If I run out of fuel, what do I need to do?

[AFKASAP]

Hi there,

If I ran my engine to a point that it stopped due to running out of fuel, would I need to prime or bleed anything to get it going again (after topping up with my emergency jerry can reserve of 25l).

The engine is a Yanmar 3JH4E on a Beneteau Oceanis 40

Thank you.

[nauticalnomad]

You just dont run out of fuel... I never had a fuel guage until i changed the fuel tank to a new one. I used to calculate hours etc but always feared id run out. Its just one of those things you dont want to be doing at sea. If you drain the battery whilst priming then what?
For the sake of knowing you have a 100 litre tank and it uses 5 litres an hour then you have 20 hours of motoring. So after 15 hours you fill it back up.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Unless there's some magic self bleeding system....

Yes...

[AFKASAP]

Originally Posted by nauticalnomad

You just dont run out of fuel... I never had a fuel guage until i changed the fuel tank to a new one. I used to calculate hours etc but always feared id run out. Its just one of those things you dont want to be doing at sea. If you drain the battery whilst priming then what?
For the sake of knowing you have a 100 litre tank and it uses 5 litres an hour then you have 20 hours of motoring. So after 15 hours you fill it back up.

Thanks, but I would still like to know the answer to my question.

[boatman61]

Yes.... you will need to prime it.. personally I find the silly little primer pumps one step above useless which is why I always fit a rubber fuel bulb in the line.. gets the job done in no time.
Crack the last injector and half a dozen squeezes rushes the fuel through till it squirts... tighten and turn over the engine.. no cramped 1/8th inch pump action that takes forever..
Great for filter changes as well..

[arsenelupiga]

from my experience of changing all fuel pipes, you would have to prime pre filter and fuel pump.

Then bleed system as per standard procedure.

ensure you do not flood engine when trying to start. Disconnect water intake until starts. It is going to taker probably several attempts until last air makes out of injectors. Been there done that.

I dont see big deal.

[AFKASAP]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Yes.... you will need to prime it.. personally I find the silly little primer pumps one step above useless which is why I always fit a rubber fuel bulb in the line.. gets the job done in no time.
Crack the last injector and half a dozen squeezes rushes the fuel through till it squirts... tighten and turn over the engine.. no cramped 1/8th inch pump action that takes forever..
Great for filter changes as well..

Thanks. Thats really helpful and I will look at installing an inline rubber fuel bulb.

Cheers

[StuM]

Yes. But it's a lot easier than many other marine diesels. There is only one bleed point:

Yanmar 3JH4E Operation Manual (Page 37 of 142)

[AFKASAP]

Thanks guys.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by AFKASAP

Thanks. Thats really helpful and I will look at installing an inline rubber fuel bulb.

Cheers

Make sure its one rated for diesel outboards.. the petrol ones tend to fail internally after a while.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Yes.... you will need to prime it.. personally I find the silly little primer pumps one step above useless which is why I always fit a rubber fuel bulb in the line.. gets the job done in no time.
Crack the last injector and half a dozen squeezes rushes the fuel through till it squirts... tighten and turn over the engine.. no cramped 1/8th inch pump action that takes forever..
Great for filter changes as well..

This is a good idea.

The other thing you can do is to instal a 12v pump in the line. Like the bulb it makes priming much easier.

[daletournier]

I have one of those 12v cube pumps inline just has fuel line exits tank. The switch is right next to the motor. Very easy to bleed system.

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[rwidman]

You need to find the instructions for bleeding your engine. It's not generic. You may need to prime the fuel filters as well.


Running out of fuel is not only a PITA as far as bleeding the engine and filters, you will be sucking up any water and crud that's in the bottom of your fuel tank. You may well find yourself with bigger problems than having to bleed the fuel system.


So - It's pretty important to do your best not to run out of fuel, especially with a diesel engine. If you think you're getting close, add your emergency fuel before you run out.

[ryon]

Raise the sails! Why did you have that thing on anyway?

[fatherchronica]

Make sure you have a big enough open ended wrench aboard to loosen the injectors. On the maiden voyage/ shakedown cruise of our present boat we did not have one. When I stupidly didn't switch tanks in time the cheap crescent style wrench I had would not open them. It would slowly loosen itself. So I epoxied the wrench, but I had only G-flex epoxy aboard and after waiting 16 hours it flexed enough to begin rounding the injector nuts instead of opening them. We sailed into Avila Bay, California on a whisper of wind which died inside and I, having no dinghy aboard yet, had to yank out an 8" x 3' shelf and paddle about 50 yards to a mooring. We took the water taxi in the next morning and I hitch hiked ( for the first time since 1971) to town, but found no tools at all for sale, except for marshmallow/hotdog roasting skewers. The mechanic at the boatyard wouldn't lend tools and couldn't come until Monday because Saturday was the opening of some particular fishing season and he made more money launching boats with the crane for those 2 weekend days. On Monday he didn't respond to my first ten radio calls and phone calls, but eventually grew sick of me and came out and 15 minutes later we were under way. Now, we have a full compliment of hand tools, and enough power tools that I built that missing dinghy on the docks and beaches as we cruise, and built a 12' mast for it that is also a sculling oar for Mana. This story is also a warning about buying a boat and not having time to properly outfit because of weather concerns. The day after the paperwork was done 10- 17-2013 we left Seattle for Ventura, California. We encountered the biggest seas and strongest winds I have ever ( knock on wood) been in.