Diesel Fuel in Water Tank! Help!

[skabeeb]

Yesterday my wife and I stopped at a local Marina to top off the our fuel and the dockhand accidently put fuel in our starboard fresh water tank. They filled out an incident report and said they would replace the tank.

Anyone here have an idea where we could find a replacement that will fit? Also should I tell them they need to replace the fresh water pump?
It looks like it's going to be a huge job.​

 

[woodster]

if you used the water system with fuel in the water i would change the water pump as well and also the water lines and all concerned with it as you will never be happy with any trace of that in the system......after all would you drink the fuel of your own accord ...no....its a no brainer......accidents do happen....so being cautious is not being punitive.......

regrads

woody

 

[Bill Roosa]

Does the tank have a clean out port?
It is a little known fact that diesel is suspended in water with soap. May be a faster/cheaper solution then pocket the new tank monies.
Don't operate the water pump as that may (fuel is lighter than water) cause fuel to be moved through the pipes requring a cleaning of them or replacement. The water pickup MAY be submerged provided you had enough water in the tank. this would keep the fuel out of the water lines unless you operated the pump.

 

[RobertLangdirect]

PLEASE SEND PICTURES of the water port and its cover and the fuel port and its cover. I believe my covers are marked, FRESH WATER - FRESH WATER (I have two), WASTE, GASOLINE ONLY.

Also -- curious to know -- what marina did this?

Does this happen often?

Where were you as the young lad went forward to your fresh water intakes to pump diesel?

And finally, which is better, diesel in your water or water in your diesel?

Thank You!
Robert

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Oooh no...Not true!

It is a little known fact that diesel is suspended in water with soap.

In fact, just the opposite...detergent or soap will emulsify oil, gas or diesel with water. That why you have put down oil absorbing bilge pads/pillows in a bilge BEFORE adding any cleaning product...'cuz they can't separate oil from water if any cleaner has been added first.

Back to the subject at hand...

Hopefully you didn't run the water pump...if you didn't, the tank is the only part of the system that's affected. And it can be cleaned out unless it's plastic. If it is plastic, it will have to be replaced. Oh...and the fill hose too.

And as for a source: check Ronco Plastics Ronco Plastics They supplied tanks to a lot of now defunct OEMs...so CALL them to find out if Erickson was among 'em. If they didn't, or don't have a close enough match (hopefully they do, 'cuz Ronco makes much higher quality tanks for much lower price than anyone else), check with Kracor...and be ready for sticker shock!

 

[Bill Roosa]

OK Peggy.

For the record I was not suggesting that you try and get rid of ALL the fuel with soap. Just that AFTER you pump the tank dry the remaining mess can be cleaned with soap.

Course pumping the tank dry is the issue here IMHO. And then what to do with the contents.

 

[alexco38]

Next time, don't just tell the dock monkey what you need (i.e. fill her up). Make sure you supervise what they are doing before it's too late.

I remember my driving instructor told the gas monkey to fill her up. She was filled with Diesel for a gas car. That's why they have to make diesel and gas filler different diameter nowadays.

Your expectation of people's skill was too high. There's a lot of low skill labors out there.