HI, all. H285 here w/ 12 gal fuel tank. I've never completely emptied it (11 years)and feel I probably should in case there is some water in it. Three questions, please: 1. Can I siphon off the fuel via the deck inlet? 2. What to do with the fuel? 3. I also read somewhere that, if there IS water in the fuel, putting "a few drops" of dry-gas will allow the water to be run through and burned in the engine. Any truth to that and exactly how much dry-gas should I use? Thanks all!
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Any way you can.
Rick: It does not make much difference how you get to the bottom of the tank. The point is to pull the junk right off the bottom. You may also be able to get a hose down into the tank where the fuel pickup is located too. You local dump usually has a hazardous waste facility too. I am sure that your local gas station or mechanic can take a couple of quarts of fluid off your hands. I would not mix anything like the dry gas with your fuel. Your primary fuel filter is in place to do just that thing. Water at the fuel injector tips can/will cause problems, that is why they do everything they can to eliminate the water before it gets there.
Rick: It does not make much difference how you get to the bottom of the tank. The point is to pull the junk right off the bottom. You may also be able to get a hose down into the tank where the fuel pickup is located too. You local dump usually has a hazardous waste facility too. I am sure that your local gas station or mechanic can take a couple of quarts of fluid off your hands. I would not mix anything like the dry gas with your fuel. Your primary fuel filter is in place to do just that thing. Water at the fuel injector tips can/will cause problems, that is why they do everything they can to eliminate the water before it gets there.
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Jim A
No, do it like this....
If you tank is like mine, when the hose goes into the tank it can't make the turn into the bottom of the tank. Here is what I did: Take the in-line off your secondary fuel filter. Attach a pump to it. Pump all the old fuel into cheap 5 gallon tanks. Add new fuel. Use the old fuel in your heater. You now have good new fuel in your tanks. This is your cheapest option! Jim
If you tank is like mine, when the hose goes into the tank it can't make the turn into the bottom of the tank. Here is what I did: Take the in-line off your secondary fuel filter. Attach a pump to it. Pump all the old fuel into cheap 5 gallon tanks. Add new fuel. Use the old fuel in your heater. You now have good new fuel in your tanks. This is your cheapest option! Jim
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Ed Allen
another option
There are a number of companies that will clean it out for you. they use a circulation pump several filters and an agitator to stir up whats in there. they do a pretty good job.
There are a number of companies that will clean it out for you. they use a circulation pump several filters and an agitator to stir up whats in there. they do a pretty good job.
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Bill O'Donovan
Fuel Power
Yanmar recommends Fuel Power as an additive that "absorbs" the water. What it really does is emulsify the water into the fuel, which in turn is burned normally. This has the desired effect of ridding the water. The trick is to abide strtictly by the mixing formula and not add more than required. Since water sinks to the lowest level in a diesel tank, you might take your regular oil pump kit and pull out a gallon and let it settle overnight. Who knows, you might be in better shape than you think.
Yanmar recommends Fuel Power as an additive that "absorbs" the water. What it really does is emulsify the water into the fuel, which in turn is burned normally. This has the desired effect of ridding the water. The trick is to abide strtictly by the mixing formula and not add more than required. Since water sinks to the lowest level in a diesel tank, you might take your regular oil pump kit and pull out a gallon and let it settle overnight. Who knows, you might be in better shape than you think.
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Ed Schenck
Same as Bill.
I use my oil extractor to pull out a gallon right at the pickup tube. In my case through the fuel gauge hole. Cut a cleanout port if you don't have a hole. Then I put it right back into the boat through one of those filter/funnels. In fact all diesel fuel gets added to my boat through that funnel(see Related Link).
I use my oil extractor to pull out a gallon right at the pickup tube. In my case through the fuel gauge hole. Cut a cleanout port if you don't have a hole. Then I put it right back into the boat through one of those filter/funnels. In fact all diesel fuel gets added to my boat through that funnel(see Related Link).
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Debra B
disposal (And a word on using the draw tube)
This is a toxic substance and needs to be handled. Ask at the marina, they may know a place - ours handles oil and fuel for free. You may also want to check with local quick change oil places - since they have a lot to dispose of. If you draw the fuel out through the standard draw tube, you will not get everything out of the tank. There will be an inch or so - probably less - below the level where the intake sits. Below this will be nothing but water and the slime that grows in diesel fuel. You really want to pull it out through some other means. Via the hole for the guage assembly is how it was done on my 37.
This is a toxic substance and needs to be handled. Ask at the marina, they may know a place - ours handles oil and fuel for free. You may also want to check with local quick change oil places - since they have a lot to dispose of. If you draw the fuel out through the standard draw tube, you will not get everything out of the tank. There will be an inch or so - probably less - below the level where the intake sits. Below this will be nothing but water and the slime that grows in diesel fuel. You really want to pull it out through some other means. Via the hole for the guage assembly is how it was done on my 37.
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Bruce
my solution
My solution to the inspection and cleaning of my tank was to install a 5" inspection port in the top of my tank. Last fall I drained the tank, took the old fuel to my regular gas station (he ended up giving it to a trucker that was happy to have my "old" fuel). There was a lot of sludge in my tank, and I ended up using straight bilge cleaner. I left that in for a couple of days to slosh around, pumped it out and cleaned what was left with paper towels. Rinsed it with water, dried it out well, and it looked like a new tank. I have known sailors who had big problems when the sludge built up, overloaded the filter and the engine stopped so was glad to have a clean tank. Some won't like the idea of bilge cleaner and water rinse in the fuel tank but it worked fine. In 5 years I have had no trouble with the inspection port either. I installed a mechanical fuel gauge into the center of the inspection port, which is the best thing I have done on my boat. Bruce
My solution to the inspection and cleaning of my tank was to install a 5" inspection port in the top of my tank. Last fall I drained the tank, took the old fuel to my regular gas station (he ended up giving it to a trucker that was happy to have my "old" fuel). There was a lot of sludge in my tank, and I ended up using straight bilge cleaner. I left that in for a couple of days to slosh around, pumped it out and cleaned what was left with paper towels. Rinsed it with water, dried it out well, and it looked like a new tank. I have known sailors who had big problems when the sludge built up, overloaded the filter and the engine stopped so was glad to have a clean tank. Some won't like the idea of bilge cleaner and water rinse in the fuel tank but it worked fine. In 5 years I have had no trouble with the inspection port either. I installed a mechanical fuel gauge into the center of the inspection port, which is the best thing I have done on my boat. Bruce
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