Fuel Polishing

[rbmcintire]

I read an article in the Dec. Sail Magazine about diesel polishing. The Parker set up is nice, but since I already have a Dahl filter/separator in front of my fuel pump, why couldn't one install some tee barb fitttings and hand valves to route a polishing circuit back to my fuel tank to bypass the engine? I suppose one downside is shortening the fuel pump's and filter's lifespans, but having spares and clean fuel are good practice?

Rob

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Rob,

You didn't mention the reason for your polishing thread. Is it sludge or water or both?

I personally am not a fan of polishing in smaller tanks such as sailboats.
I see you are in Maryland so your boat sits in winter awhile which doesn't help diesel.

My buddy has a polishing business & he is doing well. Most of his clients are larger powerboats w/gas and day tanks. He agrees that for sailboats, using good filtered fuel (clear like water) with no additives is the best approach, only if your tank is first sludge free.

For your tank, one way to fix fuel problems is to clean the tank itself with no fuel in it. I made a 6x6 access plate in mine, cleaned it spotless and only change out my filters once a year. I do however use a grade-a type fuel from a sunoco station close by. I never fuel up from a dock's tank. Another good tip is to remove any screen from your pick-up tube.

Polishing fuel is for removing mostly water from your fuel. If your tank has sludge, the polishing system will churn alot of it up, but not really clean the tank bottom. Hence the job is only partial.

As for winter layup, maybe you should drain the fuel. or, maybe keep the tank at near full to keep moisture from building up too much. People will have different takes on this, I know mine works for me, however I'm in Florida and sail year round.

Good luck, you will find the best solution according to your situation.

CR

 

[rbmcintire]

Thanks, CaptnRon, I also use the "on-the-road" diesel from the gas station. So far, everything in the tank is copacetic. I was just wondering if you could accomplish the Parker Polishing system on our C-30's diesels without having to buy their kit. Seems possible, but it may be unnecessary. I do have the fuel tank access port for cleaning.

Rob

 

[Maine Sail]

Rob,

You didn't mention the reason for your polishing thread. Is it sludge or water or both?

I personally am not a fan of polishing in smaller tanks such as sailboats.
I see you are in Maryland so your boat sits in winter awhile which doesn't help diesel.

My buddy has a polishing business & he is doing well. Most of his clients are larger powerboats w/gas and day tanks. He agrees that for sailboats, using good filtered fuel (clear like water) with no additives is the best approach, only if your tank is first sludge free.

For your tank, one way to fix fuel problems is to clean the tank itself with no fuel in it. I made a 6x6 access plate in mine, cleaned it spotless and only change out my filters once a year. I do however use a grade-a type fuel from a sunoco station close by. I never fuel up from a dock's tank. Another good tip is to remove any screen from your pick-up tube.

Polishing fuel is for removing mostly water from your fuel. If your tank has sludge, the polishing system will churn alot of it up, but not really clean the tank bottom. Hence the job is only partial.

As for winter layup, maybe you should drain the fuel. or, maybe keep the tank at near full to keep moisture from building up too much. People will have different takes on this, I know mine works for me, however I'm in Florida and sail year round.

Good luck, you will find the best solution according to your situation.

CR

The little Parker low flow pumps will remove water but with a stock pick up tube you won't really get everything off the bottom as has been mentioned.. A polishing system can certainly help but a purpose designed system, starting with a clean tank, will work better. I personally prefer high flow to low flow, but I don't worry about water.

I installed one a few years ago but had the tank custom built specifically for a high volume, high turnover, no foaming polishing system. The polishing pick up tube is a mere 1/8" from the dead lowest spot in the tank, which is a V shape, so everything in there collects at the pick up tube for the polishing system.

Our system has been very beneficial and works extremely well, tank is spotless, but I really do question just how well that little Parker system will work and it is very expensive..

 

[rbmcintire]

Thanks for commenting, MaineSail. The Parker system didn't seem much different than what we have already built into our C-30's; excepting the high turnover concept. I can appreciate the high capacity, dedicated system, but if one were inclined to work with what we had, could improving the pickup tube location or tilting the tank be worth the effort? The existing fuel pump seems to be quite powerful; would you think you could turn over a tank, or 1/2 a tank, of fuel in a few hours? I will say my boat has done just fine for 27 years without one, and I guess I could also admit I've got several other projects on the boat that would have a much higher return on effort! It was just a thought...

Rob

 

[FourPoints]

Check out Roger Long's website, he has a detailed description of the polishing system he uses, that also acts as a spare 5gal emergency tank.

Onboard polishing systems are important because you never know how clean or fresh the fuel you are pumping is. Over time if you build up enough dirt or sludge and get caught in rough weather, you are likely to have the engine die on you after that crap gets stirred up.

 

[rbmcintire]

Here's a link to a VERY informative thread on fuel polishing.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=109121
Thanks for the tip, FourPoints

Rob