Universal 18 intermittently quitting

[deruyter]

I recently purchased a 1986 Catalina 27 with a Universal 18 diesel motor. The boat and the motor received rave reviews from the surveyor. On our first outing I was relocating from launch site to Provincetown, MA where my boat is moored. We motored the whole way and the engine ran great except for the fact that it would periodically quit (rpm's drop slowly, leading to stall). This would happen perhaps every 15-20 minutes (sometimes longer). Each and every time we had a successful restart after turning the bleed valve on the engine. After about 4-6 stalls, we decided it simply made more sense to bleed before the engine quit (this saved us from having to restart).

My assumption is that there is an air leak somewhere in the fuel system. But I find it interesting that there are such long gaps between stalls; restarts are a breeze after bleeding; and the engine runs great between "episodes."

I'm no diesel mechanic by any stretch of the imagination. Has anyone out there experienced similar symptoms? Any advice to a novice boat owner? Thanks!

 

[DeniseO30]

fuel filters! primary and secondary. AND ck the tank for sludge, really make sure you ck the strainer on the end of the pick up tube in the tank.

 

[deruyter]

Thanks Denise! Definitely gonna start there. Happily, I've found lots of reference material online. Really appreciate your feedback. Do you think that some 'gunk' in the system is more likely than air leak?

 

[weinie]

ditto on filters. Primary, secondary, and don't forget the one in lift pump.
Also, you need to open your fuel tank, remove the intake hose, and toss out the mesh screen at the bottom of it that is probably all gunked up.

 

[Stu Jackson]

While these are for M25 series engines, many apply to you and your boat:

C34 Critical Upgrades

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5078.0.html

 

[jviss]

While the filter suggestions are generally good, it doesn't point directly at the symptoms.

Are you sure it's the bleeding that fixes things? What possessed you to bleed it the first time?

If so, your diagnoses seems right, an air leak.

 

[rogerlwhite]

I'm experiencing exactly the same thing with my M2-12 on my Capri 26. Runs fine for 30 minutes then slowly dies. Rest for a couple of minutes and starts right back up. Fuel system has been completely drained and refilled. New Racor fuel/water separator and engine fuel filters. Suspect air leak but where?

 

[py26129]

I'm experiencing exactly the same thing with my M2-12 on my Capri 26. Runs fine for 30 minutes then slowly dies. Rest for a couple of minutes and starts right back up. Fuel system has been completely drained and refilled. New Racor fuel/water separator and engine fuel filters. Suspect air leak but where?

It could be a pinhole in the rubber fuel lines or at a connection. Try tightening the connections if that does not help think about changing out the fuel lines. This solved a buddy's problem a few years ago.

Matt