Brown jelly in fuel filter

[Pollyanna]

Having been a lurker for many months before taking the plunge, I'm sure the subject of fuel contamination has been done to death. I'm new to this so bear with me.

Returning to S. Ferriby from a great trip to Spurnhead, we are up on the plane in the main shipping channel just passing a small tanker and..... yes you guessed it, revs drop from 3500 to nothing. Heart stops, engine kicks in again, bows point skyward, then revs die off again. Throttle right back and gradualy increase the revs again, all fine until back around the 3000 mark. Decide to give tanker a wide berth and cruise back to S.Ferriby at displacement speed.
Obviously fuel starvation so checked air and petrol filters. Air fine, but petrol filter 2/3rds full of a light brown jelly ??? it felt like jelly, could be rolled into a ball, smelt like......yep..petrol, and tasted like....... sorry - wasn't that interested.
What the hell is this and can it be cured? New filter fitted and run for less than 20 hours.
I'm sure someone out there can enlighten me. I'm also sure Happyone will give me a detailed explanation of what will cure it and were to buy a jelly in petrol prevention gizzmo with added safety features at a very reasonable price.
Thanks in anticipation.

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[Moose]

Only your seventh post and getting at H1, thats actually quite impressive/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif
Sorry I don't have a clue about the petrol problem except that I know you can get water absorbing stuff for petrol and I guess your jelly is caused by water?
P.S In my seven hundreth and something post I am not trying to get at anybody /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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El Alce

 

[tcm]

Hi pollyanna. Is the fuel quite old, perhaps? The symptom of gentle lurching are exactly those of fuel starvation, probly caused by the gloop in the fuel. You need to treat of get rid of the fuel, clean the filters and consider keeping the tank fuller when left, i think. Also, use your boat much much more!

oh, and welcome.

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[alanporter]

Hi, Moose. I don't know anything about the jelly in the petrol, but am curious to know why you call yourself Moose ? Not too many mooses in the U.K. but we have lots where I live.
Best regards.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Porter

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Try Soltron - it works as well for petrol as for diesel, especially if you don't use the boat a great deal. Get your tanks cleaned and start afresh with new filter elements.

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[martynwhiteley]

Bob,

I'm sure you'll get a more definitive answer from another forum member, but I have had this problem a bit on motorbikes.

My guess is it's a combination of water, corrosion, and degredation of the petrol.

I have been given to understand that unleaded fuel has a limited shelf life of about 3 months before it starts to go 'off'. Combine this with a mix of rusty water, and I bet the jelly will start to form. Maybe even the hot weather exacerbates the problem.

What state is your tank in?

(must follow you down to Spurn sometime, seems 'busier' down there!)

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue> Real boaters do it on the Humber </font color=blue>

 

[Pollyanna]

Thanks for the advice TCM
The boat came with about a quarter of a tank of fuel and Ive just been topping it up since. She spent the first 18 months pottering about on canals and the Thames. It's only recently that she has been put through her paces on the Humber, disturbing the crud in the bottom of the tank.

It looks like I'll have to drain the tank, clean it out and fit a new filter. I'll also be carrying a spare filter in future.

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[Pollyanna]

Hi Moose,
Sorry could not resist the comment on H1. He's kept me amused for months.
Were do you get those smiley faces from?

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[Pollyanna]

Hi Martin,
Externaly the tank seems fine, I think its just a build up of crud being disturbed by the less than flat calm conditions around the lower Humber.
Got quite a lot of time off comming up soon, so maybe we can arrange a trip down to Spurn soon.


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[martynwhiteley]

I'll look forward to it Bob,

We may even get MedDreamer Martyn along as well (as long as he can cook good bacon sarnies!)

I'll PM you my mobile.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue> Real boaters do it on the Humber </font color=blue>

 

[boatone]

Hmmm.....Pilgrim 25......mid '70's boat?
Just wondering what your fuel tank is made of? Mild steel by anychance?
The diesel tank on my Princess 32, same sort of vintage, has just deposited its contents into the bilges and will have to be replaced. Havent found exact location of failure yet but fairly sure its rusted thru underneath.
Not wanting to be a killjoy but thought worth mentioning. Bilgefull of diesel is bad enough but hate to think of bilgefull of petrol!

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[martynwhiteley]

Good point, I must remember to give Pollyanna a 'wide berth' if we follow her down to Spurn.

(Particularly if he gets the BBQ out again /forums/images/icons/smile.gif ).

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue> Real boaters do it on the Humber </font color=blue>

 

[Pollyanna]

Thanks Boatone and Martin
The tank seem sound but you can bet it will be drained and checked thoughly once I get back from Gib.

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