Surprise Maintenance

A Cenoura is moored in the center of the photo... For likely the last time.  

Expectation: let's go use the pumpout dock, grab a mooring ball and relax for the afternoon while I tend to fixing the head countertop and then make dinner out in the channel

Reality: pumpout, grab mooring ball, 5 minutes later harbor patrol came up and told us it's $28 to stay even for a couple hours. New rules they are now enforcing (they didn't care 2 weekends ago or for the past year and a half).  No way, we said politely. And motored back to the dock.

I decided to bleed any potential water from the fuel filter/water separator. Good news, there wasn't any water at all in a 3 year old filter. Bad news, I wrenched it shut too tight and broke the thread seal, so fuel was dripping continuously into a cup I urgently put there. Not the way I wanted the afternoon to go. Mia and I drove around to auto parts stores looking for a new filter... Found one in stock after calls to different auto parts chain stores. All while driving around I was thinking  it was a race to get back to the boat before the cup overflowed. Got back in time, replaced the filter thanks for Mia's internet searching. Bled the fuel lines. Engine starts and runs great. 

So it's pretty easy.

1. Close the valve from the fuel tank. Use a wrench or something to pinch the fuel line close to the filter.  

2. Unscrew the fuel filter and drop it into a bag to contain any leaking fuel.  

3.  fill new filter with fuel, generously, then screw it into place. Open the bleed valve on top. 

4. Open valve from fuel tank. Turn key to on position but do not start engine, this engages the fuel pump to pressurize the lines and blows out any air in the filter. You'll hear it. Close that valve after a few second when no more air comes out.  

5. Loosen 2nd bleed valve (a nut) at the engine block where fuel line goes into injectors. Any remaining air will bubble up. Once fuel comes out, tighten nut. Stop fuel pump by removing key. 

6. Clean up any fuel that spilled, vent the conpartment. cross your fingers.

7. Start the engine, warm it up, rev it etc etc.