Fuel Tank cleaning
- Thread starter George KK
- Start date
Look for a marine fuel polisher who can circulate the tank contents through a filtration system. This is an effective way to remove algae that can clog fuel filters. Be sure to have the fuel polisher replace the fuel filters after polishing then fill the tank and add enzyme treatment. I did this on my Hunter 386 after I splashed it after 3 years on the hard while living in Wales.
Hi George and welcome to the site.
Gotta ask this question ..................... how do you know the tank interior needs cleaning ? I've had mine for 20 years and there is no signs of crud in there from pulling samples from the deepest part every 2-3 years through this small port:
Any serious cleaning requires cutting large holes in the tank to loosen the adherent crud with a liquid jet of fuel. Large holes in thin walled fuel tank are never a good idea.
Gotta ask this question ..................... how do you know the tank interior needs cleaning ? I've had mine for 20 years and there is no signs of crud in there from pulling samples from the deepest part every 2-3 years through this small port:
Any serious cleaning requires cutting large holes in the tank to loosen the adherent crud with a liquid jet of fuel. Large holes in thin walled fuel tank are never a good idea.
Hi Ralph
Good to be here!
I don't really, just trying to prevent any future issue and then I know that under my ownership the tank is clean.
But taking a sample like you mentioned may be a good idea.
I 'll use my pump and see what the results are.
Again thank you for the reply.
George
You should always buy your fuel from a reliable source.
But...
I keep 5 fuel filter cartridges aboard, which will eventually clean your tank, if you have a problem.
To best verify you tank is clean, for all practical purposes,
1) let your main tank go very low.
2) Sail in moderate seas to shake tank contents up
3) Your filter cartridge will plug up rapidly, if dirty.
4) If it plugs then you should pour in, a spare 6 gallon diesel can and return to find a tank cleaning service.
____
I did my 50 gallon tank this way, and have never seen a dirty cartridge in 4 years.
Always buy fuel with a biocide in it or add it yourself.
Jim...
PS: Racor sells a dual cartridge fuel filter for easy change over and removal. [parallel set]
But...
I keep 5 fuel filter cartridges aboard, which will eventually clean your tank, if you have a problem.
To best verify you tank is clean, for all practical purposes,
1) let your main tank go very low.
2) Sail in moderate seas to shake tank contents up
3) Your filter cartridge will plug up rapidly, if dirty.
4) If it plugs then you should pour in, a spare 6 gallon diesel can and return to find a tank cleaning service.
____
I did my 50 gallon tank this way, and have never seen a dirty cartridge in 4 years.
Always buy fuel with a biocide in it or add it yourself.
Jim...
PS: Racor sells a dual cartridge fuel filter for easy change over and removal. [parallel set]
Thanks James, much appreciatedYou should always buy your fuel from a reliable source.
But...
I keep 5 fuel filter cartridges aboard, which will eventually clean your tank, if you have a problem.
To best verify you tank is clean, for all practical purposes,
1) let your main tank go very low.
2) Sail in moderate seas to shake tank contents up
3) Your filter cartridge will plug up rapidly, if dirty.
4) If it plugs then you should pour in, a spare 6 gallon diesel can and return to find a tank cleaning service.
____
I did my 50 gallon tank this way, and have never seen a dirty cartridge in 4 years.
Always buy fuel with a biocide in it or add it yourself.
Jim...
PS: Racor sells a dual cartridge fuel filter for easy change over and removal. [parallel set]
George
Our boat is going on 40 years old and I know our fuel tank is filthy. However, it is 170 gallons and unless I want to drill a bunch of 4" holes in the top to access each section between the baffles, there is no way at all to clean it out.
Perhaps your tank has no baffles which would make it pretty easy to have cleaned by a professional, if you have some way to access the inside. A 4" access port would do.
Simply put, the easiest and cheapest way to keep from having problems with your fuel is to purchase fuel from a supplier you trust will have good clean water free fuel and to have a great primary fuel filter. I recommend a Racor 500 series filter. It's a great filter system and changing filters from the top keeps the mess down. They have 5, 10 & 20 micron elements, we use the 10 micron elements and change them often. We also use the Star Tron diesel fuel treatment, though before c-19 we rarely sat long enough to actually need the stuff.
Don't let anybody talk you into a fuel polishing system for your boat unless your tank is pristine. They will not clean the inside of the tank so circulating the fuel through separate filters is of little value as your diesel engine already reciirculates your fuel through your present fuel filters.
Perhaps your tank has no baffles which would make it pretty easy to have cleaned by a professional, if you have some way to access the inside. A 4" access port would do.
Simply put, the easiest and cheapest way to keep from having problems with your fuel is to purchase fuel from a supplier you trust will have good clean water free fuel and to have a great primary fuel filter. I recommend a Racor 500 series filter. It's a great filter system and changing filters from the top keeps the mess down. They have 5, 10 & 20 micron elements, we use the 10 micron elements and change them often. We also use the Star Tron diesel fuel treatment, though before c-19 we rarely sat long enough to actually need the stuff.
