Fuel Vent & Water

[2stroker79]

I have a 2001 HPDI 2 Stroke 150hp outboard w/ 285 hours on it. I recently had about $3K in service work done with the fuel filter being replaced, cleaning the injectors and reworking the high pressure pump. 2 weeks ago we were out and everything was fine, as we head to the next fishing hole the alarm goes off. After the tow we took it in to our service center. Result was water in the fuel line. They flushed it, drained the tank, removed the water, added a racor fuel water separator and all was fine. A week later after going through the process the same thing happens again. We are out and the alarm goes off. Prior to the first event, my Dad replaced a fuel vent with a generic version that sticks out from the hull that you can easily see the hole and screen. I am thinking we are getting water intrusion from this vent. Any thoughts on a less intrusive fuel vent?

[99yam40]

A pic of your vent and what it is installed on might help.
I do not see how this vent has anything to do with the Yamaha you have on the back of some boat, but I guess you could tell us what alarm was coming in that caused you to get towed in

[DennisG01]

You should have been able to drain the water from the Racor and keep boating, no? The water shouldn't make it to the sensor? Maybe something else is going on?

Those fuel vents are fine, if installed correctly. The "vent" part should be facing (rotated) down or slightly aft and the there MUST be an "upward loop" in the fuel vent line on the inside of the hull.

[TownsendsFJR1300]

How much water was in the tank when they emptied it?

I gather the new fuel / water separator was full of water?

Does the new separator have a drain on the bottom?

If not, you may consider getting one and checking/draining it occasionally.
(it should spin onto the current mount)

You can see water (if any) in this unit and just loosen the lower drain to remove it-DONE:

[Jason2tpa]

Check integrity of the fuel tank cap, including its threads. Also, there should be a rubber o-ring pressed to the underside of cap. Make sure there is an o-ring and that it's not damaged or warped. A part as simple and cheap as an o-ring that has gone bad can be overlooked and thus cause tremendous headaches.

[2stroker79]

When the tank was drained and the water was removed the service center did
not give an exact amount of how much water. They drained the tank separated the water and put the fuel back in the boat. They placed a new fuel water separator. They said that was the cause of the alarm and why the RPM did not exceed 2000 RPM. The tank drain and separation was done on the 27th. My dad took the boat out once prior to Sunday with no issues. Yesterday (Monday 1/2) the alarm went off again and the boat would not exceed 2000 RPM. I checked the filter and opened the drain. Very little water then all fuel. Did not wanna tank a chance so called in a tow to get us from one side of the island to the other. My thought was water came in through the fuel vent. Attached a pic of the current vent and the new one. The boat is going back in to the service center tomorrow. Now the engine won't turn over at all. Fingers crossed it's only a little bit of water.

[Jason2tpa]

They said that was the cause of the alarm and why the RPM did not exceed 2000 RPM.

What alarm are you speaking of???

You've got 2 standard alarm systems tied into the tach, low oil and high temp. Low oil alarm is monitored in the main oil tank. The reason for its alarm speaks for itself...oil is low.

High temp alarm is monitored by the thermo switch assembly located on each block. The reason for its alarm is normally associated with a cooling issue (such as a failed water pump, water intake blockage, etc).

If water had intruded the fuel injection system it would not set off either one of these alarms. Water intrusion into the fuel system does not cause low oil or high heat, therefore water intrusion would not trigger these alarms.

However, RPM reduction (a.k.a. limp mode) is the result of an alarm. RPM reduction is not the reason for the alarm. Big difference.

First, I'd reply back with more detail as to WHICH alarm activated. There are a few pros on here that pretty much can solve anything so long as you provide necessary information.

Second, I don't see anything wrong with your old fuel vent. It's directed a little too parallel to the water for my liking, but it is directed aft. I'd direct the vent opening at a 45 degree from water line to railing. There is no difference between your old vent and the new one. The new one looks more aerodynamic, but its purpose is the same as your old one.

