdriver. Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Vinny
Sounds Good,
I'll tighten those clamps more and try hosing it out. I have a feeling that some diesel spilled during a recent fuel filter change and has found a hollow spot somewhere to hang out that I can't see. Thanks for the tips. Happy Turkey-day!
I'll tighten those clamps more and try hosing it out. I have a feeling that some diesel spilled during a recent fuel filter change and has found a hollow spot somewhere to hang out that I can't see. Thanks for the tips. Happy Turkey-day!
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