Water in the Fuel

[Gil Kruemmel]

Apparently after a major snow melt, water leaked around the fuel cap and into the tank. While moving the boat to haul out, she ran fine for about 25 minutes..then stopped....water in the fuel..filter etc. Questions..how the best way to clear it out...suggestions? The boat is a 1985 Hunter 31 with a yanmar 2GMF...thanks..

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Are you sure?

Have you taken samples from the bottom?Have you found water in the primary filter?In either case, drain from there.When fully clean, add Fuel Power to sop up.

 

[Joe Newman]

It's Uncanny !!!!

Hi Gil, Man I just went through what your going through two weeks ago. I was Moving my boat up the ICW a few miles to a marina with a travel lift to do the bottom. Within a few hundred yards of my destination she layed down and died on me. I drew about 2 full party cups of water out of my filter at the engine and my racor filter I then bled all my fuel lines. the fuel not only had water in it, but was black looking and had that laquer smell to it. I always top my tanks off after i use the engine so I was very suprised to find the fuel in such a rotten condition. I plan to get a pump and drain the fuel tank, change the fuel filters, drain the fuel lines clean the injector and re-fuel with an additive. I was stuck at a junction of an inlet and the ICW and the tide was flying I had to set my largest anchor or risk ending up in England. I got it running long enough to finish the trip and get back to my home port. I found that it's no big deal draining lines and changing filters. PS: I did get my bottom done, mission accomplished!

 

[Steve Dion]

The best way

Gil:The best way to remove the water from the fuel is to completely drain the tank and replace the fuel. If this is not possible, you may want to try to just remove everything from the bottom of the tank.You could also setup a fuel polishing system yourself with a pump and a couple of filters. Let this run for a couple of hours and it will probably clean up your fuel. The other option is to pay someone to do this for you. Look for someone that does diesel fuel polishing. The cost is about $200-300.