Cool fuel 1 problem

[jsea558]

Hi Everyone, i had a massive fuel leak a few weeks ago, on my 7.4 mpi engine and it appears to have been a bad high pressure fuel line, or the "O" rings that seal the fuel pump. Possibly due to the ethanol fuel. I'm replacing everything to be safe. The problem now is i'm having a hard time getting the high pressure line that goes from the top of the fuel cooler to the fuel rail on the engine. Has anyone seen a service bulletin on this issue. I had a mercr. dealer check their website and the part is unavailable at this time, and no availability date was shown. This tells me there might have been a problem with this part, or the manufacturer. I've called all the dealers around me and no one is stocking the fuel line. I cannot properly finish winterizing the boat without it. Thanks for any help.

 

[Dave S]

Here is another problem you may not be aware of. http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5277&highlight=cool

It doesn't sound like it is the same problem you describe but I wonder if the lack of availabilty of the line might be somehow related to it if they are having to replace a lot of these units.

 

[fwebster]

It is my understanding (from our Sea ray/Mercruiser dealer's shop foreman - I don't own a Mercruiser and have not been thru this personally) that Mercruiser replaced the Cool Fuel 1 with subsequent designs called Cool fuel 2 and 3. If this is the case, there is likely a safety issue and Mercruiser probably isn't going to support the older designs with parts, so you either find one in the parts system somewhere or change over to the latest fuel cooler design. Cool Fuel 3 is an $800 part so that wouldn't be like changing a line or an o-ring.

If I were you, I'd go yo your Mercruiser or Sea Ray dealer and ask them to get in touch with Mercruiser and find out what the right fix for this is since they can't support you with parts. You may get lucky, you may get the specs on the line where you can have one made somewhere else, or you may get some help on a replacement fuel cooler.........but you may get nothing more than the satisfaction of knowing you let Mercruiser know they screwed a bunch of customers by not supporting parts for such a new design.

Also, this seems to me to be a bad spot to be in. If you read my earlier thread, the one Dave S posted the link for, you will see that there is a design flaw with Cool Fuel 3 and it is serious enough that Mercruiser will probably change it to a 4th version shortly.

Hope you get it worked out........

 

[nirvana2]

You can probably find the part at marinediscounter.com or they can get it for you.......
OOPS.......

 

[Four Suns]

Wesley told me I could call you an idiot. They don't carry that part.

 

[jsea558]

Thanks for your help guys, i was reading about the coolfuel 3, and its the most rediculous thing i've ever heard of to make the cooler out of aluminum. The one in my system is solid copper, and after all this time in a saltwater environment it still looks great. I think the problem i'm having involves the "O" rings. I noticed that one of them was soft and sticky. The most insane thing about my system, imho, is using 4 "O" rings to hold the fuel pump to the fuel cooler and keep all that fuel pressure from leaking, yet they have rubber/metal lines with screw in fittings as a return line, and a fuel feed to the pump. I am going to call my local Searay dealer on Monday to see if they know anything. I don't get a warm fuzzy feeling from Mercruiser, either. Thanks again. Jon

 

[Sorrento 25]

I would consider trying to source the correct (impervious to gasoline and alcohol) o-rings from Mcmaster.

 

[jsea558]

Thanks for the tip, Michael. I never heard of Mcmaster, are they a marine parts dealer. I purchased all Mercruiser original equipment, to be sure everything fit correctly. I heard that the new equipment coming out can handle the E-10 fuel, but we will see if that is the case. I also called my local Searay Dealer, and they said they haven't had any problems with the fuel lines, or older coolfuel sysems. I have an update to my dilema, i found a boat dealer who can get me the fuel line that i need. He gets his parts from Kellogg marine supply, here in CT., and they had it in stock. I'm going there on Wednsday to pick it up. I will believe it when its in my hands. Thanks. Jon

 

[Four Suns]

McMaster is not a marine parts dealer but they have every kind of mechanical gizmo you could ever want for anything including marine. Get their catalog.... great bathroom reading.

 

[jsea558]

Thanks Gary, i'll add it to my throneroom library. Jon