Diesel Smell on board but can't find source

[Dennis Truett]

My boat has always had a diesel smell onboard. Its not that noticable when your on board. Last weekend we spent 3 days aboard. when we returned home everything we had brought with us smelled of desiel. We had to wash somethings twice, and they still smelled. There are no visible signs of a leak anywhere. The engine is clean. The supply lines are clean. The bilge is clean. Anyone else have this problem?

Thanks!
Dennis Truett
CD26d
SUMMERWIND

[jack cothren]

My boat has always had a diesel smell onboard. Its not that noticable when your on board. Last weekend we spent 3 days aboard. when we returned home everything we had brought with us smelled of desiel. We had to wash somethings twice, and they still smelled. There are no visible signs of a leak anywhere. The engine is clean. The supply lines are clean. The bilge is clean. Anyone else have this problem?

Thanks!
Dennis Truett


CD26d
SUMMERWIND

hey dennis...i'm contemplating getting rid of my 23 yr old aluminum tank as it shows some pitting and i questioned dave, who put our kubota in this summer, and he said if i switch to plastic you will smell diesel as opposed to metal... fwiw

jack cothren
"Kingfisher"
CD 28 #238



jcoth49@aol.com

[Bill Goldsmith]

Check all the fittings on the tank. You may have some seepage that is barely noticeable while on board because it's being aired out while in use, but becomes more noticeable when the boat is closed up. Check all the hoses, wipe the tank clean with some Grease-Away and come back the next day with a white cloth and wipe around looking for new diesel. Even check the screws holding on the fuel guage, sometimes they get loose and the gasket material shifts or stops sealing. Also check the gasket material itself--some gasketting material is not as diesel-resistant as others.

It doesn't take much seepage to stink up the boat, so happy hunting!!

Bill Goldsmith
CD27 #173
Second Chance

CD32 #2
Loonsong

My boat has always had a diesel smell onboard. Its not that noticable when your on board. Last weekend we spent 3 days aboard. when we returned home everything we had brought with us smelled of desiel. We had to wash somethings twice, and they still smelled. There are no visible signs of a leak anywhere. The engine is clean. The supply lines are clean. The bilge is clean. Anyone else have this problem?

Thanks!
Dennis Truett
CD26d
SUMMERWIND

goldy@bestweb.net

[Gary L.]

My boat has always had a diesel smell onboard. Its not that noticable when your on board. Last weekend we spent 3 days aboard. when we returned home everything we had brought with us smelled of desiel. We had to wash somethings twice, and they still smelled. There are no visible signs of a leak anywhere. The engine is clean. The supply lines are clean. The bilge is clean. Anyone else have this problem?

Thanks!
Dennis Truett
CD26d
SUMMERWIND

Hi Dennis,

I recently developed a similar problem after adding bio-guard to the fuel system. It smells funkier than plan diesel.I will be checking my tank fittings this weekend, as I start getting everything ready for coming ashore at the end of the month. But due to the heat of the engine, I thought that the smell was emminating from the engine itself. Keep you abreast of the situation.

Gary Lapine
Red Witch III
CD30C, #339
Somerset, MA



dory26@attbi.com

[Ken Cave]

White vinigar will kill the smell pronto and is great to use after a diesel cleanup.

A friend of mine with a Catalina 30 had to clean out his tank and got diesel all over his boat. His wife used about a half gallon of white vinigar and had the smell out in no time at all!

I now carry a quart of this stuff-just in case!!

As for plastic tanks for diesel, might check with Coast Guard for this one and see what is legal in that area.



bcave@whidbey.net

[Larry DeMers]

I had a strong diesel smell in our boat back in the first year. I also could find no cause at all, except the engine kinda dribbled a little fuel from the air cleaner when the cleaners throat was pointing down.. caused by blow-by from frozen rings. I had the engine rebuilt, and the smell has completely disappeared. Now the engine was basicly jerked out of the boat, and then replaced the next spring..by me. So nothing in the fuel or electric or mechanical connection systems changed after reinstalling the engine. I have to believe that the smell was from the blow-by , as I noticed that the engine actually sucked air in, then spit a portion of that out on the next stroke. A hand placed in (very loosely) front of the horn opening would feel a suction, then a pressure against it. This positive pressure spit a tiny atomized layer of air out into the cabin, and this apparently was what we smelled.
So I wonder if you might be experiencing this same thing. I hope not, as my solution would be kinda expensive these days.


Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 Lake Superior

My boat has always had a diesel smell onboard. Its not that noticable when your on board. Last weekend we spent 3 days aboard. when we returned home everything we had brought with us smelled of desiel. We had to wash somethings twice, and they still smelled. There are no visible signs of a leak anywhere. The engine is clean. The supply lines are clean. The bilge is clean. Anyone else have this problem?

Thanks!
Dennis Truett
CD26d
SUMMERWIND

demers@sgi.com

[hobby Mrine]

Dennis: If you are sure that your connections and tank do not leak, check the vent line. Make sure your vent line is properly connected and that the vent is open and not clogged.

Good luck.

Glen



glen@hobbymarine.com

[Ed Haley]

Another possibility that happened to me is a small leakage along the fuel return lines at each of the injectors. A split end or missing miniature hose clamp could cause a small leak. The small amount of fuel then vaporizes on the top of the engine leaving a diesel smell in the interior but no noticeable wetness.



eghaleyNOSPAM@twcny.rr.com

[Dennis Truett]

Thanks Everyone!

Dennis Truett

My boat has always had a diesel smell onboard. Its not that noticable when your on board. Last weekend we spent 3 days aboard. when we returned home everything we had brought with us smelled of

desiel. We had to wash somethings twice, and they still smelled. There are no visible signs of a leak anywhere. The engine is clean. The supply lines are clean. The bilge is clean. Anyone else have this problem?

Thanks!
Dennis Truett
CD26d
SUMMERWIND