330 EC 7.4 efi - FUEL IN BILGE !!

[gattlenn1]

Just changed plugs, and started Port side engine, only to hear a 'hissing' sound !! Smelled fuel (gas), looked down and there was 2-3" of fuel in bilge !!
Cannot see any fuel line cracks, nor locate the problem ! Fule pump/cooler appears in tact. Where in the heck can this much fuel originate ?? Scary !! :smt100

 

[gabbygirl]

i have 33ec 1993. had same kind of problem, tec guy traced to port side carb .

 

[Molson]

No carbs on an EFI... Did you nick a rubber fuel line? Maybe water separator is loose? Don't use a shop vac to get it out!

 

[northern]

Let us know how you get it out.
Never thought of what I would do.
Now we all know why we do not put non marine items in the engine room. When I put in my watermaker I put it under the stairs to the galley rather than in the engine room as I did not like the idea of 120 volt electric motor in the engine room.

 

[gattlenn1]

CAUSE - Ruptured ( Rusted) FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR (43 PSI) that sits atop the FUEL COOLER/FUEL PUMP !!

SOLUTION - 1. Mouth Syphen or HAND BAIL all FUEL in Bilge !! DO NOT USE any 120-v Wet-Vac ,.....or allow fuel to be dumped over board via Bilge Pumps !
Turn OFF ALL battery switches !
2. Wash down ALL areas w/ degreaser and Ventilate ASAP !! Note: Raise Helm Hatch and leave OPEN until ALL fumes are gone.
3. With a second person and a LED light, in the bilge, press ignition to ALARM POSTION ONLY. Listen for Fuel Pump to engage. If Regulator is
ruptured, fuel will burst into bilge !
4. Remove Fuel Cooler and Fuel Pump, clamping fuel line or plugging in non-gravity position.

Note: Regulator Kit Part #861126A1 ($102 - $152, plus shipping) Labor - 1 hr each for removal/replacement.

ALERT - A periodic inspection is a MUST, in Salt Water environments, particularly !! It is not easily seen, and you must ck. the back side of the regulator to
feel or see any rust ! This could have been disasterous, and it can happen instantaneously. Hopefully, your boat is equipped w/ an alarm.

Ed - ("TIME OUT") 2000, 330EC 7.4L MPI Horizons

 

[Xplicitlnck]

Im in contract with a 98 330ec I was wondering were exacly the regulator that busted is. That's a little scary and would like to inspect it and keep an eye on it.

 

[hottoddie]

I still wonder why fume detectors are not standard equipment in gas powered boats. Just seems like common sense.

 

[techmitch]

Just changed plugs, and started Port side engine, only to hear a 'hissing' sound !! Smelled fuel (gas), looked down and there was 2-3" of fuel in bilge !!
Cannot see any fuel line cracks, nor locate the problem ! Fule pump/cooler appears in tact. Where in the heck can this much fuel originate ?? Scary !! :smt100

CAUSE - Ruptured ( Rusted) FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR (43 PSI) that sits atop the FUEL COOLER/FUEL PUMP !!

SOLUTION - 1. Mouth Syphen or HAND BAIL all FUEL in Bilge !! DO NOT USE any 120-v Wet-Vac ,.....or allow fuel to be dumped over board via Bilge Pumps !
Turn OFF ALL battery switches !
2. Wash down ALL areas w/ degreaser and Ventilate ASAP !! Note: Raise Helm Hatch and leave OPEN until ALL fumes are gone.
3. With a second person and a LED light, in the bilge, press ignition to ALARM POSTION ONLY. Listen for Fuel Pump to engage. If Regulator is
ruptured, fuel will burst into bilge !
4. Remove Fuel Cooler and Fuel Pump, clamping fuel line or plugging in non-gravity position.

Note: Regulator Kit Part #861126A1 ($102 - $152, plus shipping) Labor - 1 hr each for removal/replacement.

ALERT - A periodic inspection is a MUST, in Salt Water environments, particularly !! It is not easily seen, and you must ck. the back side of the regulator to
feel or see any rust ! This could have been disasterous, and it can happen instantaneously. Hopefully, your boat is equipped w/ an alarm.

Ed - ("TIME OUT") 2000, 330EC 7.4L MPI Horizons

Good post and follow up. Hopefully this will help someone avoid a bad situation. Thanks for posting.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Great post for those thinking of saving $$ by replacing marine electrical items in their ER's with cheaper non-ignition protected items (ie alternators, A/C pumps, battery chargers, etc)

It only takes one little spark...

Glad to see you caught this early. Another way to get the fuel out would be one of those manual oil changers that uses a plunger to creat suction. Static electricity could also build up while cleaning the bilge. Take care!

 

[gattlenn1]

I wish I knew of a way to make this a "Bulletin/Safety Alert" for every one connected w/ CSR ! The location of this Regulator is terribly hard to see and I was very lucky to have
had my hatches OPEN and used 'common sense' !! It takes two people to determine the problem, one in the bilge, the other at the helm. 'Gas' is so volatile, that it ONLY takes
a 'static' charge to create the explosion ! All salt water, GAS, boats need to have these inspected whenever any periodic maintenance is done. Thanks to all for reading my post, .... for it just might prevent a disaster !!

Ed.