HELP?? Diesel Fuel in Engine Bilge 38-200

[Kerry Kukucha]

Hello All:

After a couple months of elbow grease & TLC, we are on the 1st voyage on NAKESA, our new 1988 38-200 (with a Universal 32 hp), & have a perplexing problem.

The engine bilge is filling with about 1" of liquid - pink in colour & a bit oily - could be diluted diesel - source is a mystery. There is no smell of diesel in the cabin or compartment.

Our mechanic had previously removed +/-12 onces of the same liquid after a sea test, filter changes & engine work & placed a diaper under the engine before our departure. We motored for about 6 hours yesterday (little wind enroute from Vancouver to Desolation Sound) & discovered the acumulation when we docked.

Today, we exposed the fuel tank area & the entire perimeter is dry, as are the fill & vent pipes & the engine supply & return lines.

The transmission oil/fluid level is right where it should be & there is no leaking in it's area (this eliminates one other source of pink liquid).

In the engine compartment, both fuel filters areas are dry & clean as is the electric pump - no signs of leaks. Same with the injector lines & the return line back to the tank.

Raw water & engine coolant systems (green) are both operable with no leaks. The only other source could have been from the drinking water system antifreeze (pink) but don't see how after we flushed the lines & fully filled with fresh water, how that much antifreeze could have escaped & found it's way into the engine bilge. The main bilge had previously been pumped & dried.

Has anyone encountered such a perplexing situation - any thoughts, comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If any replies could be sent by e-mail to kkukucha@anthemproperties.com (my Blackberry), it would be very helpful.

many thanks,

Kerry

 

[treilley]

Sounds like pink AF coming out of some hidden area of the bilge or maybe a water tank? Does it come out while sitting level or only after heeling?

BTW, if it were diesel you would smell it. Diesel odor is very strong.

 

[ted_reshetiloff]

Never heard of oily antifreeze. Have you checked the vent line on the fuel tank?

 

[Shadowfax]

I agree that if it was a diesel leak of some sort the smell alone would confirm that. As you say this is your first run with the boat and that what you are seeing is red in nature, this leaves antifreeze and ATF. The ATF is simple to diagnose because if it is leaking ounces per trip the transmission will soon be dry and all the sooner die, so I'd keep a close eye on the ATF until you find what the source is.

It is possible you have [or had] a fresh water leak and the red is antifreeze that has been laying in the pans while the boat was laid up and now that it is moving is washing into the bilge. If this is true it will soon end as the old antifreeze washes away. That's about it for "red stuff". Next would be something stupid, which is a lot of times what this stuff turns out to be. By something stupid I mean like, a bottle of cranberry juice that leaked into the pans, or food coloring, old Bloody Mary mix, etc., you get the idea, or some substance of some sort that the PO spilled or leaked into some hidden corner of the boat that is now being reconstituted into red liquid as the boat once more moves about.

In any event I'd keep a close eye on the ATF level, like every time you go out, until the source is found, or disappears.

Good Luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[treilley]

If you pour AF just about anywhere on a 20 year old boat, you are likely to get some oily film.

 

[Gary Peterson]

The tri axial grid that Ericson uses has a few spots where old liquids can accummulate over time. Could be old bilge cleaner or when the boat was washed inside and out. Sailing, or motoring would tend to move any concealed liquid around and eventually into the bilge. If it was Diesel fuel there would be no doubt about it.

 

[Kerry Kukucha]

Success!

Thanks to all for your guidance & help - we have solved the mystery.
It seems when the mechanical survey was done, one of the injector line nuts that would have been removed for the compression test was either not tightened or not properly seated.

Pumped out 3 litres of diesel today from the engine pan/bilge & ran the engine for a while - only after she was warm did we see a tiny drip line appear - traced it to the fuel injector nut just past the 2nd fuel filter. Spun the nut off, gently re-seated & tightened the nut & problem solved!

Many thanks - our sailing adventure (& new boat initiation) continues.

Kerry