CAPE DORY 33 Engine Cuts Out-Not getting fuel.

[Zeida Cecilia]

Would appreciate hearing from anybody: My recenty purchased CD33 (1982) came with a Universal Atomic 3 cyl. diesel eng. that has 1,052 hrs. of use. I have used the boat for a week, it ran fine.
Yesterday, the engine cut out on us as we were returning from a day sail. I thought We had run out of fuel, and got a lift from another boat to go to the closest marina and buy 5 gals. of fuel and poured it in. Then, as per instructions, bled the engine, to make sure there were no air bubbles in the system. The engine would still NOT start!.
We had to be towed into our dock. I had two mechanics inspect the engine last night, after we secured the boat, and both bled the engine, and each time the engine started. But a couple of minutes later, it cuts out again! The reason seems to be that NO fuel is reaching the cylinders or the engine, or whatever! Can anybody relate to a similar experience? If I were to buy a new engine, what kind would be recommended? i am having another mechanic check the engine out to see if he can find the trouble. Fuel filter seems to be OK... but somewhere along the system, something is stopping the fuel to get to the engine, and it cuts out. It starts after you bleed it and in that manner, put some more fuel in the line, but the minute that fuel is used up, engine dies! Comments..?
Is there any way to monitor the amount of fuel in the tank other than that primitive measuring stick...? Are all diesel engines like that?
Also, the Adler-Barbour refrigerator & bilge pump stopped working yesterday too, after having worked perfectly for the first week, and the cause seemed to be some corrosion in the battery terminal. I cleaned it up today, and the frig and pump are working again fine. i wonder if that power failure could have affected the electricity that goes to the engine - because it would try to start, but you could hear there was not enough power to get it going. however, today it starts, but instantly stops. Help.

Zeida.



zcecil@ibm.net

[Scott Ritchey]

Recommend you look for an air leak that is letting air in the fuel line between the tank and the pump. Even a small air leak could stop it dead. Could also be a filter problem (i.e. a blockage), but would not expect that to be so sudden. Worth changing the filter element if it hasn't been done recently. Unless you hate your engine for some other reason, it's way too soon to consider reengining. The problem seems to be the boat's fuel system, not the engine, proper. With only a thousand hours, your existing engine should have lots of life. Changing the engine is very expensive and usually involves reworking a lot of peripheral stuff, like controls. Diesels need clean fuel, clean air, and clean oil (in roughly that order). Your electrical problems seem unrelated.
Cheers.



ritcheyvs@aol.com

[Gil Burns]

Zeida,

I had similar problem with the diesel engine on my Alberg 29 - cutting out continuously. I checked the fuel system for clogged filters and air leaks and found no problems there. As a last resort, I removed the fuel tank. My tank did not have an inspection port, so I cut it open. I found that the fuel was contaminated with about two cups of rust and sand. The fuel pickup line had a synthetic sponge type of material inserted near the end of the line at the bottom of the tank. It blocked the passage of the contaminants and caused the line to block to the point that no fuel passed.

The upside of this problem is that my sailing skills really improved durring the 3 months I had this unresolved problem. I was the talk of the marina as that nut who sails in and out of his slip!

Good luck. I hope your problem is this simple too!

Gil Burns



gil@ctol.net