Air leak on filter change

[Mike Fox]

Frisky was due out to be lifted ashore at 10.30, so I arrived about 8.45 to scrub one final time, and get it sorted smoothly, and in good time.

 

I fired up the engine, which I serviced last weekend, and it was very hesitant to start. I kept it running steady as I remembered it hadn't run much when I did the filter change. The engine stopped after 15-20 minutes, and I couldn't re-start it. Investigations showed the secondary fuel filter next to the engine had run dry - and hadn't refilled. Good job I wasn't at sea! I tried and tried but couldn't get it to fill, and was worried the lift pump had failed.

 

By 10 o'clock, I asked the marina office for a tow. That took time, and was  a soul-destroying experience, almost as if Frisky was sulking for me selling. The crane was late, and because of my problems I was queue jumped

 

I popped to see a local marine engineer who told me it probably had nothing to do with the lift pump (impressive blister on thumb was for nothing ), and it was almost certainly a dodgy seal on the PRIMARY filter, letting air into the fuel system, and sold me new filters and seals. I tried fitting a new one in the rain, but it just went from bad to worse, and I couldn't get it to fill, so there's another air leak there somewhere. In the end, I gave up, chilled to the bone. Will try again when I'm despairing less.

 

So - moral of story: If you change your own filters, run the engine for some time while attached to a pontoon before trusting it!

 

Also, a filter can hold more fuel than you think, and you might have to keep "annoying the neighbours" for a while longer than you first think.

 

Hope this personal experience saves someone from a nasty incident.

 

Mike

[Greg]

 

Sounds like she isn't going without a fight Mike.

 

Just make sure she doesn't turn up at the AGM in April!!!

[Stuie]

Sorry to hear of your new problems Mike. Hope it's an easy fix from here.

[Jim]

Well done for posting Mike.

Bad news for you but good knowledge for us.

At least you know it's nothing serious.

Pain in the Bum . . . .Yes

Niggly and hard to find . . . .Yes

But not serious. 

 

 

Jim

[diverdave]

Sounds more like an air lock than an air leak !

 

Try cracking every joint between primer and injectors (in that order) whilst pumping primer.

 

Good luck

[fisherman1055]

Hi Mike

I know all about filters and fuel problems

Had the lot serviced in Wymouth but to no avail

Purbeck Marine now working on it and turbo now at hospital

Wish it had been a fuel problem

Get some one in to fix it for you in case it reappears after she is sold

Tony

[Steve S]

Thanks for the story Mike, interesting for us, probably you have different feelings....

 

Do let us know what it turns out to be.

[mw]

Did you have fuel in the tank mike