6cta Fuel in bilge after shutdown

[Ray McFarland]

I Have a 96 Searay with twin 6CTA Cummins. I find fuel in the bilge after shutdown and have been unable to locate the source. I can’t see any evidence of fuel coming from the tanks, water seperators, fuel lines to or from the engine or filters. Anyone else experience this?

Topic

[Ray McFarland]

Thanks Tom.
I feel as if that may be closer to the issue, as I have not experienced any leak after changing the Perko filters and cleaning it.

[Tom Mann]

Fuel leak

Ray,
I had a similar issue with a fuel leak years ago, after changing the Racor fuel filters and taking the metal cover off the bottom bowl off.
The “o” ring that seals the bowl between the clear site bowl and metal bottom bowl that’s mounted externally on the filter failed. I always take a clean white cloth to check for leaks after a filter change, no fuel on the cloth. I went back to the boat a week later and found diesel fuel in the bilge? I would guess about a gallon had leaked down from the Racor and into the center of the bilge between the engines. Hope this helps.

Tom M.

[Ray McFarland]

Thanks. I will check it out. I have changed all the filters and checked all the hose connections as well. I also checked all the injectors and pump. A bad fuel tank is the only thing left. The port fuel tank also seems to have lots of water or junk in it. When I changed the Perko Water seperater filter it was completley slimed. I don’t know how any fuel could even get through it. It was a new element just 2 months ago. When I fill the tanks I notice the port tank takes about 5 more gallons than the starboard every time .

Is there some kind of test for the tanks? A pressure test perhaps?

[Rick]

Fuel Leak

Check the port fuel tank…forward outside bottom seam….I’ve had 4 friends with late 90s Dancers with the exact same problem….very expensive fix…

[Jeffrey Fontes]

I agree, Check the fuel lines and especially your returns and return line washers on the injectors.
had the same issue but the motor ran great.. my buddy took a look tightened them and that was that, clean blidge

[Rob Schepis]

I know you’ve mentioned that you’ve checked the fuel lines… have you closely checked the injector lines/nuts?

[Ray McFarland]

Common low point. No operational genset. Both start within a second or two of each other.

[Anonymous]

The area in which the fuel is located after running is that exclusive to one engine or a common low point for 2 engine or possibly a genset also?
Do all the engines fire up well or does one crank for longer than the rest?

[Ray McFarland]

None at all.

[Rob Schepis]

But if you do not run the engines and come back to the boat days later is any further leakage occurring?

[Ray McFarland]

Not the 1st time. last time it was about a gallon, this was more than before. Seems to be only after shutdown and not during operation.

[Corey Schmidt]

After cleanup, how much fuel do you find and how long does it take to show up? Is it only after running or is this the first time it happened?

[Author]

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