Sediment in fuel tank?

[James]

Wen't for my maiden voyage this weekend to bring my 1986 40 Legend to her new home port and ran into a little trouble coming down. After the first days sail which went fine the engine would intermitently die and then might or might not restart right away. Not a good thing after the unexpected 35+ knot winds tore the main but thats another story Anyhow I suspect that I have some junk in the fuel tank but I'm not sure how to clean it. The tank doesn't seem to have any sizeable insepction ports on it and the pickup tube appears to be welded in. Anyone else have this problem and a good solution? I dont think water in the tank was an issue, I have a water seperator and nothing but clean diesel came out the drain.Thanks,James

 

[Al STORY]

professional fuel cleaning

There are businesses who provide the service of cleaning old fuel...have you looked in your area? Here in Florida, it is recommended that old fuel be "cleaned" before making any ocean voyage (we live on a river) to prevent sedement from sloshing around and causing just the problem you mention. Also, how are your fuel filters?

 

[Steve O.]

here's the scenario...

Sediment lies in the fuel tank and collects in the lowest spot. Unsuspecting owner goes out for a nice easy sail and motor runs good. Wind and chop pipe up, sloshes sediment around in the tank and into pickup tube. Engine quits. There is a small screen on the end of the pickup tube that some owners remove, relying on the filters to screen the sediment, because its much easier to clean the filters than the pickup tube.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Brilliant idea

You really can't tell for sure if it's sediment in the tank without troubleshooting. Someone came up with this excellent suggestion:Buy a 3-gallon portable tank for an OB. Buy the bulb hose line and trim off the EXITING line so that you can use a stint to run it directly into the fuel line past the first fuel filter.This enables you to run the boat indefinitely while you work backward at your leisure to replace the rear fuel filter and noodle around the tank for sediment slop. Keep the portable tank on board for future emergency use if this happens again. Your wife will regard you as an engineering marvel.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Tank sediment.

I am one of those carrying the OB tank. Came onto the idea after my second BoatUS tow. Now I don't worry that I might have a fuel problem. And with the squeeze bulb I don't have to bleed.My tank solution was to cut two 8" diameter cleanout ports in the tank. Once in there I found that in 1979 they had not yet added screens to the pickup. So much for that fix. But I found the tank to be pretty clean. However the dirt that was in there had collected as was said, at the lowest point in the tank. Clogged right around the pickup. Now I commission the same way every Spring. I put the hose of my oil extractor in the fuel gauge hole and pump out a gallon right at the pickup. I put the diesel right back in through one of those West Marine funnel/filters. I now put all my fuel in through that funnel(Related Link).

 

[Fred W.]

not welded

I think you will find that your fuel pick up is not welded in. It appears to be but on further inspection you should find that the fitting will unscrew from the welded piece. You then can lift the tube out of the tank and inspect it. Also, clean fuel from your filter bottom does not mean that the filter is not clogged and not letting the fuel pass. Check the filter to be sure.