25 SC 2014 How to take a sample of fuel, water alarm

[Steadfast]

Hello all

My dealer went over this once but I can't remember the details. A few times the alarm "water in fuel" has gone off. Usually near top speed and moderate seas.

So I take a look at the fuel filter housing. I have a Volvo diesel 150. I think it is a Penta fuel filer. To clear the water I think I have to loosen a nut at the bottom of the filter and then turn the valve to drain some fuel?

I've read that a lot alarms are false.

My other concern is that there are two wires attached at the bottom of the housing not connected to anything? Should they be connected to something? Could this be the reason for the alarms? If the wires were necessary I would think I wouldn't get any alarms.

Also should this fuel filter be replaced every spring? Is there also another 2nd phase fuel filter that needs occasional replacement? I thought I remember reading about such.

Thank you so much in advance.

Brian Portsmouth NH

 

[knotflying]

There should be two wires coming out of the bowl. Those are for the sensor. If they are not connected I do not know why your alarm would be working. As far as draining the bowl. You can remover the plug on the bottom and drain a little fuel out. Have a small container ready and once the plug is loose have the container ready below the bowl and remove the plug all the way. You can shut the fuel off, but for what you are doing it is not really necessary. The filters should be changed at least once a year and at so many hours depending on what the manufacturer suggests. I am not as familiar with the Volvo, but assume there is a primary and secondary. The primary is the one with the separator. The secondary is usually mounted on the engine somewhere.

 

[dclagett]

Brian,

On my RT25SC ther are 2 fuel filters as Knotflying has said. The primary fuel filter is on the port side attached to the inside of the engine compartment about 6 inches from the engine. It has a "T" on top that screws the cap on the filter. On the bottom there are 2 plugs, the center plug is the one to drain the fuel from. The secondary fuel filter is attached to the engine on the port side. It is a canaster style that looks like a car oil filter. At the bottom of this filter is the water sensor and attached to it should be a connector with 2 wires coming out of the connector. This filter should also be drained and it requires the removal of the connector and removing the water sensor.

Again this is my configuration. Hope this helps.

Richard

 

[Steadfast]

Hi Richard


I may have to take a look again. I remember seeing the one filter with the "T" on top. That is the one that also has two wires just hanging out of the bottom not connected to anything. I can tell they have never been connected to anything.


I wonder if the 2nd filter you described may indeed also have wires coming out of it that are actually do something? (On my boat that is)

Maybe wires are part of both filters but only utilized on one filter?

Anyway....I will take another look. I do get alarms....so I'm thinking it much be hooked up somewhere?

 

[dclagett]

Brian,

The engine fuel filter on my 2014 RT25SC with a 150 hp D3 is a white canister. The water sensor screws into the bottom of the filter. There is a male connector on the water sensor that mates with a wire cable with a female connector on the end. There is a wire that holds the 2 connectors together to assure they don't come apart during operation. If you Google Volvo Penta D3 150 there is a user's manual available on line. This manual has a picture and diagram which will point out the engine fuel filter. The online manual starting on page 78 shows clearly the engine filter with the connector and the primary filter with the "T" on top. It also provides basic instructions for draining the fuel.

One caution, if you unscrew the water sensor from the engine filter to drain fuel, be careful when you screw the water sensor back into the filter. There is a soft washer on the water sensor and it can be damaged if one screws it in too tight. The instructions I received with the new water sensor I installed says to screw the sensor until the washer makes contact with the filter and then tighten, I think, an additional 3/4 turn.

Also after you have the plug/sensor back in the filters, make sure you prime the fuel system prior to starting the engine. There is a white button on the port side of the engine, just push it in for a few seconds. The online manual will have a diagram of the prime and emergency stop buttons.

Good luck,

Richard