Check gas fuel / get a gas vapor sensor

LandVF36 · Post by **LandVF36** » Sat Jul 03, 2010 4:56 pm

When boarding last night, I thought I smelled gas. I spent 2 hrs in the engine compartment poking around. I never did find it, and the smell went away.

This AM, I got to poking around the generator, which is in the aft bilge. The flexible line to the built in water sperator was perfect, but from that filter, to the carb there was a flexible piece that was rotten!

I have a gas vapor sensor in the engine room at the forward bulkhead but I do not have one in the aft bilge where the genny is. I'l be ordering one this week.

Just through I'd mention it as I know a number of you have old Onan gen sets on board and I'd hate to hear that anyone went "boom". I thought I was maticulous about checking lines and hoses every year, but this one was under a cover, painted white, and I just assumed it was a copper line.

Please check yours soon!

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:54 pm

Thanks for the heads up.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:49 pm

Great advice. I also keep a vapor sensor on the bridge, and in the aft cabin living space along with the CO2 sensor in case a leak were to occur while sleeping. Maybe I am overly cautious but to me it is better to be safe than sorry.

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 10:39 pm

Similar but different - last year I tried to fire the genny and it simply wouldn't start. After a bunch of poking around cracked open the water separator, and found the bowl almost empty... Shut-off valve was open, but no fuel in the bowl. Cause ..... gasket between the separator bowl and the housing. Gasket had dried out and cracked, allowing almost entire contents of the bowl to evaporate. New gasket and bowl (to make sure), and new battery (flattening the 4 year old one I had dedicated to the genny was one flattening too many apparently), and now all is well.