Fuel system schematic, generalized

[Loren Beach]

How To Change Diesel Fuel Filters

Changing diesel fuel filters is something you can do yourself to help protect your engine.

www.boatus.com

I just noticed this article at BoatUS. Step #8 in this shows almost exactly the fuel plumbing for our 3 cylinder engine. Nothing "new" in the article, but sometimes it's helpful to have additional viewpoints or confirmation.
The author does kind of gloss over a usually-awkward step when saying to just fill up the filter housing with new diesel.
Nothing mentioned about the potential mess or the storage and handling of the 'new' diesel.

 

[bigd14]

Interesting article. I’m a bit surprised they didn’t describe a generic fuel bleeding system morehttps://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/e32-3-mx-25-fuel-bleeding-questions.14540/#post-103644

I installed a bleed valve as per Ken’s system in the above post and was able to fill the filters directly through the pump without pre-filling them. No mess!

 

[Kenneth K]

The bleed valve line has been a great add-on for filter changes, no-doubt. But It really saved my bacon when I developed a fuel line "vacuum leak" after changing fuel tanks last year.

After the engine died for the fourth time in about an hour after launch (requiring bleeding before it would restart each time), I finally tried leaving the bleed valve open just a crack, 1/8 or less maybe. The engine then ran fine all the way home--a 3 hour motor.

So, it seems you can bleed off a "vacuum leak" while running. Good to know if you're ever in that situation.

 

[bigd14]

That's great info Ken!