Diesel heater pickup tube leaking

forbin

forbin

.
Nov 4, 2013
166
Tartan 3700 Seattle - Elliot Bay
This is the pickup tube for the Webasto diesel heater on a new to me boat. It looks like it was installed through an inspection port on the main tank. It's leaking a little bit if fuel splashes against it (during filling as the tank gets full or under way). There's no leaking when the heater is running at the dock. The gasket "material" (flesh colored goop) looks fresh like it was recently applied around the base, but there doesn't appear to be any real rubber gasket. What would be the proper way to fix this? Or does anyone know what make this is so I could find an installation guide or video? Can I take it apart in place or is there something underneath that will fall off (meaning the inspection port would have to come off)? Thanks! Brian

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sailme88

sailme88

.
Jan 19, 2010
1,281
Catalina 34 Casco Bay
I drove a Prevost motor coach with a Webastro heater. It had stainless steel woven lines. I suspect that the copper line that you have is part of the problem. Without isolation that line is doomed to fail...
 
D

dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
12,820
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
It looks like a flared compression fitting. The upper nut should easily come off leaving the lower nut holding the pickup tube. After the upper nut has been removed the inspection port can be remove. To practice try removing the fuel line from the shut off valve. It looks to be the same type of connection.

At one time copper was frequently used for fuel lines, however, copper will work harden and then crack. Boats are full of vibrations, especially when the engine is running which can cause the lines to work harden. The lines should be replace with USCG approved fuel lines.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,945
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
:plus: @dlochner nailed it.
I would try to identify where the seepage source is. Several possible suspects. The screws around the inspection port.
The lack of a clean gasket under the inspection plate.
Or as Dave suggest the fuel line fittings. The suggestion that the system only leaks when not running may mean that the fuel line is leaking air as the pump draws fuel from the tank.
Good luck.
 
forbin

forbin

.
Nov 4, 2013
166
Tartan 3700 Seattle - Elliot Bay
dlochner said:
It looks like a flared compression fitting. The upper nut should easily come off leaving the lower nut holding the pickup tube. After the upper nut has been removed the inspection port can be remove.
Click to expand
Alright, so most likely the fitting needs to be assembled with access to both sides.

dlochner said:
To practice try removing the fuel line from the shut off valve. It looks to be the same type of connection.
Click to expand
Good idea, thanks.

dlochner said:
At one time copper was frequently used for fuel lines, however, copper will work harden and then crack. Boats are full of vibrations, especially when the engine is running which can cause the lines to work harden. The lines should be replace with USCG approved fuel lines.
Click to expand
I will add this to the list...which is getting significantly longer!
 
forbin

forbin

.
Nov 4, 2013
166
Tartan 3700 Seattle - Elliot Bay
jssailem said:
Or as Dave suggest the fuel line fittings. The suggestion that the system only leaks when not running may mean that the fuel line is leaking air as the pump draws fuel from the tank.
Click to expand
Thanks! 99% sure it's the fuel line fittings. I didn't take a picture before I cleaned up the fuel, maybe only a tsp or two, but it was all contained on top of the inspection port and around the base of the fitting. The air theory is a good one though, I'll have to try some other scenarios. It's quite a run to the heater so I want to get the leak stopped first and then trace the fuel line the rest of the way before replacing it. Like I said there are a lot of projects accumulating, only a handful of which I can (or should) do myself.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,945
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
forbin said:
only a handful of which I can (or should) do myself.
Click to expand
Do not sell your self short. I have discovered that many boat tasks are not complex. Maybe you have never been exposed to them before. At the least give the SBO sailors a chance to share their knowledge. You may surprise yourself.
 
forbin

forbin

.
Nov 4, 2013
166
Tartan 3700 Seattle - Elliot Bay
jssailem said:
At the least give the SBO sailors a chance to share their knowledge.
Click to expand
Definitely I will be doing that.

And that reminds me, an update on this one.

