Clean fuel tank

Dec 19, 2006
5,809
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Well 2 times had to get towed by BoatUS back to my dock and changed out both fuel filters but yes engine still stopped and so decided to check fuel tank and pulled out pickup tube and found the screen was dirty but got one of those snake camera and could see some funny looking junk down on bottom and so pumped the fuel empty and could still see junk and used shop vac and sucked out some funny junk.
I am now running all my fuel through a racer fuel filter before putting back into tank
here are some photo’s of funny globs that came out of my tank.
First time ever having fuel problems.
Nick
 

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Mar 26, 2011
3,399
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
That is a classic case of diesel bug. The mucus the bugs secrete makes them look and feel like snot. Get it ALL out.

Better disinfect with a shock dose of Biobor JF after you clean, and start with a maintenance dose thereafter. Also be aware that is in all of you hoses and pipes, so you will be changing filters a few more times. Blowing the lines out will be worth the time.

I would also check the vent (poor location, low loop) and filler (bad o-ring) for water leaks; water is getting in the tank.

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/p/diesel-biocides.html
 
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Jan 22, 2008
1,654
Hunter 34 Alameda CA
You have several square feet of filter surface area that makes the screen unnecessary. There have been several posts of that thing clogging up at the worst time. Mine did right under the Golden Gate Bridge trying to go to Half Moon Bay. It was a five hour sail back home to find out the problem. An icepick solved it.
 
Jun 1, 2007
265
O'Day 322 Mt.Sinai
I've had a few fuel problems on my O'Day 322, and although I'm in good shape now, decided to make a change. I bought an access port from Seabuilt, which I'm installing in the next few weeks. I have a plastic tank, and bought their 8" inspection plate, which gives me a 6" opening. I've already drained all the fuel I can via pump, but now will be able to drain the rest, and then reach my arm in and scrub the tank squeaky clean!
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,809
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Thanks Guys.
I will be adding Biobor to my tank and I am running my old diesel fuel through a Racor R20
before putting back into tank.
I think I was lucky it only was clogging the screen pickup tube and never got past my Racor 500
and will be changing filters again soon after adding Biobor and my tank did look real clean after shop vac
the empty tank with no fuel left in tank and used a snake camera to look inside tank and now with about
15 gallons of clean fuel my motor is running great and it did run kind of crazy while at idle before engine
stopped all together but now idling really smooth and running engine around 2500 at dock sounds like it
always did before real nice.
Nick
 
Jan 19, 2010
1,169
Catalina 34 Casco Bay
You'll need to find a tank polisher. Usually they are mobile. Process: remove fuel, filter it and return to tank under high pressure thru what can best be described as a Bresnan distributor. It get into all nooks and crannies, puts the sediment and scale into suspension, sucks it re, re,re,re,refilters it until clear. Last time I had it done it cost about $125.00
 
Oct 22, 2014
20,989
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Last time I had it done it cost about $125.00
You got off cheap... or maybe it was many years ago. I had quotes in the Seattle area that ranged from $800 to $2500. The high number included 2 inspection ports installed.
I looking into the cost and you can find a polishing pump nad filter on a hand cart for about $700.
Even at that I elected to go the manual methods. Bought a fuel pump and attached some hoses to a donated fuel filter and placed the hoses in the tank to circulate the fuel and squirt it back into and around the tank. So far it has worked fairly well. No stoppages. Use fresh fuel in tank, add Star and BioforJ with new fuel, maintain fuel cap O rings and carry replacement filters.

Got the fuel filter change down to about 7 minutes on the high seas. 10 if you included sipping the beer reward for job well done.
 
Jun 10, 2017
174
Catalina 1980 Catalina 30 Mk II John's Pass / Tampa Bay
Years ago having similar problems, I cut a 6" x 6" opening in the tank top. I also got rid of that DAMN
screen. I can now inspect my tank & clean it once a year easily. My filters can retain particulates & bugs etc. without
a screen to gum up. It also saves you having to clean the screen.

