Engine flooding: the Attwood solution

We don’t own a boat. But we’re fascinated with mechanical and electronic devices, a fascination that stems partly from our interest in computer technology and hardware. So our curiosity was piqued when we first learned about a product from US-based Attwood Corporation called the Fuel Demand Valve (FDV), which is designed to help boat owners prevent engine flooding. The FDV is one example of how stricter regulations to combat climate change can give rise to more efficient technologies that redound to the benefit of both consumers and the environment.
The impetus for the Atwood FDV comes from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which started requiring from 1st January 2011 all new portable marine fuel tanks to have zero emission. Under the new EPA regime, fuel tanks can no longer be built as before – that is, as an “open” fuel system where the tank has a filler cap which vents gas vapors into the atmosphere. Portable fuel tanks now need to be fully sealed. Although good for the environment, the design change also means increasing the risk of engine flooding. The reason is that pressure can build up inside the fuel tank depending on the weather, and result in the fuel being siphoned into the boat’s engine through the fuel line. This is where the FDV steps in.

The FDV is attached to the fuel hose between the fuel tank and primer bulb. It prevents fuel from flowing unless there is demand from the engine. No excess fuel means no engine flooding, smoother engine performance and greener boating overall. According to Attwood, its EPA-certified Fuel Demand Valve is compatible with all new fuel tanks. It can be purchased individually or as part of the company’s fuel line assembly, which includes EPA-compliant hose, primer bulb and the new Attwood Universal Sprayless Connector. Do non-US boat owners with new portable fuel tanks have a need for the FLV? We should think so. It’s a nifty device and Attwood, which was founded in 1893, is a trusted name in boat parts and accessories