Fuel issues
Hello all:
Hope everyone is having a good summer.
Recently we cruised up from FL to NJ and encountered apparent fuel issues
with the generator. The Racor filter was dirty and changed initially every
other day. Then we went to every day and changed the primary fuel filter
with fresh fuel. We ran for 19 days and the generator continued to sputter.
We have several diagnosis that it's the fuel. So we searched and found a
fuel cleaning franchise. Dr. Fuel Clean - Diesel Fuel Tank Cleaning And
Polishing (http://www.drfuel.com/)
Has anyone had experience with Dr. Fuel Clean? We are in the Cape May now.
Thanks
Jim Hughes
"Idyll Time" 48' Cheoy Lee
(http://www.moneyyogaseminar.com/)
**************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy
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Jim
what about the secondary, on the genny. you didnt' mention it.
check that before spending $$ on polishing
pascal
miami, fl
Hatteras 53MY
on MY Charmer, underway to Newport RI
----- Original Message -----
From: Highlan875@aol.com
To: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 8:16 AM
Subject: T&T: Fuel issues
Hello all:
Hope everyone is having a good summer.
Recently we cruised up from FL to NJ and encountered apparent fuel issues
with the generator. The Racor filter was dirty and changed initially every
other day. Then we went to every day and changed the primary fuel filter
with fresh fuel. We ran for 19 days and the generator continued to
sputter.
We have several diagnosis that it's the fuel. So we searched and found a
fuel cleaning franchise. Dr. Fuel Clean - Diesel Fuel Tank Cleaning And
Polishing (http://www.drfuel.com/)
Has anyone had experience with Dr. Fuel Clean? We are in the Cape May
now.
Thanks
Jim Hughes
"Idyll Time" 48' Cheoy Lee
(http://www.moneyyogaseminar.com/)
**************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy
Steps!
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222846709x1201493018/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=Jul
yExcfooterNO62)
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18:09:00
We have several diagnosis that it's the fuel.
FWIW, I've had similar problems with my genset, suspected all manner of
fuel problems, and finally determined that the Racor filter (220 series,
R24S cartridge) was the problem. The check ball in the head of the
filter would lodge itself into the housing somehow and block the flow,
causing the genset to die from fuel starvation. I removed the ball check
after repeatedly dismantling the filter assembly, and decided that the
ball check is more problem than it's worth and left it out. AFAIK, it is
part of the priming pump built into the filter, and since the Westerbeke
is pretty much self-priming, the pump on the filter is just another
potential problem.
IMO there are a lot of problems that are blamed on fuel that ARE fuel
problems, but more often have to do with fuel DELIVERY more than the
fuel itself. I'd hate to see you go through a fuel cleaning procedure
unnecessarily. Is the filter plugged when you remove it? If you have the
same filter, it may be worthwhile to check the filter housing for the
blockage I experienced.
Hope it works out!
Steve Sipe
Solo 4303 "Maerin"
Middle River, MD
Doesn't your generator run on the same fuel as the main engine(s)? You have
just one Racor for both engines? Cleaning the tanks rarely works as the
tanks don't get cleaned. The fuel cleaner company usually cannot access the
crud build-up in the inaccessible areas of the tank. Unless you have BIG
inspection ports, they go in through the fuel fill hoses and cannot access
the corners and baffles, etc.
Frankly, your description of your system and the problem is inadequate. Just
know that outside fuel cleaning services rarely work unless you can give
them extraordinary access to the interior of your tanks. IF dirty fuel
(perhaps stirred-up by wave action) really is your problem, perhaps you
should install a depth filter by Gulf or some other manufacturer of large
diesel truck filters. One test that you can perform is to run your generator
from fresh diesel in a fuel can. Disconnect your fuel hose or join hose to
your copper fuel line supplying your generator and see how it runs after
following Pascal's advice about changing the filters ON the generator. Yes,
air will be a problem, but you can get past it.
Ron Rogers
-----Original Message-----
From: Highlan875@aol.com
Hello all:
Hope everyone is having a good summer.
Recently we cruised up from FL to NJ and encountered apparent fuel issues
with the generator. The Racor filter was dirty and changed initially every
other day. Then we went to every day and changed the primary fuel filter
with fresh fuel. We ran for 19 days and the generator continued to sputter.
We have several diagnosis that it's the fuel.
one more thing, speaking of Racors, dont' forget taht one of the older
series, usually used on gennies, require a spacer to ensure fuel gets
filtered.
If you loose teh spacer, fuel will go thru unfilter and clog your smaller
secondary.
forgot which series is involved, but check it out...
pascal
We ran for 19 days and the generator continued to sputter
Jim,
If your engine ran fine - is it using the same fuel?
Before I would try Dr. Fuel Clean which may in the end be a good
solution, I would connect the genny to a 5 gallon can of fresh fuel. If it
sputters, it then is pointing you towards the filter on the genny or
carburetor problems.
Just a 200 mile away guess.
Henry
one more thing, speaking of Racors,
dont' forget taht one of the older series, usually used on
gennies, require a spacer to ensure fuel gets filtered.
If you loose teh spacer, fuel will go thru unfilter and
clog your smaller secondary.
forgot which series is involved, but check it out...
Reply:
I know it is the 500 series, but do not know if any other series need it.
If a spacer is needed, it is easily identified; just push the filter down into the housing, as far as it can go and look at the top of the center pipe. If the holes that are located in the top sides of the pipe are showing, the spacer is needed.
For those who still are not sure, Racor will provide you with other aspects to look at, such as the structure in the bottom of the housing.
Rudy
Briney Bug, Panama City, Fl
Spacer required for older filter housings for the 500 series only, no
others.
Dan Stone
St. Pete, FL
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rudy and Jill" rudysechez@yahoo.com
To: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: T&T: Fuel issues
one more thing, speaking of Racors,
dont' forget taht one of the older series, usually used on
gennies, require a spacer to ensure fuel gets filtered.
If you loose teh spacer, fuel will go thru unfilter and
clog your smaller secondary.
forgot which series is involved, but check it out...
Reply:
I know it is the 500 series, but do not know if any other series need it.
If a spacer is needed, it is easily identified; just push the filter down
into the housing, as far as it can go and look at the top of the center
pipe. If the holes that are located in the top sides of the pipe are
showing, the spacer is needed.
For those who still are not sure, Racor will provide you with other
aspects to look at, such as the structure in the bottom of the housing.
Rudy
Briney Bug, Panama City, Fl
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Spacers are not needed with the currently supplied (new stock) replacement filters for any of the 500s. Racor has redesigned the replacement filters and they have the spacer built on.?
Rodger
Rollsdoc
MT49PH