Cleaning diesel tank

[Guest]

I am just overhauling my recently purchased Thornycroft 108 40 HP fitted to a 1989 Colvic Watson MS.
I have never really run the engine, apart from a short run during my purchase checks, when it started easily and sounded good. As part of this major engine overhaul, I have spent nearly £500 having the injectors, pipes and pump fully cleaned and overhauled. The guy says the diesel in this kit was quite dirty and did'nt smell good (diesel never does?!). Suggested I empty the tank and clean it out.
I am also fitting a new RACOR turbine with 30 micron water seperating prefilter and a fine RACOR 10 micron secondary filter AND renewing all the fuel piping, changing from old nylon to new copper and armoured flexibles.
The stainless tank has no obvious corrosion (at least outside) and was nearly full when I bought the boat, so I guess about 35 gallons in there!! I have read on US websites about mobile fuel "polishing" services that pump the old fuel out, filter it to remove dirt, water and dead bug-slime and then recirculate it back into the tank - is this done in the UK? If not, I guess I could rig something up to do this myself with my new RACOR filters??
Or I could just pump it all out, get rid of it (where?) and replace it all by filling up my car several times and then transfer-pumping it into the boat (to avoid, at least initially, dirty marina fuel!).
But how to clean the inside of the tank??? - just do the above, refill with fresh diesel and add Soltron??
Anybody done it??
After all the horror stories I have read about dirt, water and bugs in fuel, I'm not taking any chances with nearly £1,000 worth of new and overhauled fuel kit!!!
Mal Davis - Colvic Watson 26 "Gypsy" (Hoo,River Medway)

 

[DepSol]

The enzyme that is Soltron will eat all the bugs and slime and sludge and break down all the dirt and lift everything nasty that is sticking to your tanks break it down to its finest micron so it passes thru your filters and gets burnt. It is in itself a fuel polishing kit Will also increase the combustability of your fuel for a cleaner burn. Save your self alot of money by double dosing your tank first time to give added effect.

Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(

 

[andrewbarker]

One query, Depsol - how quick does all this happen? I've got to move a boat from Brighton to Southampton which has been stood for 3 years more or less. Do I need to dose hours/days/weeks befor setting off??

Andy Barker

 

[Sinbad1]

On many of the older tanks there will be a drain valve at the bottom to allow emptying.

I would strongly recommend that you remove all the fuel from the tank if it is possible to gain access having done this. Some tanks have a gasket sealed face plate which can be removed. If your tank is mild steel then you may have some rusting. If its stainless it will almost certainly be 304 and this can also have corrosion.

Empty tank, wask out tank with degreaser/white spirit and polish clean with rags and paper, then put in clean fuel. Its not worth the possible hassle of sending bits and unclean fuel through your new system.

Soltron is used on a seasonal basis. Don't expect it to work overnight.

If you need to move the boat immediately why not get a large plastic container of diesel and run a pickup pipe into this until you get to your destination. This will save you having to do a rush job on the tank (when things always go wrong and take longer)

 

[Roberto]

This link about fuel filtering may be interesting

http://www.trawlerworld.com/c_features_06.htm

 

[DepSol]

The enzyme goes to work instantly within 24 hours it would have started feeding on the slime sludge and dirt and started to break it down to its smallest particle.

Always best to keep your fuel tanks full and double dose first then single doses afterwards. Always best to keep a spare set of filters in any case whatever you do.

As for draining the tank, well this doesnt always work as sludge does not sit flat across the bootom and doesnt come running out with the last drop of fuel. It actually sticks to the tank. we did a scan of a tank one and the sludge formed peaks and troughs and looked like the andalucian mountains.

nly sure way to get rid of it is empty the tank and scrape it all out and flush thru. Apart from that use Soltron regulary and you will never have the problem again or if you use it from the start you wll never get it in the first place.

Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(

 

[bryantee]

The Racor will work fine,if you can get hold of a second hand water sensor to fit in the bottom of the filter (ex peugoet )? diesels or similar all the better.Having suffered with contaminated diesel in plant in various parts of the world.keep it clean and get rid of the water.keep the tank full if possible(less condensation) and strain the fuel going in.You would not believe the amount of crap that can accumalate in a tank in three years,good luck

 

[pjohnst]

Can anyone tell me who makes Soltron. I live in Australia, and while there may be comparable products here (of which I am unaware) it is always good to get hold of products which really work.

Peter Johnston

 

[DepSol]

I heard it was widely available in Australia as that is one of the first places it went to. Solpower Japan are the people that produce it.


Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(

 

[dave_gibsea]

Last year I removed my small stainless tank to clean it. The inside was coated in a horrible red sticky residue. I took the empty tank to a local auto steam cleaning company who steam cleaned it out, the result was very good. Replaced all the filters and flexi-hoses and I hope that's it for a while. It was also a useful exercise as I found the tank fixings were not very good so these have been improved too.