Skip this post if you're not into boat engineering.

We've had red liquids show up in the aft bilge again. The first time was
just before Christmas when it filled up with transmission fluid. I
assumed leaks, and the model of transmission we have is prone to
leaking. So, while we had high speed internet I tackled the longest lead
time items and ordered a new transmission and lined up a mechanic for
March. Meanwhile I continued to work on the problem. I polled my
experts, Owen Galmukoff and my son Ben and I eventually figured out that
I had overfilled the transmission. It pumped the excess fluid out the
breather hole. It took a while to figure out, and was finally solved
with close attention to the manual. Turns out you read the dipstick on
this transmission differently than on an engine.

After draining and refilling the transmission to the correct level, I
installed a tray and some zorbs (diapers that absorb petroleum products)
under the transmission to catch leaks. We planned to go out for five
weeks, and if there weren't any leaks, leave the current transmission
installed and keep the new one as a spare. There haven't been any leaks
onto the zorbs, so things were looking good.

Underway, we check the bilges every hour. No red fluids underway from La
Paz. After sitting at San Evaristo for three days, I found about a cup
of red fluid in the aft bilge during our pre-departure check. There was
none on the zorbs. I figured the transmission fluid spread around the
engine compartment in the overfilling incident was just oozing down into
the bilge. I extracted the fluid and put it in a peanut jar (we're at
anchor, no place to dispose of waste petroleum products) and we got
under way. No drips in the bilge or zorbs underway.

After sitting in Los Gatos for three days, I noticed red fluid again in
the bilge. I puzzled over it overnight and today went on a search for
root cause. First thing was to clean up the bilge and engine room.
Another cup of red fluid had collected. This time I looked more closely,
had Linda do a sniff test and discovered it was diesel. Same color as
Automatic Transmission Fluid, similar lubricity, different smell. We
also measured how much we collected: a scant cup after three days. Next
step was a thorough wipe down and inspection of the engine and engine
room. I discovered that the fuel line from the Racor primary fuel filter
was attached to the bulkhead and then ran over the sharp edge of the
engine bearer to the electric fuel pump. The fuel pump is on the engine
while the bearer is attached to the boat with vibration mounts in
between. Engine vibration was sawing the hose against the sharp edge of
the bearer. It had nearly chafed through. In operation, the chafe point
is on the vacuum side of the pump so it would leak air into the system,
not fluid out. When the engine (and pump) is off it sees positive
pressure from the tanks, and leaks fluid out. So, fluids would leak when
the engine is off, not when it's on. There were drips of diesel on the
hose and floor in the vicinity of the chafe point. I can't actually see
a hole at the chafe point, but a doesn't take a very big hole to leak a
scant cup every three days. The long-term solution is to adjust the
mounting position of the electric fuel pump, to give the hose a clean
run. It'll take two bolts (metric) and some standoffs I don't have along.

I cut off the bad portion (picture will be attached when we get internet
coverage) of hose, added some chafe gear and looked for other places
where hoses could chafe. I found another one at the hose for the
dripless seal, partly chafed through, which would leak a fair amount of
seawater if it chafed through.

We started the engine (no leaks) and are charging batteries and making
water while I let it run for a while. I'll know in a few days if I've
solved the mystery of the red fluids.

Meanwhile, Linda's baking bread and I'm going to go back to studying
celestial Navigation.

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