I suspect that the remains of fuel left in the tank are very dirty and possibly blocking up the pick up. Clean the tank and then fill it.
The rough seas definately stirred up the dirt and muck in the tank and this has blocked the system. If you must go to sea, you need to have clean fuel to make a diesel engine work. If your tank is low as your is, the possibility of sucking air is really good and this will shut the engine down.
There is a previous post by egantsea which may be of help to you.
Stanley
-- Edited by Stanley on Tuesday 1st of October 2013 08:05:18 AM
My beta 20 which has just seen 200 hours of trouble free service, lost power going into the harbour entrance and died within a few seconds, we had been out in very rough seas sailing, the engine had been running for approximately 20 mins at 2500 rpm. the 60lt fuel tank is 1/4 full. Apon getting towed to a berth I started trouble shooting, the first fuel filter from the tank was quite dark so I replaced it and a fair bit of sludge came out of it. I changed the 2nd filter which is connected to the lift pump and it seemed relatively clean. I believe I have bled the fuel system but am not 100% sure if I have done it right. Now she will run sometimes for a few minutes then dies, then will fire but not run, I leave it a bit and she will fire and run for maybe 15 seconds then die, what I have noticed is if I leave the bolt undone on top of the 2nd fuel filter (bleed bolt) it may start and run however as soon as I tighten it up the engine dies. I am not experienced at diesels so any help would be aaprecieated. Could it be the lift pump? could it be I got sludge into the system while in a lumpy sea stirring up the fuel tank and in the process of changing filters I have got air in the system which I haven't bled correctly? could air have gotten into the line as we were healed over and in a rough sea? Also the first filter is a racal 12t. will that need bleeding?
