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3988 fuel leak. Help needed-gctid806114

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    3988 fuel leak. Help needed-gctid806114

    April 8th arrived at boat to check on things and run all engines for 2 hrs. All liquid levels were where they are supposed to be. I secured the boat and returned 2 weeks later to pick up an item.

    Upon arrival I looked in the engine room and noticed fuel in the bilge (five 3 gallon buckets were removed). Only fuel in center bilge; port & starboard bilges are dry. Center bilge drains to stern.

    I searched everywhere for the leak but found nothing. I removed the fuel, cleaned the bilge with laundry soap and placed diapers into every crevice. Emptied out the lazarette and covered the area with diapers; also under the generator. I ran all engines but could not locate a leak.

    I returned one week later with all the tools to locate and repair the leak but no fuel in the bilge. The bilge is as dry as the day of cleaning. Only small oil leak under port engine. All fuel hoses are dry; I can't see all sides of the fuel tanks but I thought if the tanks were leaking the side bilges would have fuel in them. If the tanks were leaking, there would have been fuel in the bilge today (unless the fuel level is below the hole). Starboard engine shows lower than the port but the generator also runs off the starboard fuel tank.

    Has anyone run into this type of problem?

    Is there a way to pressurize the fuel system and force a leak?

    Any ideas on how to locate the leak?

    Can a siphon occur some how on one of the engines?

    #2
    Maybe a leak at the racors?

    Did you really remove that much fuel or was it fuel on top of water?

    Comment


      #3
      I was hoping for fuel on top of water. Have never had water in the bilge.

      I checked the filters but no leak. I can not find a location where fuel is dripping or follow a trail of fuel.

      Comment


        #4
        Is there fuel in the space aft of the waste tank? Below the floor outside the master stateroom? Has it been very cold recently? Shrinkage of the hoses may cause a leak that would disappear when things warm up. Just a thought. J.

        Comment


          #5
          Thanks for your input. No fuel in the forward bilge. No freezing temps. Most of the time between 45-65 (central Cal.) No leaks since the original clean up. Fueled up all the way - no leaks. Ran all three engines - no leaks. Have not had water or fuel in the bilge since first leak. Very frustrating.

          Comment


            #6
            You might check you filler hoses maybe it got there when you filled it because of a bad hose or connection
            1989 Avanti 3450 Sunbridge
            twin 454's
            MV Mar-Y-Sol
            1979 Bayliner Conquest 3150 hardtop ocean express.
            Twin chevy 350's inboard
            Ben- Jamin
            spokane Washington

            Comment


              #7
              Definitely check the filler hoses. I had similar experience with my 3870. Turned out the hoses were bad. Replaced the hoses and all is fine now. Bet that is the issue. Observe the hoses immediately after adding some fuel to the tanks. You'll see the fuel oozing out. It evaporates from the hoses and surrounding drip area so if you wait awhile the warmth from the engine room area will just "dry" it all up and the only place you will see the fuel is in the bilge and not on the hoses or elsewhere.

              Comment


                #8
                Starboard Fuel Tank has been problematic on the 3988. Hope this is not the case for you - it is a project!

                Comment


                  #9
                  Why would stbd tank be problematic on a 3988? 3288 yes, but 3988?
                  1989 26' then 1994 32' now 2001 39'

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