The Importance of Clean Fuel

    More from the exciting world of Marine Diesel Maintenance! 

    For a diesel not many things can be more important than clean fuel. To start my own timeline, my next project was to change out the fuel filters. My Camano has 2 primary filters a RACOR 75/B32009  (2 MICRON) and a secondary on engine (10 MICRON) fuel filter. Not sure why the 2 primaries are 2 Micron, that is what was on there when we purchased it. Usually the primary is a larger Micron, but for now I left it the way I found it.

    I started with the secondary and used a NAPA substitute that fit fine. The NAPA unlike the VOLVO has a small water drain at the bottom.  Not sure I would use that, If I thought water had gotten to there, I would see it in the primary RACORs first.  Water like crud is death to the engine!  If I really wanted to delve into how dirty the filter was, I could have cut it open but frankly that's a PIA. It took just a few minutes to remove the existing filter, fill the new one with clean fuel, open the vent screw, operated the Fuel Hand Pump until no air bubbles and only fuel come out, closed the screw, started the engine and checked for leaks.  Good!!

    Next the 2 primary RACORs. These have clear bowls & water drains on the bottom.  There was no water but a fair amount of crud visible in the bowls.  There is a selector switch on the top of the filter housing which allows you to go through 1 or the other filter or both.  The selector was on the port filter.  I shut off the main fuel supply and return then drained each bowl into a bucket,

removed the bowl to clean and installed new filters & seals, filled them with clean fuel and screwed them back on.  I moved the selector to the right filter which seemed more logical to me. I figured if that one got debris and/or water, I could move the selector to the left and change out the dirty filter.  I started the engine then quickly remembered to turn back on the fuel supply!  No leaks and I could see clean fuel (the red off-road/marine fuel in my tanks) replacing the clear fuel I had purchased from the gas station.  Clean!!

    I attempted to film the entire operation with the GoPro thinking that would be more interesting than photos, nope, the film was boring.  Maybe next time.

   Another issue (not fuel related) was the 2 gate valves on the front of the engine that feed coolant to the new marine water heater were dripping at their stems. The coolant circulation allows you to have hot water when the engine has been running and eliminates the need to have shore power or the generator running (yes, the water heater had to be replaced also, as it was rusted and was "weeping" water into the bilge).  What stinks is that I had just drained the coolant & replaced it when I did the Heat Exchanger and now it looked like I may have to drain it again for this, Crap!

    I decided to try a fix rather than a replacement as a gate valve is pretty simple and it had to be a washer problem.  I went to Home Depot, got a selection of rubber washers and returned to the boat.  I pulled the stem from 1 valve and stuck a plug in the opening (actually a Sharpie seemed the perfect size) to stop the coolant trickle only to find out there was no washer but an "O" Ring.  Back to HD to return the washers, but this time I took the valve stem.  The "O" Ring had turned hard and brittle as plastic so I figured that had to be the issue.  I tried several "O" Rings until I found the right size, #41, $2.57 for ten.  I cleaned the stem of corrosion and gunk, added the new "O" Ring along with some Silicone Grease and BAM, no leak!  Did the other one and it held too. Cheap fix, my fingers are crossed that this did the trick.

    So along with some other small miscellaneous repairs, things are progressing well.  I still have an After Cooler to service, an oil change, a Head change out, a broken seacock handle to the generator strainer and the dreaded leaking dripless shaft seal to go along with a lot of cosmetic fun stuff!