I'm getting a little diesel on the top of my M35B and it seems to flow into the injector cavities and eventually under neath the engine. It's just a little I can easily clean up with a paper towel, but I am smelling diesel. I suspect it may be the short fuel hose going from the mechanical pump to the injectors. I'll check the clamps first. However, if it does need replacing has anyone replaced this? It is a small diameter hose & think it may be 1/4 inch but I'm not sure. Also if I do replace the hose will I have problems with air in my system? All fuel bleeding is done before that last feed to the injectors. Any ideas or help will be greatly appreciated. I'm still on a big upward learning curve.
Tom Runiewicz
ObLaDi ObLaDa
Catalina 36 MkII, Wing Keel, Tall Rig
Hull #1998
North East, MD
Good morning Tom,
I changed the fuel overflow in/out of our Catalina 28 (Universal M20B) due to a similar leak. The lines are visible on the paste below. In my case I was able to remove air from the system with the lift pump, but I may have been lucky. I’d recommend running the lift pump for 60 seconds or so before starting and be prepared to bleed the pump and injectors if needed. The fuel lines on our smaller Universal were 3/16” and Coast Guard rated fuel line was hard to find. Our Universal M35B appears to have the same size line, but it may well be 1/4” which is easier sourced.
In our case I changed out both lines, and did both fuel filters at the same time. As I recall it was a couple hour job with the most time spent doing boat yoga to the Racor bowl.
https://www.westerbeke.com/technical%20manual/200554_m-25xpb_m35b_m40b_technical_man.pdf
Ray & Janice Taylor
"Mizu"
Hood River, Ore.
#2113 2002 TM
Having a fuel feed pump I shouldn't worry about bleeding.
Durk Nijdam
S/V "SILER"
Catalina 36MKII - 2001 / hullnr. 2013
Stavoren - Holland
I believe that the lift pump supplies an over abundance of fuel to the high pressure fuel pump. The excess goes through the fuel rail, and back to the tank. This ensures the high pressure fuel pump has adequate clean, cool fuel. This also cools your injectors. In my experience the lift pump will purge the air out of the system, venting it back to the tank (changing fuel filters is a good example). If you start the engine before the purge is complete, the high pressure pump will pull in air and you will have to bleed your injectors. Even though the lift pump does good job, I’m careful to purge as much air as possible from the fuel system. Using the fill pump gizmo on the Racor and filling the engine filter with fuel before threading it back in place, is probably unnecessary but I do it anyway. The point is that it’s easy to get air in the system and you should still be concerned.
Ray & Janice Taylor
"Mizu"
Hood River, Ore.
#2113 2002 TM