Fuel Leak?

[Chexi]

Okay, so the last few times I have had the boat out, when emptying the bilge I have seen the tell tale sign (rainbow) of gasoline in the water exiting my bilge. It seems pretty dilute, in that I cannot smell it, but I can see it. I have checked the obvious places for leaks like the Fuel Control Cell (top and bottom) and the fuel rails. Any other spots the great PN brain can think of? I guess I have not checked the line from the gas tank to the fuel control cell and will do so. But is ther anywhere else? Is there anywhere toward the bottom of the engine that could be the culprit? I do not see gasoline leaking from anywhere visible when running the engine.

Also, I am fairly sure it is coming from bilge, but I suppose it could be coming from my exhaust. I have not scientifically checked yet, as I always open up the drain plug right when I pull the boat out. I will test it on the next outing scientifically (although I am a bit nervous about getting all blowed up if I don't find this leak before taking it out again). Is is possible that I could be leaking gasoline out of my exhaust?

Note, the boat runs great... although it did stall once while idling for an extended period the other day. This is the first stall since replacing my distributor last August.

Scott

[jasper]

A rainbow in the water from the bilge water could also be oil, and oil could come from a small spill when the filter was changed, oil changed, or oil added. If gas was leaking, you would probably smell it when you opened the doghouse. Good to check for gas anyway because that is a serious problem, but look for oil as well.

[ski4evr]

I had a mouse chew through an oil line on the vdrive this winter. Haven't found anything else damaged yet, but the 2 quarts of oil in the bilge have been nearly impossible to get rid of. The oil has deposited on the sides of the fuel tank, the hull of the boat, the cables and wiring, the pad in the bottom of the ski locker, everywhere. I have degreased and washed and rinsed the hull at least 6 times this summer, and still get a sheen on the water in the bilge every day. It gets less and less, but the film will not go away. The water in the bilge feels slimy. Good luck hope you find the leak.

[Chexi]

I did change the oil recently, although I had this issue before then, but only after I had the oil, tranny fluid and vdrive fluids changed at winterization. It probably is oil, since it seemed like it had finally stopped just becore i changed the oil. While i used a plastic bag on the filter and an extractor on the oil line, im sure a little from the filter leaked out. Ill clean out the bilge and keep monitoring. The water in my bilge is a bit slimy too. Thanks all.

[AirTool]

Yeah and remember. One "drop" of oil can make a HUGE sheen.

[Skew]

I have a similar problem with my 2000 SAN. It has a leak in the transmission seal. I started noticing the oily sheen in the water when pulling the drain plug last summer, then had the transmission slip early this summer. I checked the transmission fluid and it was way too low. I filled it and didn't have any more problems with it slipping. But I do still have the leak. It is very small one and I just top off the fluid every couple of weeks. Hopefully it will last me to the winter when there is more time for a dealer to keep the boat.