I would like to know if anyone else may have had and solved this problem. I have a slow oozing fuel leak on the stb side of my M35a. It appeared a while ago in oil in the water under the engine in the sump there. Over a few days of running it can become quiet a mess and flow on into the main bildge where I'm sure I'm putting out a slick via the bildge pump. So every day or so, I'm going through a laborious pump out and cleaning of the bildge. When I looked for the leak, I see a thin "slick" on the sides of the primary fuel filter. I've tried to further tighten the filter, just by hand and it seems already tight. On a cruise a week ago, I changed my engine oil and filter, switching from the Universal brand to a Fram brand filter but that didn't change the slick. My next step will be to remove items from around the filter housing to ge a better look.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Sam
Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida
Sam
Sounds like you have found the leak. I think I would spring for a new filter. My filter actually rusted out and started leaking. Maybe the "O" ring may have just gotten hard. Sometimes I use toilet paper to find a leak. Also i use white bilge pillows .
Chuck Lennox
97 MKii Ventura Ca
Island Girl Hull #1611
Sam - If your fuel filter housing is the same as mine and it is painted a beige color you may have the same problem as mine. My slow leak turned out to be that the paint where the rubber "O" ring sits on had chipped off creating an uneven surface. It is hard to see since it is below the surface.
I removed my fuel housing and turned it upside down and used 400 grit sandpaper and sanded off the paint on the entire surface where the "O" ring makes contact. That stopped the leak.
Sail La Vie 1999 Catalina 36 MKII, M35B-17031, Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA
About Sail La Vie
Thanks for your replies and suggestions Haro and Chuck. its not an old filter as i change the fuel filter every time I change oil, which is every 100 hours. But the paint chipping is worth checking out. Had that issue on the Racor fuel/water separator that caused a slow leak there. An expert I know and trust suggested I also replace the O-ring in the filter housing bleeder bolt. I'm going down to the boat to check all that out tomorrow, now that TS Cullin has passed us by in Panama City.
I'll report what I find.
Sam
Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida
Cleaned out all the nasty bildge and engine sump oily water and made it bright and clean. layout paper towels then cranked up the engine with the covers fore and aft off and looked for any sign of fuel leaking or oozing out of anywhere with a supper bright spot light. Nothing, nada, zilch. Let her run up to temperature at idle, put her in forward and then reverse gears. Reved up to 2000. Nothing, Not one drip or slick or sheen after an hour of running. I'm baffled except for one long shot theory. That the oil/fuel dripping is actually coming out of the air filter canister which sits just above the fuel filter where I'm seeing the sheen and drips before. I had removed the canister so I could get a better look at the fuel filter area and left it off while I did this engine run. When I open this canister (twice in three years) I find it has about a quarter inch of oily goo in it. I assume it accumulates from the hose that runs from the valve cover to the air intake. ??? I'd appreciate any other ideas.
Sam
Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida