Scary start to the weekend . . . LONG

Cincy Aquaholic

Cincy Aquaholic

Active Member
Mar 15, 2009
1,329
Cincinnati
Boat Info
290 SS - 2016 Ford F250 Powerstroke
Engines
Twin 5.7 with Bravo 1's
So, the issue I had last year with my port engine described here reared its ugly head with my starboard engine a couple weeks ago.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22258&highlight=pump

Essentially fuel pump issue (maybe! Will discuss more later). Port engine fuel related issue was fixed last year by replacing the high and low pressure fuel pump and filters. This is the set up I have. Note the 2 fuel pumps and the two filters. One larger and one little screen underneath that is impossible to see unless you know its there.

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_Pictures3.asp?dnbr=884717003&ivar=images/COMMON/18403.png&inbr=12840&bnbr=70&bdesc=Fuel+Supply+Module%28Bravo%29

This time around fuel pumps only were replaced. Make note of that.

So, I pick up the boat friday morning after marina service dept says she's ready to go. Used a rental truck. Got the 2010 F250 6.4 diesel. Stripped down (notice no running boards) but a great great truck.

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Head to Lake Cumberland for a long weekend. Feeling great to finally have my fuel starvation issue behind me and do some serious cruising on the big lake.

10 minutes in, all is well. Then . . . bluaaagh . . . starboard engine giving out again!!! ARGH!!! GONNA KILL THE DEALER CAUSE I JUST INVESTED IN THE RENTAL, DROVE 4 HOURS, HAULED THE KIDS ETC ETC :smt013 Then, it goes from bad to worse. What's that smell??? I smell gas. Bear in mind engines run fine at less than planning speed so limping back. Wow, do I really smell gas. Kill the engines, open the hatch. OH MY GOD MY BILGE PUMP IS PUMPING OUT PURE GAS!!!!:wow:

Look here . . . bear in mind there is not a drop of water in my bilge.

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So, I quickly discover that they failed to correctly install the high pressure fuel line on the outlet of the cool fuel module. A set screw had tore a square cut o-ring. Can't see it in this pic because I took it before I found the cause but you can clearly see the gas oozing even when off.

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I dumped 10-15 gallons of gas into my bilge and unfortunately some in the lake. I was livid! Fumes were so bad my CO detector started to go off. Left hatch open, put kids on bow and got towed in. Put on trailer, drained gas, and cleaned bilge. Put it back in the water and waited til morning to visit Cumberland Sea Ray. Nice folks gave me a new o-ring. Installed it and everything was perfect. All is good right?? Thinking, yay, our weekend is finally going to be great. Nope . . .. Engine still was fuel starved. Decided to pull the screen under the paper filter. You guessed, clogged. So, who knows if the pump was even bad because after that the boat ran great and we eneded up having a great weekend.

Some pics running from friends phone.

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Off shore boat race there. Very cool.


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This one below ran 200 mph.

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some more pics.

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Nice view.

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Even better view!!

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So, now that I fixed it, how do I address this with my service department?
 
Glad you finally discovered the problem, but it usually isn't too rewarding to go back to the service department. If you still have the old fuel pump, it would be an idea to test it and keep it for a spare since they are an expensive item.

What a mess! Hope you had a honda generator handy in the engine room to power a shopvac so you could suck up all that fuel? :wow: :smt021

This is a reminder for all of us as to WHY ignition protected items are a must in the engine room! You never know when gas might leak out from somewhere.:thumbsup:
 
Fortunately, its all been covered by warranty but you are absolutely correct about the safety note. Many people don't ever really think they will have fuel leak issues especially with newer boats. I'm actually one. Never thought it would come from a repair issue but it did. Just goes to show . . .

I wonder if it was the filters all along and the service dept was upcharging the warranty work? My understanding is they have to return those so who knows. Just know I put about 12 hours of run time and it ran like a top and felt great. Glad my issue is behind me.
 
That is scary...glad you didn't catch fire or explode. Their sloppy work could have cost your lives. Email the service manager the text from your post and follow-up with a call. ( leave out the "gonna kill the dealer"... for now!)
 
I'm going straight to the top and will set up a face to face with Kent. No way did my service tech test his work under higher rpms for leaks because there wasn't a hit of a leak at idle in my slip and for the slow cruise over to the ramp when we hauled out. I know because I pulled the plug for the trip down just to drain any water that may be in there and we were headed into storms. Not a drop came out. Only after I tried getting up on plane at Cumberland did this become evident.
 
JV II said:
What did you say about your fuel pump?
Click to expand...

What fuel pump:lol:

Only bad thing about this pictures is when you have daughters like her.:smt089

Dumb question, how did you clean up the gas?
 
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Just show him the pictures and the torn O ring (if you still have it). They just about killed your whole family. Take copies of the pics, walk into his office, toss them on his desk, and say, "You know, Kent, you guys have always treated me fairly and done good work for me in the past, but in this case, you nearly killed my familiy and I. I'm not asking for anything now, but I expect that you will keep this little incident in mind and personally guarantee that when your team returns my boat to me next time, it will be in safe, perfect running order. I am extremely disappointed with how this repair was handled. I am fortunate to be able to sit in front of you right now. If it weren't for the grace of God, my familiy and I would have been dead last Saturday morning. What do you have to say about that?". Then let him squirm for a while.

You got lucky. It just wasn't your day to die.
 
chuck1 said:
Dumb question, how did you clean up the gas?
Click to expand...

Used buckets to catch drain from transplug. Estimated6-8 gallons. Fortunately it didn't "spew" from the line but more or less poured into the bildge so it wasn't everywhere except on the cool fuel module.

Used bilge cleaner and hose and washed the hell out of it. Good thing is, I've got a very pretty and nice smelling bilge!
 
Wow, the thought of that much gas getting dumped in your bilge and no fire... Glad no one was hurt.
 
Wow #1 - glad you caught the problem before something very bad happened! :smt001

Wow #2 - picture :thumbsup::smt119 Your admiral probably says :smt018
 
Wow Bill, glad you and the family made it out ok. That much gas, loose in a bilge....I'm still in shock it didn't explode.

Now I have two places I won't take my boat....
 
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