As for bugs, look for a gas station that has alot of vehicles fueling diesel. Therefore unlike dockside fuel
tanks with fuel that may just sit longer, busy gas station underground tanks are re-fueled frequently hence fresher diesel.

The real secret is to burn your fuel & knot let it sit long in your tank. When I'm at my boat/dock, the engine is always run at different RPM's for 30 minutes & I carry my new fuel to the boat 6 gallons at a time. This along with filter changeouts twice a year, I have had no diesel problems in years.

I use a 10 micron primary & a 2 secondary. At changeouts, the 2 micron is always clean. And, it much easier changing out filters than dicking around at the tank. I grab the new filters, fill them up & screw them in. Them my priming consists of 3 or 4 cranking tries, it starts running abit rough for about 10 seconds & then a smooth idle. I let it run then take the RPM up in stages to clear any leftover air.
 
Jan 19, 2010
12,362
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Stories like this that make me afraid of diesel .... I guess it is the devil you know.
 
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Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Well those diesel bug masses that Ol’Seadaddler was raising in his fuel tank were old enough to have names and social security numbers! They were swimming in enough water to have killed a gas motor carburetor years ago.
 
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Mar 26, 2011
3,399
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Stories like this that make me afraid of diesel .... I guess it is the devil you know.
Isn't that funny. Of course, E10 brings carburetor corrosion and phase separation. But I know those devils.

Of stoves, I remember someone saying they would "rather die a clean death by propane than a slow death fighting kerosene."
 
Jan 19, 2010
12,362
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Well those diesel bug masses that Ol’Seadaddler was raising in his fuel tank were old enough to have names and social security numbers! They were swimming in enough water to have killed a gas motor carburetor years ago.
Yeah, I see your point. I'm still trailer sailing so I use an O.B. The thought of dealing with bleeding lines, polishing tanks, sterilizing fuel, FILTERS, aligning prop-shafts, replacing engine mounts, figuring out which prop-pitch I need, etc, etc. scares me. I know there are analogous issues with O.B.s, it is just that I am already familiar with those issues. :meh:
 

NYSail

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Jan 6, 2006
3,048
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
Yeah, I see your point. I'm still trailer sailing so I use an O.B. The thought of dealing with bleeding lines, polishing tanks, sterilizing fuel, FILTERS, aligning prop-shafts, replacing engine mounts, figuring out which prop-pitch I need, etc, etc. scares me. I know there are analogous issues with O.B.s, it is just that I am already familiar with those issues. :meh:
Don't be afraid.....
 
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
... I have had no diesel problems in years. I use a 10 micron primary & a 2 secondary. At changeouts, the 2 micron is always clean. ...
If the 2 is always clean, then something ought to be different. Either the 2 passes all the dirt(unlikely), or the dirt is not getting past the ten( the usual size). In 50 years of getting wrench blisters, I have seen it said that you should not use a 2 unless you have an electric fuel pump pushing the fuel. The 2 is too restrictive and COULD starve the fuel delivery. Yeah, yeah, some people use a 2 and say there's no problem. I don't know what filters are available for your make, but I'd suggest a 10 and 15 so you can see get a feel for what size stuff comes from the tank. My 2 cents.
 

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Ron;
The Yanmar filter on my engine (secondary) is a 2 mic filter OEM. The Racor 110A primary is 10 mic. All fuel pumping is engine mounted. It works fine as long as you keep a clean fuel storage system with filters and valving correctly configured in accord with engine and filter guidance.
 
Jan 22, 2008
1,654
Hunter 34 Alameda CA
Here is a link to my description of adding a clean out port to my tank. I mention to remove the screen in the pickup tube at that time if not already done.

https://hunter.sailboatowners.com/mods.php?task=article&mid=31&aid=8144&mn=34

There really wasn't too much stuff in my tank after 28 years, but it was good to give it a fresh start. Since then (6 years) I have been vigilant about using bioside and keeping a good seal on the fill cap. I've yet to find any water in the Racor and haven't removed that cleanout port even once. I guess that will be there for the next owner.