Portable fuel polisher

[Sefuller]

I have finally gotten around to making a fuel polisher using an old Racor I got on Ebay a few years ago. I would like to use this on a couple of boats, and I thought I would just get some 24" pieces of 3/8" copper or stainless tubing and clamp the hoses to it, then remove the sending unit from a tank and insert the "wands" into the tank and let it run. The suction wand could be positioned at the lowest point of the tank, and the return wand positioned to create movement of the fuel in the tank. Any issues with this method, or other suggestions?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Getting the flow rate to get some pressure is going to be a challenge, Baffles in tanks may mean you need to add access panels. Best cleaning is use your rig to empty tanks into fuel jugs then mechanically clean tank

 

[Sefuller]

I think Oday used Florida Marine tanks, not sure if they're baffled but I suspect so. No access plates exist currently. Tanks are aluminum.

 

[jssailem]

Sefuller. There are a couple of issues that I have not found answers to.

Having dealt with this issue, I settled on what I felt was the path of east resistance.
Fuel was of unknown age. 140-150 gallons suspected to be at least 15-18 months.

• I used some filters given to me by a friend to take ou the big stuf front eh bottom of one of my two tanks. This included some goo and a lot of coffee round sized dead amoeba/critters.
• I used a continuous flow diesel pump to cycle the fuel from one tank to the other. I placed the inflow pipe beneath the surface to reduce the injection of air (reduce the creation of fuel foam) into the fuel.
• I also put additives to kill and dissolve the critters in the tank.
• I had the first fuel starvation even happen during a cruise of 30 nm. Engine stopped. Was able to get to a port, where I changed The fuel filter (it was clogged with dead critters - looked like coffee grounds).
• I added some fresh fuel and ran engine for about 10 hours then changed the filter again. Added diesel bug killing additive and carried more filters. If engine showed signs of fuel starvation I stopped engine and changed filter.
• in 3 years I used up the old fuel and now am pretty certain I have one clean tank and one in the process of being cleaned.
• I can run for about 20 hours before the fuel filter needs to be changed. This is an improvement.
• One of the tasks that really helped was to install O rings on the fuel caps. My inlet caps were without O rings. I am sure this was how the water got into the tank in the first place and allowed the diesel critters to develop.

It can be done. If you want to be sure about your tank you can empty the tank then clean it manually as @LeslieTroyer indicates. That way you can be sure. Most boats have smaller tanks.
Good luck.

 

[seadaddler]

I just recently had fuel problems after 12 years buying my boat new in 2007 and this was first time ever having fuel problem but emptied all fuel from my 28 gallon tank into jugs and than put one of those snake cameras and saw some big globs in the bottom and took the fuel gauge sending unit off and put a small shop vac to suck everything out.
I am thinking of adding a Racor and 12 volt fuel pump to circulate the fuel in the tank
when ever but not sure that part.
Nick