Diesel fuel polishing system - experiences?

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TrondS

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Today I have a Racor filter with water separator between the diesel tank and the engine (Volvo D6 370hp).
The idea is to install a polishing system, preferrably as a closed system with fuel return back to the tank. Or as an option, in-line between the tank and the Racor filter. For efficiency I believe the closed system is better than in-line.

Anyone who has experience with this polishing system/unit (or similar systems) from Landau:
It appears to be a centrifuge instead of using any filters.
http://www.landauuk.com/products/latest-products/diesel-bug-fuel-purifier/

Video demonstrating this system (from 1min 42sec):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmupDQxp5Kc
 
TrondS said:
Today I have a Racor filter with water separator between the diesel tank and the engine (Volvo D6 370hp).
The idea is to install a polishing system, preferrably as a closed system with fuel return back to the tank. Or as an option, in-line between the tank and the Racor filter. For efficiency I believe the closed system is better than in-line.

Anyone who has experience with this polishing system/unit (or similar systems) from Landau:
It appears to be a centrifuge instead of using any filters.
http://www.landauuk.com/products/latest-products/diesel-bug-fuel-purifier/

Video demonstrating this system (from 1min 42sec):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmupDQxp5Kc
Click to expand...

I think this guys is good ideas your questions (mayby):)https://www.sbmar.com/articles/marine-fuel-filtration-the-seaboard-way/

NBs
 
TrondS said:
... preferrably as a closed system with fuel return back to the tank. Or as an option, in-line between the tank and the Racor filter.
Click to expand...
Your existing fuel system already functions as both of those, bearing in mind that your fuel system already returns perhaps 80% of the drawn fuel back to the tan after passing it through the Racor primary and one-engine secondary filters.

So what does one of these systems offer, that you don't already have? Is the landau filter going to catch things that the Racor and on-engine filters don't? Really?
 
TrondS said:
Thank you for the link. I'm checking it out.
Click to expand...

Was an intersting read ( as were some other articles on the site).

Re fule - to paraphrase ( a lot) the aim is to put at least another filter in addition to the Racor so that the engine filters are simply the filter of last resort.

If you have the space no harm.

As JFM says the fuel circulates anyway. I suppose if you added a circulation pump it could do it without the engine running and then just change the new filter( above) and the Racor.
 
jfm said:
Your existing fuel system already functions as both of those, bearing in mind that your fuel system already returns perhaps 80% of the drawn fuel back to the tan after passing it through the Racor primary and one-engine secondary filters.

So what does one of these systems offer, that you don't already have? Is the landau filter going to catch things that the Racor and on-engine filters don't? Really?
Click to expand...

I agree with that - Were a saily boat, so diesel can sit in the tank for a while though (up to 2 years), and our two tanks don't self level so it is possible we will get a bit of condensation/bug as a result. So I reused the existing filter so I could transfer from one to the other via the filter, thus I know that even if we fill from a poor source, what goes in to the main tank is filtered, trouble is though that really one needs dips that reach down to the very bottom of the tank where all the crud/water is, and a relatively powerful pump to stir it all up a bit. If I was cycling my fuel more regularly I wouldn't bother....
 
Personally I think that fuel polishing only makes sense where you've got a separate day tank feeding each engine and in which the fuel is being continuously circulated through a fuel polishing system in order to ensure that the fuel is as clean as it can be before it reaches the normal primary and secondary filters. And even then that only makes sense if you are taking on fuel in remote areas where fuel contamination is a real risk. I dont believe that the Landau system has enough capacity to make a real difference in terms of cleanliness if its close circuit connected to the main tanks and I certainly dont think that it will do much if anything if it is simply inserted in the fuel feed to the engine before the primary filter. IMHO if youre going to do anything with your filtration system fit a double Racor system instead of a single which will allow you to keep the engines running and change filters on the fly in the event of severe contamination
 
Thanks for all the comments.

I am aware of that the Racor includes a water separator in addition to the filter, and basically do the same job as a polishing system. But the fuel line is about 4-5cm above the bottom of the tank. This lets all the possible water and any dirt remain more or less untouched on the bottom... until you are in rough seas when everything in the tank is stirred up, potentially clogging the Racor filter.
With a polishing system drawing from the very bottom of the tank, it is a lot easier to keep the diesel clean, especially since I frequently have rough seas in my area.
 
TrondS said:
Thanks for all the comments.


With a polishing system drawing from the very bottom of the tank, it is a lot easier to keep the diesel clean, especially since I frequently have rough seas in my area.
Click to expand...

Do you have a drain cock at the bottom of the tank ?
If so open it now and again to see exactly what’s sitting on the bottom
 
The boat is in winter storage now. But the company which has my boat, will inspect the tank and clean it if required, before the boat is launched in about a month.
Not sure if there is a drain plug in the bottom of the tank, or if I need to install one. Haven't access to the boat before launch day.
 
TrondS said:
Thanks for all the comments.

I am aware of that the Racor includes a water separator in addition to the filter, and basically do the same job as a polishing system. But the fuel line is about 4-5cm above the bottom of the tank. This lets all the possible water and any dirt remain more or less untouched on the bottom... until you are in rough seas when everything in the tank is stirred up, potentially clogging the Racor filter.
With a polishing system drawing from the very bottom of the tank, it is a lot easier to keep the diesel clean, especially since I frequently have rough seas in my area.
Click to expand...
That is illogical. If you think that (and I don't, by the way) then you should just make your normal fuel line pick up from the bottom of the tank not 4-5cm above.
 