Don't let anybody talk you into a fuel polishing system for your boat unless your tank is pristine. They will not clean the inside of the tank so circulating the fuel through separate filters is of little value as your diesel engine already reciirculates your fuel through your present fuel filters.
Thank you for your reply
I think up to now I am keeping the principles on a high standard but it's the curiosity that dictates safety.
also the fact that I am new to it..
Thanks once again
George
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,752
Welcome George to the forum. What part of England do you enjoy?also the fact that I am new to it..
on Capta’s info. You have valid reason to explore and understand the issue of fuel contamination. It was a learning curve for me. Remember that you have primarily a sailing boat and an auxiliary engine. With a Racor 500 you can change a fuel filter on the water and get the auxiliary back running without a lot of mess. I earned the tee shirt for that experience. I found choosing a good fuel supplier, adding a dash of additives, and a couple of spare filters have resolved my problem.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it", is a good place to start with fuel tanks.
The filters are an effective alarm: If you change them seasonally and have no problems with fuel starvation at the engine, your tanks are clean enough (I change mine every other season because of low fuel consumption - avg 40 gallons/season). Check for water at your primary fuel filter.
Sailboats shake all tanks pretty vigorously on even modest sails. If your tanks need cleaning, the filters will clog regularly.
I have an 80-gallon fuel tank in the keel and no convenient access. I rarely go through a tank of fuel in a season and I know that the tanks have not been cleaned in the last 20 seasons (likely, they haven't been cleaned for far longer). I lay the boat up with, on average, a half a tank of fuel.
I took a sample of fuel about 5 years ago from the lowest point of the tank which is below the fuel sender (a 1" access hole to fit a hose to draw fuel sample). This is what the sample of fuel looked like. You may well find the same.
Don't worry, your new boat will give you new problems to focus on.
The filters are an effective alarm: If you change them seasonally and have no problems with fuel starvation at the engine, your tanks are clean enough (I change mine every other season because of low fuel consumption - avg 40 gallons/season). Check for water at your primary fuel filter.
Sailboats shake all tanks pretty vigorously on even modest sails. If your tanks need cleaning, the filters will clog regularly.
I have an 80-gallon fuel tank in the keel and no convenient access. I rarely go through a tank of fuel in a season and I know that the tanks have not been cleaned in the last 20 seasons (likely, they haven't been cleaned for far longer). I lay the boat up with, on average, a half a tank of fuel.
I took a sample of fuel about 5 years ago from the lowest point of the tank which is below the fuel sender (a 1" access hole to fit a hose to draw fuel sample). This is what the sample of fuel looked like. You may well find the same.
Don't worry, your new boat will give you new problems to focus on.
Quick, simple fuel polisher
We have been struggling with fuel issues since getting bad fuel running from Irma and Maria in 2017. The biggest problem is that Catalina did not install any inspection ports in the the fuel tank. To effectively clean the tank you need to access both sides of the baffle. Because the tank is...
forums.sailboatowners.com
My beneteau has an irregular shaped 50 gallon tank with no access port other than the fuel sender. I borrowed a friends pump, got a long clean hose and used it like a vacuum on the bottom of the tank. Everything was coming out clean till I got next to the fuel pickup which had a small sump under it..... pump sucked up a large amount of crud...... about 6 Inch plug in a half in hose. Then went back to clean fuel.
I check my primary (racor 500) often and it’s always relatively clean. Never find water and bowl has minimal sediment. I change primary / secondary every other year regardless. I never add any biocides and leave the tank in winter as empty as possible. Has worked for me for over 20 years here in the northeast....
good luck
Greg
I check my primary (racor 500) often and it’s always relatively clean. Never find water and bowl has minimal sediment. I change primary / secondary every other year regardless. I never add any biocides and leave the tank in winter as empty as possible. Has worked for me for over 20 years here in the northeast....
good luck
Greg
So I just went through this on my Catalina 310. Like you, I had no access besides the sender. So I cut a 4 inch by 6 inch hole in the top of the tank and fabricated an access hatch. I wish I bought a cheap borescope and checked the tank first.
With a cheap scope you can pump the tank dry and inspect the inside of the tank. My issue ended up being inappropriate installation of pickup tubes. They were right to the bottom at the lowest part of the tank. I had a little bit of sludge right there so it was clogging the pickup tube and I always was picking up the little bit of water that was in the tank. Had I checked with the scope first I could have saved doing the hole.
I now have a cheap ($25) scope on the boat that ties to my cellphone.
Fair winds
With a cheap scope you can pump the tank dry and inspect the inside of the tank. My issue ended up being inappropriate installation of pickup tubes. They were right to the bottom at the lowest part of the tank. I had a little bit of sludge right there so it was clogging the pickup tube and I always was picking up the little bit of water that was in the tank. Had I checked with the scope first I could have saved doing the hole.
I now have a cheap ($25) scope on the boat that ties to my cellphone.
Fair winds