Volvo Alarm / Water in Fuel

[Eric R]

I got a weird alarm today on my C28 after getting back from a cold, foggy and somewhat rainy 2.5 hour cruise. Upon getting back to our marina and I went to the pump out as usual. After pumping out I hit the button to start the engine and it stuttered and struggled before firing up. I can't remember if I had to hit the start button a second time or not to get it running. A message popped up on the Volvo screen along with a beep and said something about "Sensor failure, contact Volvo Penta". That disappeared but there was a little icon of a fuel pump with water droplets on it. I'm assuming that meant water in the fuel? It ran fine back to our slip. I shut everything down and turned it back on. Started right up with no problems and no alarms. Did it a couple more times and it seemed fine, although this was all at the dock we didn't get back out and put it under load. I'm a bit concerned about "Sensor failure, contact Volvo Penta" though and if I really do have a problem.

Thoughts?

 

[Cruzerboy]

Our mechanic from Pacific Power recommended that we install a small ball valve ("pet cock") in the bottom of our fuel filter for occasional easy check for water in bottom of filter. It's on the list for our next engine maintenance.

T.

 

[Eric R]

Our mechanic from Pacific Power recommended that we install a small ball valve ("pet cock") in the bottom of our fuel filter for occasional easy check for water in bottom of filter. It's on the list for our next engine maintenance.

T.

Did you have issues like this as well, or just a general recommendation?

 

[dclagett]

I never had a bad sensor alarm, however a couple times when I turned off the engine battery switch without turning the ignition switch off or locking the ignition first I received a random alarm when I turned the battery switch back on the next time I used the boat.

As far as the water in fuel alarm i received it every time I took the boat out for most of this year. Initially I checked the filters by draining both and looking at what came out. I never found any water or other contaminants, always looked like pure diesel fuel. Even let samples sit in clear jar for months, no water. I also replaced the the water in fuel sensor, same result, water in fuel alarm each time I used the boat. I stoped draining the filters each time I received the alarm and would turn off the engine, clearing the alarm. I would then restart the engine and no water in fuel alarm. I assumed that if water was present the alarm would repeat. Never did. Finally I changed the both filters and have not had the water in fuel alarm since. That was the end of August. At that time I also drained both old filters into a clear glass jar and the jar has been sitting in my garage ever since. No contaminants or water present to date. In September I took the fuel drained form both filters to Trawler Fest at the Bay Bridge Marina where I sat in on a Diesel engine course taught by Nigel Calder. Nigel used my fuel sample for the class as an example of what good diesel should look like. This was the same fuel that set off the the Volvo water in fuel alarm. I have no idea what was going on but I hope I never see the water in fuel alarm again. I did put a pet cock in the primary fuel filter to make it easier to drain. At the suggestion of Nigel during the class I now have a clear plastic jar that I take a sample of fuel from the marina tanks and look at it closely before I put it in the boat tank.

Good luck in resolving your fuel alarms.

 

[bails023]

Same thing happened to me on my Cutwater C-28 last week. When backing out of my slip I got the warning and the strange RED icon (not defined in the manual). Pulled right back into the slip.

Volvo mechanic started the engine right up - no warning message or icon (and no record of the warning in the software!).

Checked everything and no evidence of water anywhere in the fuel system. Changed both fuel filters and the sensor.

We will see what next year brings (wrapped up for the winter now).

 

[HappyPlace]

Can you tell me where you obtained this petcock? Is your filter a Racor Turbine with a metal bowl?


" I did put a pet cock in the primary fuel filter to make it easier to drain."

Al Sr.

 

[dclagett]

I obtained the petcock from Raycor online. Yes, I have the turbine series filter. Also the petcock requires a plug in the bottom which your current filter plug will fit. When I originally talked to Raycor I was after the clear bowl that has a petcock installed. I was hoping to just take a look at the fuel instead of draining it regularly. Due to the configuration of the 25SC with the fuel filter alongside the engine it was not compliant with Coast Gaurd regulations to go with the clear bowl. However I have since found that there is a different clear bowl with a metal cup underneath that would be compliant. I may convert to that in the future. Talk to Raycor they should be able to help.