Either way, the position of your vent cannot be the reason your accumulating enough water in the fuel tank to cause this issue. But a leak around the seat of the fuel tank cap, a bad fuel cap o-ring, or even a leak around where the vent is seated could definitely be the culprit.

But I'm still uncertain about what's going on here, definitely something other than water in the tank to cause the alarm. Sounds fishing. Even more fishing is the service center claiming the vent is the issue, FYI.

[pstephens46]

Looking at the bright side of things, he now has a good clean fuel system to work with. I guess the guages would not indicate the source of alarm? Maybe not. Oil or heat?

[Jason2tpa]

Looking at the bright side of things, he now has a good clean fuel system to work with. I guess the guages would not indicate the source of alarm? Maybe not. Oil or heat?

The blinking bar located over the oil symbol or temp symbol indicates the source. If the oil is low, but not yet below critical, the alarm sounds for like 6-8 secs after ignition then alarm shuts off. Bar continues to blink while operating.

[pstephens46]

But do we know which guages he has?

[Jason2tpa]

But do we know which guages he has?

Nope. Or which of the 2 alarms activated. Perhaps he'll join us later this evening to halt our suspense and wonder.

[2stroker79]

With respects to the alarms it was not oil or heat. We checked both heads at the time of both incidents and they were fine. We have a info-red thermometer readings were 125 F on both. The oil tank on the outboard was full and the oil tank under the console next to the batteries was checked out at 3/4 full and we keep 1/2 a gallon on the boat. That being said, today after I posted the pictures I noticed when I went to replace the fuel vent that my Dad left "J" of the tubing coming off the vent pointed down and when we pulled the vent hose off, water rushed out. I re-checked the Racor Fuel filter and it was filled with 90% water. We emptied that out. We pulled the clear tubular fuel filter and that was filled with water. After emptying both filters and pushing new fuel through the alarm went away. I take my boat to Central Marine in St. Pete., FL They did not say it was the fuel vent that was my suspicion. The new vent I turned the J or 90 degree tubing in an upward position. I checked the gasket and fuel cap and there is no seal issues that I can see. We do have a sensor underneath the clear tubular fuel filter connected to the electrical. That is where my novist guess led me to believe it was the alarm was due to water. It goes in to Central Marine Wednesday morning.

[cpostis]

I believe 2stroker's only indication of "Water Level High in Fuel Filter" is an audible alarm w/reduction in rpm to about 2,000, unless he has a fuel management gauge.

[IMG]Fuel Filter Water Level Warning by Charles Postis, on Flickr[/IMG]

Now, if he does not see a "High Temp" or "Low Oil indicator" (blinking bar, and also sound alarm, and also reduction in rpm), he should assume he has a "Water Level High in Fuel Filter" alarm, assuming all are connected/working properly.

I doubt he has any amount of minuscule water intrusion through his vent fitting.

When I got my latest boat I had contamination in my fuel tank. I drained the tank, flushed all lines, changed all filters (Water fuel filter separator, engine mounted, VST, and refilled with fresh fuel) After two runs my motor would bog down at high rpm. I found VST filter was clogged with "white powder type substance". Cleaned that filter, replaced the fuel line from tank to fuel filter water separator and have not had a problem since. Maybe residual contamination?

Boscoe has said in another thread that the early "Fuel Filter Water Level Sensor" has been known to fail frequently. May want to check/replace. I believe your HPDI has an external "fuel strainer" mounted just above the VST. Has it been checked/replaced?

[2stroker79]

When the alarm was active after I turned it off it came on even before turning over the ignition. one long alarm that just did not stop. no pause or sequence. No blinking bar that I remember seeing.

[pstephens46]

Looking at the bright side of things, he now has a good clean fuel system to work with. I guess the guages would not indicate the source of alarm? Maybe not. Oil or heat?

Now we know about the sensor on the engine mounted filter. You say the engine will not turn over when trying to crank? Or it will not start up and run?