A more careful review of the fuel tanks and lines revealed two relatively new 94 gallon stainless steel tanks installed in 2010 which were nice to find. Our search for the fuel sample pump valve however, revealed a valve in the line between the tank and the raycor filter instead. While providing a way to isolate the tanks from the engine feed, the wide open line to the sample pump resulted in our venting diesel to the bilge via the sample pump during our attempt to fill a tank last fall for the winter heaters.
A simple swap of the lines should take care of the undesired vent going forward, but the removal of fuel from the bilge turned out to be a real pain. Not knowing how deep the bilge was, I began with a hand oil change pump and proceeded to fill twenty gallons of jerry jugs with the fuel water blend.
After emptying the jugs at the hazmat station, bilge absorber pads were recommended and set down into the bilge. Given it was a nice day for the spring sailboat show, this was as far as we got that day. A week later, the diesel appeared captured in the pads and the balance of water pumped out cleanly with the installed bilge pump revealing a much deeper bilge that I had imagined nor could have ever finished pumping by hand. Live and learn. Getting acquainted continues....
A simple swap of the lines should take care of the undesired vent going forward, but the removal of fuel from the bilge turned out to be a real pain. Not knowing how deep the bilge was, I began with a hand oil change pump and proceeded to fill twenty gallons of jerry jugs with the fuel water blend.
After emptying the jugs at the hazmat station, bilge absorber pads were recommended and set down into the bilge. Given it was a nice day for the spring sailboat show, this was as far as we got that day. A week later, the diesel appeared captured in the pads and the balance of water pumped out cleanly with the installed bilge pump revealing a much deeper bilge that I had imagined nor could have ever finished pumping by hand. Live and learn. Getting acquainted continues....
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