Does lead react with diesel?

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eddystone

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I have obtained a length of 6mm ID reinforced PVC hose to connect to my Pela oil extractor with the intention of scavenging about 5 litres or so from the bottom of the diesel tank. it's flexible enough to pass down the filler pipe but I'm not convinced it will drop to the bottom of the tank so I thought of taping (with Gorilla tape) some fishing weights close to the bottom of the hose. Of course there is a slight risk they will catch on something and pull off in which case they will be rolling around on the bottom of the tank; clearly not ideal but will lead (or whatever fishing weights are made of) react with diesel? Even worse would be if stray bits of gaffer tape got into the pick up pipe.
 
I doubt it very much. Petrol fuel tanks made of steel were lead coated, not galvanised. Known as Terne plate. Not certain that diesel tanks were but gasoline is generally a far stronger solvent, so if OK with that it seems unlikely that diesel would cause problems.
 
Is there not another way of getting the bottom 5l out? Maybe disconnecting the pick up pipe somewhere and using the extractor to suck the diesel out through that? I've assumed the pick up is at the bottom of the tank, of course.
 
lpdsn said:
Is there not another way of getting the bottom 5l out? Maybe disconnecting the pick up pipe somewhere and using the extractor to suck the diesel out through that? I've assumed the pick up is at the bottom of the tank, of course.
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I take the fuel level sensor out, the hole is big enough to get the pela tube in and a torch and see in all at once
 
skipper_stu said:
I take the fuel level sensor out, the hole is big enough to get the pela tube in and a torch and see in all at once
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Yes, I do the same twice each year but only use a syphon to pull a litre or so from the tiny sump. I imagine OP would be able to direct the hose towards the lowest point. I can manage easily with a more rigid pipe but there's room to use a torch and see where the pipe is going.
 
Mistroma said:
Yes, I do the same twice each year but only use a syphon to pull a litre or so from the tiny sump. I imagine OP would be able to direct the hose towards the lowest point. I can manage easily with a more rigid pipe but there's room to use a torch and see where the pipe is going.
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Same here (if not twice annually). I'd be very wary of introducing bits of tape and chunks of any metal into the tank: diesel would almost certainly dissolve the adhesive, and the weights could easily hang up on any baffles.
 
vyv_cox said:
I doubt it very much. Petrol fuel tanks made of steel were lead coated, not galvanised. Known as Terne plate. Not certain that diesel tanks were but gasoline is generally a far stronger solvent, so if OK with that it seems unlikely that diesel would cause problems.
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In fact, one reason they were terne plated instead of galvanized (same with oil and fuel filters) is that zinc reacts very badly with gasoline and diesel. Galvinized and zinc parts are typically banned by engine installation manuals and is banned by petrol installation code in the US. In the presence of even trace water, zinc ions react with the fuel causing gum formation.
 
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lpdsn said:
Is there not another way of getting the bottom 5l out? Maybe disconnecting the pick up pipe somewhere and using the extractor to suck the diesel out through that? I've assumed the pick up is at the bottom of the tank, of course.
Click to expand...

There is a drain nut on the bottom of the tank but it's almost impossible to reach and apply any leverage - I fear it may well damage the tank if forced dumping 70 litres in the engine bilge. I agree unwise to introduce gaffer tape into tank however.
 
eddystone said:
I have obtained a length of 6mm ID reinforced PVC hose to connect to my Pela oil extractor with the intention of scavenging about 5 litres or so from the bottom of the diesel tank. it's flexible enough to pass down the filler pipe but I'm not convinced it will drop to the bottom of the tank so I thought of taping (with Gorilla tape) some fishing weights close to the bottom of the hose. Of course there is a slight risk they will catch on something and pull off in which case they will be rolling around on the bottom of the tank; clearly not ideal but will lead (or whatever fishing weights are made of) react with diesel? Even worse would be if stray bits of gaffer tape got into the pick up pipe.
Click to expand...

How about fitting a length of relatively heavy tube to the end of your flexible pipe?
 
Installation instructions for my new Yanmar said .
use only Flouro rubber FKM hoses.
Don’t use copper, lead or zinc in the fuel tank.
Both might cause clogging the injectors
 
Any chance of getting the tank out?

I made sure that I could remove the tank on any boat I bought. It is removed every three years for a good steam clean.
 
knuterikt said:
Installation instructions for my new Yanmar said .
use only Flouro rubber FKM hoses.
Don’t use copper, lead or zinc in the fuel tank.
Both might cause clogging the injectors
Click to expand...

Quite right, but I don't think dipping in a copper tube for a few minutes is going to have much effect?
 
Taping flexible pipe to a rigid piece of stick with insulation tape worked for me.

Donald
 
vyv_cox said:
I doubt it very much. Petrol fuel tanks made of steel were lead coated, not galvanised. Known as Terne plate. Not certain that diesel tanks were but gasoline is generally a far stronger solvent, so if OK with that it seems unlikely that diesel would cause problems.
Click to expand...

I had a really early Diesel Land Rover-1961 IIRC. The fuel tank was soft soldered lead covered tinplate.

The late Ivor Richards at the BLMC Service School at Cowley repaired it for me.

He could solder $H1t to perspex.

I helped a guy with a Caravella 25. It had a Yanmar IGM 10. The fuel tank was lead covered tinplate and was leaking badly so I got a local guy to copy it in lead covered tinplate.

IIRC from going to agricultural shows many old diesel tractors had tinplate diesel tanks.

Ergo, lead is not a problem with diesel.
 
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Most of the fuel experts warn about 'yellow metals' i.e. copper and brass.
I've not seen anything authorititive about lead or tin.
But these days lead is pretty much ruled out of most things by ROSHH.
 
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