Debris and water in Fuel

[Bigplumbs]

I have been watching this little series on You Tube of 2 boats going around the UK. If you watch any of the videos you will see that almost every day they are getting water and crap in their diesel filters. This seems to be quite bad and I wondered if this is typical.

The amount you pay for Diesel I would have hoped it was cleaner than this

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjzgdqVlPIVMSkL776ZUX3g

 

[Portofino]

You are right to question this ( amount of water in he fuel ) it’s not typical in my book .
Warrants further investigation or fitting of mitigating kit .
Having to empty a cup fill every day that’s not normal in my experience

Notice D6 common rails .They are skating on thin ice imho .

Also highlights access or lack of easy access to the ER and the kit they have to inspect .
Not the be all and end all for some , but for me ease of engine access is right up there in the first handful of factors you grab when it comes to choosing a boat .

Dismissed a few because of that when “ hunting “

Anyhow on my boat …..
Tank drain cocks are at the bottom of ladder under a easy ER hatch in the cockpit. Infact I have two ER hatches .
Slight glasses with cocks on the tanks so I can see the fuel colour FWIW .If I wish by opening them .
Racor centrifugal filters with Water in fuel Alarms on the dash , I can open empty while standing in the ER at the bottom of said ladder .

TBO in 8 seasons I can’t recall ever finding anything.The annual filter changes I notice the odd black spec on the paper cartridge, but really they are good it feels semi wasteful to be replacing but @ €20 a pop in the bigger scheme etc …….Talking once a year not every day !

I did change the filler O rings once …..maybe that amount of water those guys are getting is from a knackered filler apparatus or breather getting wet in the rough sea or rain ?
They need to work out if it’s rain or sea water somehow ?

From the craning out prop ding vid - Its not clear if the crud’s and water from a recent fill up or there in the boats tank and they just manage it by daily drain off s dismantling a filter and replacing the cartridge.

 

[Momac]

I wondered if this is typical.

No

They have consumed a lot of fuel .
Rather than a 'typical' problem it seems to me likely to be one refuelling earlier in the trip where they picked up some crud and water.
Perhaps later episodes will reveal more.

 

[Plum]

I have been watching this little series on You Tube of 2 boats going around the UK. If you watch any of the videos you will see that almost every day they are getting water and crap in their diesel filters. This seems to be quite bad and I wondered if this is typical.

No, not typical at all.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[chrishscorp]

No I wouldn't want to see any of that in my fuel at all, personally I would be cleaning the tank and polishing the fuel.

It may be they have picked up some duff fuel or it could be fuel filler cap seals or maybe the vent system

 

[QBhoy]

Only typical on large vessels with huge storage and certain aspects that can cause it. That’s why they have settling tanks and centrifugal purifiers.
But you’d think it shouldn’t be too normal on smaller vessels with smaller tanks and the right things taken care of. Only time frequent filter changes can become a task…can be after someone has went OTT on fuel dosing biocides Perhaps, dislodging otherwise dormant crap lining tank walls or pipe work.

 

[JerseyDiver]

The duck tape came out on JDV to create shields on breathers and to cover the filler cap. The cup of diesel in video 5 was not water just dirty fuel. They did have some quite rough passages so possibly some crud stirred up.

 

[Bigplumbs]

All many thanks for those interesting replies. This little series is worth watching in my opinion

 

[trevbouy]

Having watched the videos I feel it should be titled "Guys on a pub crawl using a boat"

Entertaining though.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Having watched the videos I feel it should be titled "Guys on a pub crawl using a boat"

Entertaining though.

Quite me and her indoors think the same lol

you do get to hear about the marina toilets though in most places

 

[simonfraser]

even get cr@p in a small diesel tank

i have a 10L tank for my heater, all new 1 yr ago
tank is inside the boat in a dry location
takes fuel from a roadside frequently used truck / car diesel outlet, using a new 5L protable container
dosed the 10L tank every time with inhibitor
after 9 months brown crud started to grow in the 10 L tank
easy to clean out the 10L tank, but v surprised at the diesel bug

 

[Bigplumbs]

That is both interesting and concerning

 

[snowbird30ds]

Bug or asphaltines?

 

[simonfraser]

Bug or asphaltines?

asphaltines occure at high temps, this tanks only supplies fuel, no return into it, so v unlikely

 

[ss2016]

How do I identify asphaltines? Could they block the filter or just leave a slight discolouration?