Danger Old Diesel

[very_moody]

A warning to all who forget to inspect the contents of their fuel tanks.
Note - Having just become the proud owner of a 13 year old Moody. I decided to inspect the contents of our Fuel tank, due to problems with our last boat.
Method –
Removed inspection hatch.
Nice of Moody to specify a fuel tank with a inspection hatch. - shame hatch is not located in the best position for inspection!!!. Its “just” possible to see one side of the inside and little of the bottom.
Pump.
A combination of garden hose with copper pipe attached at the end going into the fuel tank, a cheap electric drill operated pump and a clear plastic container to see the 1st sample.
Note – Red Diesel should be “ clear” with a light red colour.
What came out, from the bottom of our tank, looked like Brown Windsor soup, complete with lumps of strange “stuff”.
Note – If you have never experienced the delights of English Brown Windsor soup. Its dark brown, very thick with lumps, well that’s how my mom made it, and tastes like --------------
The 1st pint convinced me we needed to dispose of the entire contents of the tank. This took most of the day as the pump kept getting blocked with horrid lumps. Even when we had empted the tank I could still see nasty stuff at the bottom, which we removed by adding clean diesel and stirring the stuff around to get it into suspension then pump out some more.
Long day but we now have the comfort and safety of a clean tank.

The only question now if how frequently should we inspect the quality of the fuel in our tanks?


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[jimi]

According to TCM if you use Soltron then that saves all that hassle/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[tcm]

harumph!

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[kgi]

You could try algae-x.net, have a good look at the relevant pages and tell me what you think.....keith

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[roger]

I've had the problem of having muck in the diesel tank that blocked an 8mm. pickup pipe thus stopping the engine. I have no idea how it got in. Examination of the grunge showed among other things some coarse ginger hair!! Its probably a good idea to filter all inging diesel and to put a filter on the breather pipe

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[anabel]

Whenever possible get your diesel from the same source. I always use a funnel with a homemade filter (piece of lady's tights!). Make sure your filler cap is really watertight. Also during layup (winter) keep your tank full. This prevents condensation. Of course, if you are not the first owner of the boat, then you have no idea what's in the tank until you check it.

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[SJ28keith]

Look at this article on diesel. I recommend reading it. It is short but informative. Go to http://boatdiesel.com . Click on articles and then look for one called " Fundamental Biology and Chemistry for Diesel Owners. You have to use a dropdown menu on the right to see part two and part three.

In short, diesel has a shelf life of about 100 days. After that, it starts turning into sludge.

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[vyv_cox]

I have not yet read the article. However, if your summary is a correct one, it is nonsense. Diesel may be stored at the refinery for very much longer than 100 days and it certainly does not turn into sludge. The diesel in the fuel tank of my boat has been there since September last year and it is not sludged.

There is one, and one only, reason why diesel properties and characteristics change, and that is contamination. Usually by water, but gasoline and many other substances will cause a deterioration. In the case of the original poster, this sounds very like bacterial growth at the water/diesel interface. There is a wide range of products available to do this but the truth is that if you ensure that there is no water in the tank you will not experiece problems. This can be a big "if" where supplies from bunkers is concerned, but where there is doubt it pays to drain off the lower part of the tank after the fuel has settled, to remove any water.

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[oldharry]

I Agree with Vyvs diagnosis - this is classically the dreaded 'diesel bug' which can only grow if there is water in the fuel tank. Brown gunge, or a tarry ropey substance appears in the fuel, and growing at the interface between water and diesel and which will rapidly and efffectively block lines and filters.

Soltron is claimed to disperse it, though I have never tried it, and there is a range of other chemicals designed inhibit its growth. Careful cleaning of the tank is required, together with the lines and filters. A filthy job - unless Soltron really does clean it up without dismantling: Anyone tried it?

No water in your tank? Dont you beleive it! A part filled tank on a boat will suffer internal condensation which then runs or is washed down into the fuel. Over the winter it is surprising how much will gather at the bottom of the tank - creating the ideal breeding ground for the 'bug'. That is quite apart from any contamination coming in from your friendly waterside fuel supplier whose tanks will almost certainly already be contaminated with the bug. The difference being of course that storage tanks dont get stirred up the way boat tanks do, so it doesnt much matter.

Solution? Simple - leave the tank filled right up with diesel over the winter. The price will almost certainly have risen by spring anyway....

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[Guest]

Shelf life ???????

As an owner of a PetroChemical Inspection Co. for quality and quantity ... and labs ......... I find the statement < shelf-life of 100 days > to be extremely misleading and false.

Yes eventually all hydrocarbon fuels will deteriorate over time - nature of the 'beast' ...... but if it was 100 days for diesel - then most diesel literally available ex pumps is way past its sell-by date !!!! Where do they get this xxxxxxx from ????

<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Guest]

Dead \'bugs\' is black / dark brown gunge

Live bugs are NOT seen ......... that is why I have to buy test kits and incubate the diesel test sample for 5 days !!!!

The real danger is NOT the live bugs ..... its the dead crud that blocks up the system.

The original post is classic dead bugs build up in bottom of tank.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[DepSol]

Seriously Soltron will break down all the bug bits and let them pass the filter so they are destryed during combustion.

I did this with a Sea Fisheries protection vessel (which will be featured in our next leaflet) and they have not had the bug since they hav been using Soltron. When they wet for a refit in the IOW their fitters commented on how clean the tanks were.

There are precautions to take though, which depends on how much bug is in their. FYI Bugs can grow immunity to Biocides which then end up feeding the bug with the nitrates and phosphates they need to grow quicker.

If you decide to try it and want some more advice then let me know.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

2003 is going to be a good year for me

 

[Freebee]

100 day shelf life is totally untrue some arms the MOD are using diesel fuel some of which could have been in store for 25 years!





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[GTester]

A UK company takling the problem - expresslube.co.uk

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[stubate]

exactly

cause some t****r who has a convoluted sense of logic puts something in writing on a website or paper it is considered to be gospel.
the website sounds like one of those "thumblethumbs" ones, remember car mechanic mags ? years ago, every known bodger used to write in with their favorite bodges. IMHO


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[seaesta]

Tanks should be fitted with a "ullage" drain valve at the very bottom of the tank whilst the fuel pick up should be higher up so the first layer of fall-out is not taken into the engine. There will be condensation in the tank which can be drawn off from the bottom drain valve. I would recoomend drawing off a small quantity (say 200ml) each month and inspecting that. If it has water or muck present then draw off some more until it is clear and clean.
I think those companies building boats without proper fuel maintenance facilities should be ashamed of themsleves and I would not buy one of thier products. They produce a system which is inherantly designed to breed diesel/water bacteria and are a disgrace.
Martin of Sesesta of Whitby

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