Westerbeke 10two self-bleeding?

[Todd Julius]

I've just gotten a 272LE and I'm planning to replace the fuel filters. The Westerbeke manual says it is a self-bleeding system. It's my first diesel and my question is do I still need to bleed it? I'm guessing that I do but I'd love some guidance from more experienced owners. Thanks in advance. Any other tips on replacing the filters is also much appreciated!Todd

 

[Vic]

As long as it has a electric fuel pump ...

those engines seem not to need bleeding as the electic pump presurizes the system and that seems to recirculate the air in the fuel out of the lines. If I were you and had a access to a Racor with a clear bowl i would change out that old brass fuel filter so that I could see if any water accumulates in the filter. Almost any good old Racor filter with a clear bowl will work fine. and if you don't have it you might also add a shut off to the supply side ... on my 272le there was a shut off near the tank but it was hard to reach so naturally you had fuel gravity feeding at the wrong time as you changed filters and the tank was full ... so you only really wanted to change filters when the tank was near empty.Vic"Seven"

 

[Bob]

Vic is correct...

I changed my filters this past weekend and had no problems. The electric fuel pump does just fine.Cheers,Bob

 

[Tom Ehmke]

Ditto to Vic and Bob

The OEM fuel shutoff on my 272 is located on top of the tank and can only be reached by removing the instrument panel or by hiring a contortionist to crawl into the back of the lazarette and reach up to the top of the tank and (hopefully) turn it off. I learned all of this the hard way and spilled lots of fuel before I accidentally discovered the valve when I decided to remove the tank to clean it. Do as they say and replace the filter with a Racor and add a shut-off valve on the inlet side of the filter. You'll save having to clean up a mess in the engine bilge when you change out the filters.By the way, hi to Vic and Bob. Glad to read that you are both still alive, monitoring the site, and sailing!!Tom

 

[Bob Todd]

Well, well. well...

How are you Tom? How's things your neck of the woods? Hope your season has been better than mine. Between work and pissy weather this season has been a bust so far.Cheers,Bob

 

[Griffin]

No wonder I love my 34...

I have never had better access to an engine compartment and fuel system. I just bought her in January, and that was one of my personal selling points, the Hunter 30 I had turned me into a contortionist a number of times, so I can relate to what you are saying about the 27.Just another reason for me to love my boat!Now...on to replacing my roller furling...

 

[Todd Julius]

Westerbeke 10two Self-bleeding

Thanks everyone. I appreciate everyone's input. I'll add the Racor with the shutoff. But I'm going to hold off a bit on Griffin's advice to get a 34' boat. The 272 seems like plenty for now...Todd