Oceanis 351- Cleaning fuel tank

[Beach Bum]

Hi,

How have you cleaned the fuel tank of 351? Is there a service hatch?
Previous owner had never cleaned it up ( for last 20 years) and I think this should be done/checked.

 

[sailrj]

The fuel gauge sending unit port is what I have used. Remove the sending unit , being careful to not strip the screw holes or damage the gasket. I pumped the diesel as low as possible with a 12 volt utility pump and sucked some trash out with it and then finished the job with the vacuum container that I change oil with. Treat the tank with a good slug of biocide in the day before you clean it will help break loose any algae and help with the clean up. If you can't get every thing out, the empty tank can be remove relatively easily. Good luck.

Hi,

How have you cleaned the fuel tank of 351? Is there a service hatch?
Previous owner had never cleaned it up ( for last 20 years) and I think this should be done/checked.

 

[Beach Bum]

Ok, I will try that way too , thank you!

 

[Lee Hadjiosif]

My 381 had a 1/4" plug at the lowest point of the tank. So last time I cleaned the tank (when it was empty) I replaced the plug with a fuel valve and stuck a short vinyl hose at the end of it. Once in a while I drain the bottom of the tank in a small bottle to get any water or dirt out. Learned that from my piloting days...
Lee

 

[Beach Bum]

Hi,

Good advise, must do the same while cleaning the tank.

 

[woodster]

My 381 had a 1/4" plug at the lowest point of the tank. So last time I cleaned the tank (when it was empty) I replaced the plug with a fuel valve and stuck a short vinyl hose at the end of it. Once in a while I drain the bottom of the tank in a small bottle to get any water or dirt out. Learned that from my piloting days...
Lee

i wondered when someone was going to say this...thats a very good idea...we did this every time we preflighted the aircraft on the flight line