completely empty fuel tank ?

[DAKA]

I filled my boat yesterday from a well used Premier fuel retailer.

I noticed the second tank was slow to fill.

Odd grunting noises emerged from the delivery nozzle and it was dry.

The delivery tank was empty.

concerned about filling my boat with tank bottoms I quickly got a glass beaker ready to take a fuel sample but the fuel attendant said there was no need as the tank pick up was deliberately set off the bottom and I had clean fuel.

Has this happened to anyone before and did you get a problem ?

The tank is plastic and sat on the hard so shouldnt have been stirred up.

 

[[2068]]

Fuel attendant is correct, but missing a point.
Yes, the fuel pickup is in a fixed place, so it doesn't suddenly drop down to scrape the bottom of the tank (water etc. will stay at the bottom).
But what about anything floating on the surface?
Hopefully the answer is "there wasn't any crud floating on the surface". There is usually a coarse mesh strainer on the end of the pickup which will prevent dead rodents etc. being delivered up the pipe.

.

 

[prv]

We had a bad fill of diesel from the Itchen Marine Towage barge once - didn't actually cause a crisis at sea as we spotted a lot of crud in the filter bowls first. The filters were full of muck. Since I have an inspection hatch in the top of the tank, I pumped out the fuel into two jerrycans (I guess my tank is smaller than yours ) and was then able to scoop up a lot of black sludge from the bottom. The tank was new the previous year and the filters had always been clean when changed, so it was down to that fill rather than pre-existing.

The barge had gone the day after we filled up - off to collect a new batch of fuel - so it seems pretty clear that our problem was due to picking up the dregs of the tank (whether from bottom or mixed in or floating on top). In your position I would be concerned - can you drain or suck a sample from the bottom of your tank?

Pete

 

[Powersalt]

I understand each fuel pump hase a glass bowl behind the front cover and you can demand to see this before and after a fill to ensure you received clean diesel.

Yes I would be concerned especially after my experiences. Suggest you drain off from the bottom of the tank to see whats in there, use a bucket or bottle. Then treat the fuel if needed or in any doubt, but get ride of any water at once.

 

[Mike k]

I filled my boat yesterday from a well used Premier fuel retailer.

I noticed the second tank was slow to fill.

Odd grunting noises emerged from the delivery nozzle and it was dry.

The delivery tank was empty.

concerned about filling my boat with tank bottoms I quickly got a glass beaker ready to take a fuel sample but the fuel attendant said there was no need as the tank pick up was deliberately set off the bottom and I had clean fuel.

Has this happened to anyone before and did you get a problem ?

The tank is plastic and sat on the hard so shouldnt have been stirred up.

A good number of years ago I filled my car up on the forecourt , an hour later car breaks down and garage find it had water in the tank . Contacted the retailer who told me at the time that diesel is floated on water in the tank and that the pickup had sucked some from the bottom. They paid for the towing and tank clean. As I say that was in the 80's and things may have changed now though a Pela investigation might be worth doing Pete? Pity you let the attendant put you off the beaker test!!

 

[DAKA]

Thanks for everyones input, I should have held out for the beaker test and now I know about the pumps glass bowl I will check that if it ever happens again.

I've spoken to the manager who confirms this happens on a regular basis , every other month and their main customers are charter fishing boats who could easily use another supplier very close by and would be quick to complain.

The pick up is off the bottom and the fuel tank is tested by an independent every 3 months.

All this has satisfied me but I have had fuel problems in the last boat and I will monitor my filters carefully over the next few months.

I carry loads of filters anyway but I will add 5 L of diesel for quick prefilter changes.