Deleted User said:
Personally I think that fuel polishing only makes sense where you've got a separate day tank feeding each engine and in which the fuel is being continuously circulated through a fuel polishing system in order to ensure that the fuel is as clean as it can be before it reaches the normal primary and secondary filters. And even then that only makes sense if you are taking on fuel in remote areas where fuel contamination is a real risk. I dont believe that the Landau system has enough capacity to make a real difference in terms of cleanliness if its close circuit connected to the main tanks and I certainly dont think that it will do much if anything if it is simply inserted in the fuel feed to the engine before the primary filter. IMHO if youre going to do anything with your filtration system fit a double Racor system instead of a single which will allow you to keep the engines running and change filters on the fly in the event of severe contamination
Click to expand...
+1
 
jfm said:
just make your normal fuel line pick up from the bottom of the tank not 4-5cm above.
Click to expand...
Even better, one from the bottom, the other raised, to kill two birds with one stone: early warning for both dirty tank bottom and very low fuel, respectively on the engine with lower/higher pickup.
 
jfm said:
That is illogical. If you think that (and I don't, by the way) then you should just make your normal fuel line pick up from the bottom of the tank not 4-5cm above.
Click to expand...
No, the fuel line feeding the engine should of course remain 4-5cm above the bottom of the tank, as it is today.

It is only the extra/ separate closed circuit polishing system which should pick up from the very bottom of the tank.
 
I tend to approach these things simplistically:

1). Is dirty or stirred up fuel a recurring problem on my boat ? I.e. do I have to clean or replace fuel filters more often than is normal. If so, i need to deal with the problem, both at source (am I buying clean fuel) and also locally (I need to clean out the existing system)
2) if the answer to 1 is no, Then question 2 is whether or not this is likely to happen in the future, and despite what you read everywhere most fuel sources sell pretty clean diesel. If you’ve had fuel bug, or water in your tank then yes you are more likely to have the problem recurr but I would much rather deal with that in a pre-emptive way than on an ongoing basis.

Portofino suggested looking for a drain tap, and checking the fuel in the tank once or twice every season. Simple and cheap and perfectly effective. I had a 59 ft Ferretti with 3000 litres of fuel on board and at the beginning and end of every season I would draw off about a pint of fuel from the drain tap, and see what was in it. Interestingly it was as clean and clear as the stuff out of the pump........for years !

So my general response to your question is by all means adopt a belt and braces approach to this, but if you want to do that, it will be cheaper and probably more effective to fit a second Racor, than to install a small polishing device that will draw power, require maintenance and probably not do a great job.

Commercial set ups are a bit different, but that’s true for almost all of their systems ....... bigger heavier more expensive and specifically designed to do a necessary job....... hence day tanks and a constant process when it comes to fuel polishing. But a commercial ship also doesn’t buy fuel from a fuel dock in some chi-chi marina at £1.50 per litre......they buy fuel in tonnes and from commercial bunker agents who buy fuel as cheaply as possible wherever they can get it........that is a pretty different then when it comes to fuel quality !

There must be something on your boat that requires greater urgency of spend than this !!!, If not - well done ..... now fit some underwater lights instead....... or buy a Sea Bob...... or one of those self powered wakeboard things !!!
 
If you are going to ( or your engineer ) drill holes in your tank , to fit a drain cock at the lowest accessible point .
Then a sight glass with a cock as close but just a bit higher so when you open it to sight you can see the colour of the fuel say 1 cm above the drain cock .
But to be honest theses ports are threaded female welded in parts to attach the drain cock and sight glasses to ,not just holes drilled .Put in during construction of the tank .
Not sure you can just drill a hole low down from the out side of a presumably empty tank to fit an accessory and then get a decent robust long lasting seal .

Our sight glasses ( plastic pipe actually) are low too just above the drain cock , in fact the tanks are not flat at the bottom ,more rhomboid shaped with a lower little triangle bit where the drain cock is .

Seems risky drilling holes at the base of a tank imho
In the absence of any way in to fit a drain cock or sight glass ( to visualise the lower contents as well as ck the levels )
Then if you are worried about picking up contaminated fuel just add another Racor with a glass bowl in parallel
As Deleted User / JFM suggested - carry plenty of spares .

Also add some additive , some don,t bother , some say it’s allready in , Ok .
I have adding Startron diesel additive for the past 14 years especially at the last top ups in November where the boats basically inactive until May .Reckons to kill the bug and disperse water .Mind you we are in the Med afloat so the cold temp water condensation issue is essentially a none issue to start with ,
Fuel is allways clear and filters get changed just annually- come out clean — so far - touch wood :encouragement:
 
Boatbore said:
There must be something on your boat that requires greater urgency of spend than this !!!, If not - well done ..... now fit some underwater lights instead....... or buy a Sea Bob...... or one of those self powered wakeboard things !!!
Click to expand...

In the Baltic ! He hasn’t,t got the luxuary of only wearing Vilbebrequins dawn til dusk :):):)
 
Thank you again for all the valuable inputs from all of you! I am not "set in stone" about installing a polishing system.
As mentioned, replace my single Racor with a double, is also an option. It is all about minimizing the risks of having any future contaminated fuel to reach the engine (or blocking a filter in heavy seas). And yes, cost/value is of course a factor too.
(I have never experienced clogged filters or contaminated fuel on my own boat, yet.)
 
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