So my gage is a bit off, it was showing half tank both times when engine died. 
But 5 gallon jerry can brought the needle to near full.  Tank is 20 gallons.   
When needle is at full, I can add another half of the jerry can before I 
overfill (diesel starts coming out the air vent).  This are observations from 
past 3 years.  

I will repeat that to confirm.

On a another note, a friend was telling me about dividers inside a tank to 
prevent fuel from stirring up too much and that gasoline tanks do not have 
this, where as diesel tanks do.  Tank I have was originally used for gasoline 
engine so that might be something.  Not sure if anyone can confirm or deny 
this. 

 

 

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Joel Aronson 
via CnC-List
Sent: Monday, July 06, 2015 11:29 AM
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: Joel Aronson
Subject: Re: Stus-List westerbeake sucking in air on a half tank

 

Peter,

 

How low did the gauge read?  How much did you think you had before adding the 5 
gallons?  What did it read after? Did you top it off and see of the numbers 
added up?  

I agree it sounds like a plumbing issue with the vent or pickup.  I hope your 
access to the tank is better than mine!

 

Joel

35/3

Annapolis

 

On Mon, Jul 6, 2015 at 9:36 AM, Petar Horvatic via CnC-List 
<cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote:

So if the pickup was blocked, why on both occasions after bleeding(once in calm 
water and second time in rough water but after adding 5 more gallons to the 
tank) it ran without a problem for hours, 2nd time in the same rough seas.  

 

The tank was out (dried out and inspected) over the winter in 2011/2012.   So 
was the pickup and sender at which time I don’t remember seeing any signs of 
corrosion etc.  It might be good to mention that prior to 2012, I had atomic 4 
(gasoline) engine.  I put westrerbeake in the spring of 2012 after a full 
rebuild.  I kept the tank.  Hoses were all new.   My primary is the Racor 230R 
Diesel Spin-On Series filter/water separator.  I change that and secondary 
filter every commissioning.  No signs of water whatsoever.  Also fuel that 
comes out while bleeding is clean.  

 

 

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Paul 
Fountain via CnC-List
Sent: Monday, July 06, 2015 9:18 AM
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: Paul Fountain
Subject: Re: Stus-List westerbeake sucking in air on a half tank

 

Or the pickup becomes blocked, and air gets sucked in elsewhere in the fuel 
system.  

 

Paul Fountain

 

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Frederick G 
Street via CnC-List
Sent: Monday, July 6, 2015 9:12 AM
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: Frederick G Street
Subject: Re: Stus-List westerbeake sucking in air on a half tank

 

Petar — it might be that the fuel pickup tube is corroded, and either doesn’t 
drop as far down into the fuel as it should/used to, or you have some pits in 
it above the half-tank level that allow air it.  Sounds like time to pull and 
check it.


Fred Street -- Minneapolis
S/V Oceanis (1979 C&C Landfall 38) -- Bayfield, WI

 

On Jul 6, 2015, at 8:09 AM, Petar Horvatic via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> 
wrote:

 

Anyone has an idea why this happened twice in a row.  

 

Two trips to Block island this year and at about the same spot, right where 
seas get a little lumpy, and on about half full tank, diesel sucks in air and 
dies.  First time was pounding into 20-kts (not a good way to travel), second 
time with no wind but large confused seas.  

The first time I sailed and dropped a hook before bleeding the injectors.   
Second time I added 5 gal jerry can and after bleeding injectors in 6 foot 
swell got her started without a problem.   Ran fine after that in same 
conditions. 

 

I guess I should check to make sure fuel gauge is calibrated, although I’ve 
been using it the past 3-4 years.  

 

 

Petar Horvatic

Sundowner

76 C&C 38MkII

Newport, RI

 


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-- 

Joel 
301 541 8551

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