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| Confused on the filter lines for my D... |
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malaya
New member
Username: malaya
Post Number: 1
Registered: 07-2014
| | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2014 - 10:35 pm: | 
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I am trying to visualize the fuel line configuration on my diesel sailboat. The picture below of filter full view shows the two Baldwin filter canisters mounted on the wall above the engine and the diesel tank, the picture may show them sideways they are mounted topside up. The port side filter has a 10 micron filter, on the starboard side a 2 micron. There is a marking on the wall for both filters that says up for the fuel control switch is for starboard and down is for port. I have also included a pic of the tank connections. There are three, one direct to the cannister fuel filter on the engine and two are to each of the baldwin wall mounted filters.
I am assuming there must be some internal plumbing in the tank that directs the flows to each of the filters. It seems to make sense that the fuel would go thru the baldwins first then to the engine filter that then goes to the engine.
The unknowing became more apparent when after ai had changed the two baldwin filters, primed them and started the engine up, ran great, then I noticed the different lever positions and that they had always been pointed down for the port side which was the 10 micron filter so I changed them to the upside to the starboard filter and then engine within minutes died of fuel starvation..after pumping the diesel engine i got it going again with the levers pointed down to port side, i then tried the starboard side again and the engine started to die, switched to port and it ran fine afterwards.
Any thoughts on this plumbing configuration? why couldnt it run on the 2 mm filter that was new and clean?
Thanks
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eric
Advanced Member
Username: eric
Post Number: 41
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2014 - 05:28 am: |
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This configuration doesn't appear to be for two engines as one feed is going to two filter/water trap units and the outlets are going to one exit. Where do the two single pipes go that go into the tap???? If one is from the fuel tank and the other is going to the engine then putting different filters will have a restriction/difference in the flow rate.
If, as I said, one pipe is going either to one engine or through a "T" junction to two engines then the better way would be to have the course filter outlet going to the fine filter inlet, the course filter inlet from the fuel tank and the fine filter outlet to the engine/s. |
eric
Advanced Member
Username: eric
Post Number: 42
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2014 - 06:05 am: |
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On further study of your picture I can see what they have done. The system is to enable you to switch filters. What you have to figure out is how the taps are designed, ie; which position opens which leg. say for instance (your picture being horizontal) the bottom tap is turned to down position opening the pipe to the bottom filter then the exit pipe from that filter goes into the bottom leg of the top tap which would also have to be open (tap also turned to down position). The same would apply to the top filter but each tap would be turned to upper position.
If by turning each tap to horizontal (away from the feed pipe)as your picture shows, this MAY open each leg together which would allow fuel to run through both filters at the same time OR it may shut off both legs. It is a pity you cannot take off one of the taps to see how it works then it would all make sense. The two micron filter sizes make now sense at all on the configuration you have.. Hope this helps.. good boating.. PS.. I think your three feeds to your tank are (1) feed from the tank to your two filters (2) feed from your filters to an internal fuel pump (3) feed from your fuel pump to main engine filter. Do you have injector run off pipes? if so, where do they go? maybe back into your main engine filter.. Just a thought. |
eric
Advanced Member
Username: eric
Post Number: 43
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2014 - 07:23 am: |
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Sorry to be a pain again but there may be a reason why you have two types of filters. Marine diesel has a different consistency to road diesel. It is very slightly thicker so would require a courser filter but some people use road diesel which would require a finer filter.
As I said in my last post try turning your taps to 90deg, that's both facing down on your picture, I feel sure that will just open one filter and both up for the other filter. Nothing ventured nothing gained.. |
malaya
New member
Username: malaya
Post Number: 2
Registered: 07-2014
| | Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2014 - 01:42 pm: |
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Your right Eric. The positioning of the valve levers either to strbd or port in unison direct the flow of fuel thru one filter or the other. I did notice that when running under the 2 micron the engine was slightly starved for fuel and had a very small periodic stutter at idle so the red tainted fuel that I am sure is marine diesel and is over two years old (have added stabilzer for diesel) maybe this is a reflection of the quality of the fuel in the tank. What do you all run for a prefilter to your main engine fuel filter? 2 micron, 10 micron? I am running a Isuzu 56 hp 4 banger c240 diesel that has a bosch ve type injection pump. Im thinking running two 10 microns would be better for the times when i am running on the water and one filter plugs. |
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