!&%##! - Diesel in fresh water tank!

scubaman

scubaman

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Dear All,

One step closer to being a proper boater: my brother (honestly, not me) managed to mix the two caps and started filling fresh water tank with diesel. Slightly irritating!

The accident is contained to the fresh water tank and the tank was emptied as well as it could be done.

He came across with product -> http://www.yachticon.de/Water-tank-...ut-Of-Drinking-Water-Tanks-10-Litres::88.html

Does anyone have any experience of this or other similar products? Just wondering if there is any hope of salvaging the tank or should I prepare myself for using Wunderbaum for deodorant after shower?

I also remember reading Hugo Andreae having similar challenges with his new Karnic. Has anyone heard if he got the problem solved to a satisfactory level?

Any help, comments (constructive or abusive, which will be forwarded to my brother) welcome.

Thanks.
 
I have sent you a PM check your box.

Whatever you do, do not run your taps or you will contaminate your plastic water lines.

The F37 Sealine 2001 version has a moulded polyethylene tank in tha lazarette. this can be removed and a new one fitted if you can get one from Sealine, Probably the most cost effective way.

It is exremely difficult to get rid of the taint of diesel.
 
scubaman said:
Dear All,

One step closer to being a proper boater: my brother (honestly, not me) managed to mix the two caps and started filling fresh water tank with diesel. Slightly irritating!

The accident is contained to the fresh water tank and the tank was emptied as well as it could be done.

He came across with product -> http://www.yachticon.de/Water-tank-...ut-Of-Drinking-Water-Tanks-10-Litres::88.html

Does anyone have any experience of this or other similar products? Just wondering if there is any hope of salvaging the tank or should I prepare myself for using Wunderbaum for deodorant after shower?

I also remember reading Hugo Andreae having similar challenges with his new Karnic. Has anyone heard if he got the problem solved to a satisfactory level?

Any help, comments (constructive or abusive, which will be forwarded to my brother) welcome.

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Poster Piers (with the flemming 55, previously v39) did this and Berthon in Lymington came up with some wonderful chemical that removed the diesel smell. So it would be good to contact Piers and ask him how to fix it. And yes, meantime dont run any taps and shut off/disconnect the connection to the water distribution pipe network
 
don't draw any fresh water from the tank if possible, as the contaminant will then affect the pipework.


It would be worth giving these people a quick call.

http://www.oiltechnics.co.uk/

They have a range of biologically safe products for the oil industry, including contamination incidents. I have use their excellent Bioclean and forecourt cleaner in a work environment. No connection, except satisfied customer.
 
A friend of mine put 40 galls of diesel in his fresh water tank by mistake last year (after a few too many at muchtime).

After pumping out the entire contents with a separate pump, and carrying them off to the waste oil tank in containers, we put a whole box of washing powder into the tank and filled it with hot water from the shower block. It was a team effort using all the 20 and 25L containers we had, in a fleet of trolleys. He washed round thoroughly with a brush inside the tank and generally stirred it all round to agitate, before rinsing twice with fresh.

I'm told it's completely taint free now, and as the boat is a liveaboard one would imagine he's telling the truth! Although it was a lot of work (3 of us spent most of the day doing it) it was easier than replacing the entire fresh water tank which is built into the boat. Also, his tank has quite a good sized access lid on top.

So from his experience it would appear there's no need for expensive chemicals, although of course I would always recommend using a dose of Milton before first use afterwards!
 
If the taint gets into the water system (ie beyond the tank), the risk is you may taste it even if it's entirely removed! Job #1 definitely to disconnect the water feed line to the water pump and tape over isolating the problem to the tank, p/u and filler pipes.

The difficulty is you can get 100% assurance that these magical solutions work? Any uncertainty, suggest you replace the tank and and inlet pipes and feed pipe to the pump.
 
Thank your for your tips, we've emailed the companies you have suggested. Let's see how it goes. I'll be keeping you posted on the progress.
 
A friend of mine put 40 galls of diesel in his fresh water tank by mistake last year (after a few too many at muchtime).

After pumping out the entire contents with a separate pump, and carrying them off to the waste oil tank in containers,
Click to expand...

You threw away 40 galls of Diesel ?? Now that is daft !!

Did no-one think to just settle it out in a large container and add a touch of bio to it after syphoning of ?

Honestly - there is no reason to throw away good diesel like that.
 
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