FUEL TRANSFER PUMP and HELLO to Forum!

[CBIP2018]

Hi All - Want to introduce myself. New to posting, followed the forum for years. We own a 2005 44 CPMY ES. Twin VOLVO D6 Diesels. Beautiful Boat, but lately had some significant fuel issues. Unfortunately, she sits in PORT much of time as my wife is not a fan of BIG WATER, and we slip on Lake Michigan. Had some contaminated DIESEL recently either because it sat or because I got some bad stuff. Had to clean OUT RACORs for 2nd time in a year (less than 50 hours) and replace all Filters / Fuel Filters. Then had a dual engine SHUTDOWN (on Saturday, after running for 5 + hours). SB Engine alarmed and went down and then ran for about 1NM on PT and then it shut down... Tanks show I have fuel, in both Mains (1/4) and 2 Auxiliaries (3/4 full). (My configuration is 2 Main and 2 Aux tanks as been described before in Forum)... but even when I switched to AUX on the water (thinking it was mains), Engines would not start. Had to be towed in by the COAST GUARD! God Bless em! I run both sets of tanks when Out, as want to cycle Fuel.

So here is main Q- as I suspect a couple things. 1. What is and how does the FUEL transfer pump work on a diesel boat? I thought I knew and it was related to GenSet, but apparently I don't, as nothing worked. 2. I suspect I have bad sending units in tanks/or?? I do have fuel equalization in Aux tanks (under extended CockPit, just two Stopcocks) and run it open when I am on water, which I am reading I probably shouldn't do as well. Appreciate the FORUM and the assistance offered here, have searched many topics in past. THANKS in Advance!

[Midnightsun]

Welcome aboard.

Not the same boat but same engines and same tank config on ours.

Fuel transfer pump only transfers to and from the 2 main tanks, does nothing regarding the aux tanks. As for the aux tank valves, those are just emergency shutoff valves and should remain open all the time just like the ones just above the main tanks or at least this is how I have them configured.

My guess is you have bad fuel so matter what you try you will keep sucking up contamination and it usually gets even worse when you get to the bottom of the tank. Get someone to check the fuel for you and if this is the case you may need to have them drained, flushed and re-filled. From your description above, it does sound like you do not burn a tank a season therefore my thoughts on possible bad fuel.

I have made a habit of running through my aux tanks once launched for the season and then switching to the mains, this relieves load in the stern and also ensures I have fresh fuel each season all around.

[waybomb]

Welcome aboard!

[CBIP2018]

Thanks Midnight Sun - I agree FUEL related. Just could not understand the AUX tanks and not getting fuel into engines. Thought it had something to do with that pump.

[bud37]

Welcome to the forum.......bad fuel can really plug up injectors, lines etc......maybe look into getting the fuel polished, check your area for someone that does that and maybe clean the tanks considering you don't use it much, all kinds of stuff grows in diesel fuel in the right conditions.

Good luck man.

[CBIP2018]

Source of the post Welcome to the forum.......bad fuel can really plug up injectors, lines etc......maybe look into getting the fuel polished, check your area for someone that does that and maybe clean the tanks considering you don't use it much, all kinds of stuff grows in diesel fuel in the right conditions.

Good luck man.

Thanks Bud37 and All! Yep, already spoke to a mechanic about it and am pursuing the fuel polishing. Problem is, nobody available for weeks. No mechanics, etc. Stupid online answer service (Just Answer... horrible!) said "try a fresh tank of fuel". UHH - boat not running, so how am I getting to FUEL dock?? hahahaha
If you or anybody knows anything about cleaning the tanks, that would be helpful as well. Was going to try to just keep running fresh fuel thru about 25 gallons per side at a time.

[km1125]

First, I would try and verify how much fuel is in each tank. Then, you might be able to re-config or use an external pump to pump all the existing fuel into the AUX tanks and refill the mains with fresh fuel. Then you can deal with the AUX tanks at a time more convenient to you.

If you do transfer fuel, you could rig another fuel/water filter in the circuit so any fuel you do pump is "cleaned" fuel.