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4L1: Fuel System Concept
The Diesel fuel aboard OceanFlyer is carried in two tanks of 517 gallons each. This gives the
boat great cruising range, but it also means there can be a significant imbalance between the tanks if
fuel is only used from one tank for an extended period.
You should understand that Diesel engines pump an excessive amount of fuel from the tank,
use the excess to cool the injection pump equipment on the engine, then return the unused excess to
the tank! Typically, an engine might pump 40 gallons/hour, but use only three or four: The 36 or 37
gallons "makes the circuit" through the pump and back to the tank.
4L2: Filling the Fuel Tanks
With the large fuel tanks, you can fuel the boat pretty fast using a
standard hose and nozzle (like those on auto gas pumps). Fuel each tank,
taking the hose around the fore-or-aft deck to reach the outside fill pipe (don't
drag the hose over the decks or rails: have someone help you handle it). Fill
both the tanks completely but do not spill fuel! You can control the flow rate by
sound, as the fill pipes make the characteristic "getting to the top of the bottle"
pitch change when they begin to fill to the top. (The tank vents will gurgle
before the tanks are full, so when the vents begin gurgling, slow down until you hear the fill pipes' pitch
change.)
Fuel levels are checked by using the sight gauges, Tank Tender, or Flo-Scan systems..
4L3: Fuel Fill Pipe Locations
The two Diesel fuel fill pipes are on each side deck of the boat.
4L4: Fuel Filters
Diesel engines require absolutely clean fuel to operate
continuously. As a result, there are two kinds of fuel filters on the boat.
Each main engine's primary filters are mounted on the forward engine
room stringers and consist of two filters controlled by a valve allowing
one to be selected at a time. That way, if one is clogged, you can
switch to the other. The secondary filter is on the engine itself. It is
very fine and is the final protection to be sure the engine's fuel is
absolutely clean. The generators' primary filters are adjacent to each.
If a main engine stops, it is likely a filter is clogged. Follow through carefully, and remember you
will have to prime the engine to re-start it. See the engine manual for this procedure.
4L: Fuel System
Section 4L: Fuel System 4.32
One of the two fuel fills. Note the
water fill nearby!
The port main engine fuel filters.
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