Fuel tank sludge

Prime Time

Prime Time

.
Sep 25, 2008
544
Bristol 43.3 Perth Amboy
So, as part of our spring prep work, we decided to take the access ports off the fuel tanks to inspect. Glad we did. Both of my tanks had a significant amount of a dark brown, gritty, oily sludge covering the bottom of the tank.

I was very surprised. I always use additives (biobor, watersorb, and stabilizer). I had previously cleaned the tanks 4 yrs ago soon after buying Blue Note.

We mucked out the tanks by hand. To get beyond the baffle, we pumped fuel with a high volume pump as a spray to bring the muck back to where we could reach it. We had pumped the fuel into a clean drum. Our pump was a gear pump used by an hvac guy with a filter element in line.

Not sure how to prevent this.

I advise everyone to inspect their tanks!
 
A

alexco38

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Sep 25, 2008
1,096
CS 30 Toronto
Replace O ring on the deckfill every year.

Most people don't and tiny bit of water gets in.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
alexco38 said:
Replace O ring on the deckfill every year.

Most people don't and tiny bit of water gets in.
Click to expand
That and a dedicated high turnover fuel polishing system will help tremendously.

After I added our on-board polisher the tank has been 100% spotless... I change my o-ring about every fourth or fifth fill up. Bought 100 of them and find it the cheapest insurance on the planet..

Sure Marine has some good pick-up/return systems that can easily be added after the fact. You want to get the fuel polishing pick up to the absolute lowest part in the tank that you can. Ours is about 1/8" off the dead bottom right over the lowest spot which is a vee...
 
dlewis812

dlewis812

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May 21, 2006
321
catalina 25, 30 montauk / manhattan
last season after the engine quit on me (while underway, not fun) had the tank cleaned out. for piece of mind suggested it cleaned again before spring launch however the yard said the tank "should be ok" and that it really wouldn't be worth the cost. a lot of variables however just wondering how often this should be done.

- other than topping off for winter i did not put in any additives. a lot of good opinions on here as to which is preferred so need to read up on that.
- will replace the ring as soon as i get a chance
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Mark Maulden said:
Maine, what p/n pump did u use for the polishing pump?
Click to expand

Walbro FRB 22-2. Bought it from Phil here at SBO..

Walbro FRB Pumps SBO

Keep in mind that unlike many fuel pumps the GPH rating is a really minimum rate that it can deliver. Most pumps are rated at max delivery.. I have measured ours through the Racor 900, as installed, and it is turning well over 50GPH...

I originally used a Carter rotary vane pump, had it kicking around, but I burned it up in two years, not continuous duty..
 
Prime Time

Prime Time

.
Sep 25, 2008
544
Bristol 43.3 Perth Amboy
Thanks for the input. Of note, there was not water at the bottom of the tank. I'm not sure if the relationship of water to sludge?
 
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