The fitting is a regular compression fitting, drilled through, with a ferrule on the copper tube that runs through the fitting in to the tank. I took it apart but did not take the threaded part of the fitting out of the tank because it appears to be well sealed with the gasket material. I read a lot of info that said sometimes disassembling/assembling the compression fitting fixes the issue so trying that first. I set up some layers with tape and zorbs to try to figure out where it's leaking the next time we go out. If the ferrule isn't sealing anymore I'll probably replace it with something like this so stainless between the tank and the valve shut off:

W005-912 Stainless Fuel Syphon Tube

www.suremarineservice.com www.suremarineservice.com

Anyway, that's the plan.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,945
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
That appears to work. My pickup tube came as part of the Wallas furnace package. I had to cut the tube to length. Not remembering how attached it to the tank. I believe it screwed into the tank with a gasket on the top surface. Now you have me wondering. Next time I go to the boat I will need to inspect it.

I never totally fill my fuel tank to capacity (85 gallons). So have not had any leaking around the seal.
 
Tom J

Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,325
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
I'd be concerned about how the fitting is attached to the inspection plate. If it is threaded into it, there doesn't look to be enough metal to get a proper NPT thread.
 
forbin

forbin

.
Nov 4, 2013
166
Tartan 3700 Seattle - Elliot Bay
Tom J said:
I'd be concerned about how the fitting is attached to the inspection plate. If it is threaded into it, there doesn't look to be enough metal to get a proper NPT thread.
Click to expand
I believe it is threaded, but I haven't tried to unthread it yet because, I didn't want to take it apart unless that particular part of the connection was leaking, so I'm going to rule out the others first.
 
forbin

forbin

.
Nov 4, 2013
166
Tartan 3700 Seattle - Elliot Bay
jssailem said:
I never totally fill my fuel tank to capacity (85 gallons). So have not had any leaking around the seal.
Click to expand
This was the first fueling, the tank turned out to be full but I wasn't trusting any of the gauges, so it was definitely filled to the top, and that may have been why it leaked.
 
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pipedream

.
Jul 18, 2015
74
South P10 Pugetopolis
I have an old boat, no parts around here for it..

I had a similartap fitting on my fuel tank, and despite hours of testing, could never isolate the leak. I went to Nebar in Ballard and they helped me set up a modern, dependable fuel line with compression fittings in minutes. No more leaks. Very reasonable price.

Jerk out the tap and fuel line from the tank and take it on down.

Good luck
 
Terry Cox

Terry Cox

.
Dec 25, 2000
5,919
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Hi Brian, no picture to share, but when I installed the fuel supply line for the Wallas furnace several years ago, here is what was supplied:

1. White plastic fuel line, maybe 3/16" ISD.
2. Inline fuel filter.
3. Steel stand pipe with welded hex fitting/toggle about one half inch in diameter.
4. Rubber gasket between the hex fitting and tank surface.

As I recall, I drilled a spec hole (3/4" I think) in the tank to accept the standpipe and toggle. The toggle was the device inside the tank that secured the stand pipe assembly. A gasket was placed onto the hex fitting followed by a hex nut that when cinched down locked the standpipe assembly into place. It has never leaked and has remained trouble free since installed in 2006.

What I see in your pic of the fuel line install looks suspect and incorrect. As mentioned in other replies, solid copper tubing for fuel line runs should be forbidden. Okay on engines, but not for runs. And the tank fitting needs to be replaced with a marine grade fuel tank assembly similar to what Wallas provided.

The standpipe provided by Wallas looks like the following: wallas furnace fuel standpipe Hard to see, but the toggle plate is beneath the nut, washer and gasket that mounts on the outside of the tank, while the toggle plate tilts into place inside through the tank hole; simple, effective and secure.
 
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pipedream

.
Jul 18, 2015
74
South P10 Pugetopolis
HI Brian,

Sure Marine in Ballard is the wesbasto dealer, maybe they would have some insight.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,945
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Scan Marine = Wallas, Nice Guys - Great Heater

Sure Marine = Wabasto - Espar - and that is where I got my NovaKool refrigerator for such a great price.
 
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