Fuel tank drain

[Michael]

The Ynmar instruction manual recommends a periodical drain of fuel tank in order to remove water from condensation. Looks like the drain cock is not available in my case. I've heard that adding of small volume of alcohol wich dilutes water and helps to burn water-alcohol mixture. The two substances have a higher densities than disel fuel and mix at the bottom of the tank. Perhaps the drain cock installation is a must? Any suggestions?Michael.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Overrated?

I'm wondering if this issue of condensation in the tank is overrated? Most diesel fuel systems have some kind of water separator in the line. My own 1979 H37C has two. But I don't think water will get past a good Racor filter.I have never found any water in my Racor. But I still drain it periodically. And this past winter I cut two cleanout ports in my fuel tank and drained it dry. I used one of those pumps attached to a 3/8" drill and put it into a 5 gal. can. It took six trips down the ladder but there was no water to be found. And this was diesel that sat in a half-filled tank for at least four years. So where was the condensation?

 

[David Murcott]

All the time

I have a H31 with a Racor Filter. This season I have had to drain out the filter almost every other trip. Some one told me that this winter on LI was the worst conditions for condensation with repeated cold and warm weather. Two times the engine stopped altogether and I had to bleed the water out of the whole fuel system because there was so much water that the filter couldn't take any more!!

 

[Ed Schenck]

That's interesting David.

And I thought only Florida had more humidity than Lake Erie. Is there something else at work here? Maybe your source of fuel? Could it be a vent problem? What about tank material? Mine is a 50 gal. aluminum tank that, since I cleaned it and hardly ever motor, will have 10 gal. maximum. This is the only way I can insure the fuel never gets too old.

 

[Ron]

Houston/Humidity

Someone once told me the only place more humid then Houstn is Venezuela. I have owned my boat, here in Houston, for 5 years and have never had a water-in-the-fuel problem. I did drain the tank the first year for other reasons and found no water. I'm with Ed on this one. I think you are getting water from your fuel dock.. Just a thought. Ron/KA5HZV

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Check your fuel inlet for water leakage.

It may not seal properly and you would be getting water down the hose every time it rains or every time you wash down. Good Luck