Universal M25 diesel starting problem

[tegs274]

I have a 1983 30' Calatina sailboat with an M25 Universal diesel.
Recently, when I leave the boat overnight it requires bleeding the fuel system or spraying WD-40 down the air intake to start the engine. After this, it will staert and run beautifully all day. The next day, I must either re-bleed the fuel system or spray WD-40 into the air intake to start.

I have already changed all the fuel lines, replaced the electric fuel pump and the fuel filter, all to no avail.

Please advise.

Thanks, Capt. Tom from Mt. Sinai harboe, Long Island.

[doubleeboy]

Is the replacement pump known to be good? I highly suspect a weak pump or air leak. Tightening all the fittings again carefully would be a good place to start if you haven't already.

michael

[tegs274]

Thanks doubleeboy. I am afraid I have opened so many bags of worm trying to find the fuel leek, now i don't know what to do. I made an exact fuel replacement. I cleaned out my water seperator and now find it was leaking and i have reset the o ring. In all my attempts to blead the fuel system, I must have overtightened the bleed screw because it broke off today leaving just the screw. I was lucky and got it out.

Now I will replace the bleed screw and add a new o-ring. I will also replace the pressure fitting on the high pressure fuel pump blead screw. My vacation is over. Never got to use mt boat. Back to work tomorrow. Thanks for your help.

Tom.

[Cptken]

Racor filters are known to cause this very problem. Check to make sure the caps/plugs in any unused ports are tight and take a good look at the cap over the mechanical primer pump. A crack or loose fit will allow air to enter the system, but may or may not show leaking fuel.