DIESEL BUG TESTS ... PBO May 2011 ..

[Watson47]

Having read the Diesel Bug Test article with interest, I wondered if anybody had experience of using GROTAMAR 82 ... ?

It appears to be a 'good all-rounder' & I would like to know how it compares with the like of 'STAR TRON' in real life.

 

[Topcat47]

I've no experience of Grotamar 82, but I've used Star Tron and don't rate it. I just add a simple biocide these days. I"m not on the boat (where the bottle is) and I can't remember the Brand (except it's not a "Star" product). I also suck out the bottom litre or so of crud from the tank before launching":- there's always some water there. It's not bombproof but it works after a fashion.

I'm contemplating a "Polishing Rig" (there's a suggestion for one on this site somewhere). There's a local guy offfering to do it but his minimum charge is for a 250litre tank, so I guess he's aiming for the MOBOers.

 

[Plevier]

How did Marine 16 do in the tests this time? They rated it highly a few years ago.

 

[philip_stevens]

I've used Marine 16 for the past three years, and this winter, for the first time since using it, I drained off about a cupful of water, but no black stuff.

My fuel tank is 50 gallon, so it must work OK.

Over the winter, there was only about 25 gallons in it during lay-up. I didn't get around to filling it full before the winter.

 

[Billjratt]

I'm contemplating a "Polishing Rig" (there's a suggestion for one on this site somewhere). There's a local guy offfering to do it but his minimum charge is for a 250litre tank, so I guess he's aiming for the MOBOers.

Re the polisher - I was considering lobbying our club to make/procure one for communal use, but I think I may have one built-in!
I took out the bottom 10 gallons yesterday, having left a 50gal tank with about 35gals in it over winter. There wasn't much gunge at all - unless I' not getting to the bottom of it.

Anyway, the boat is 1978, and I guess the fuel system has not been properly cleaned out for years, but, the engine is used mainly at about 1200 revs, so most of the fuel drawn from the tank goes back there, having been filtered twice.
I just make sure the filters are regularly checked/changed. The last one I dissected had nothing much to show, and would have lasted another session.
A good advantage to me, I suppose , would be a foolproof method of washing and testing the filters rather than destroying them.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Re the polisher - I was considering lobbying our club to make/procure one for communal use, but I think I may have one built-in!
I took out the bottom 10 gallons yesterday, having left a 50gal tank with about 35gals in it over winter. There wasn't much gunge at all - unless I' not getting to the bottom of it.

Anyway, the boat is 1978, and I guess the fuel system has not been properly cleaned out for years, but, the engine is used mainly at about 1200 revs, so most of the fuel drawn from the tank goes back there, having been filtered twice.
I just make sure the filters are regularly checked/changed. The last one I dissected had nothing much to show, and would have lasted another session.
A good advantage to me, I suppose , would be a foolproof method of washing and testing the filters rather than destroying them.

There was a thread on polishing fuel a while ago http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227638&page=2 which contained some info on building a polishing system.

 

[gjgm]

Having read the Diesel Bug Test article with interest, I wondered if anybody had experience of using GROTAMAR 82 ... ?

It appears to be a 'good all-rounder' & I would like to know how it compares with the like of 'STAR TRON' in real life.

How can you compare them in real life - you cant control the test?

 

[Watson47]

gjgm ... Controlled Lab tests are valuable in their own right, as were the recent PBO tests on the various products available for addressing diesel bug. However, there are significant differences between a static lab container and fuel tanks on a sea going vessel, which even in a modest force 4, or sea swell are subject to considerable and constant agitation. Many products simply do not perform under such conditions - hence my reference to 'Real-Life' and request for any users practical experience of the GROTAMAR 82.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Having read the Diesel Bug Test article with interest, I wondered if anybody had experience of using GROTAMAR 82 ... ?

It appears to be a 'good all-rounder' & I would like to know how it compares with the like of 'STAR TRON' in real life.

I've used grotomar and had no problems whilst I've being using it. When I bought a new boat which came with the bug, it soon cleared up the diesel that I took out of the tank and I have sincxe re-used it all.