Fill or drain diesel tank

[colhel]

Its likely we're going to have an extended lay up ashore. With the possibility I may remove the engine, I'm wondering if I should fill up before we get hoisted. Probably about 1/2 a tank or a 100 litres. I fear this is 6 of one 1/2 a dozen of the other type question, but I'd welcome your views.

 

[burgundyben]

Just leave it. Careful eye on the water separator in spring.

 

[DavidJ]

Agree
Maybe give it a dose of bug stuff
As you can imagine this one comes around every year and I’ve never heard of a case of water problems due to low tank levels.

 

[colhel]

Yep my thoughts too, plus I've got the option of draining and cleaning the tanks

 

[Momac]

You could use a suitable fuel stabiliser
Marine Fuel Stabiliser
Not really sure full tanks are the best idea these days due to the probable bio content in diesel.

 

[Falcoron]

Yep my thoughts too, plus I've got the option of draining and cleaning the tanks

How are you cleaning the tanks? I’ve just removed mine and want to clean before setting in again

 

[colhel]

I've been advised just use a waterbased truck cleaner. I haven't checked the access on ours yet but I suspect it'll have to be done in situ

 

[Falcoron]

I've been advised just use a waterbased truck cleaner. I haven't checked the access on ours yet but I suspect it'll have to be done in situ

Ok thanks I’ve started a thread asking so I’m sure someone has done in past

 

[burgundyben]

I reckon cleaning tanks is a job that should be done every 5 years or so, its stood me in good stead when I took that approach on an old boat I had for many years, at first I had a load of trouble, nobody had been in the tanks for 40 years, I fitted inspection hatches,. Good clean and scrub, I found fairy liquid worked, traffic film remover works too, but wear gloves. I use a washing up brush on a stick to give it a good scrub, agitate the scum.

Hoover out. Dry out with paper towel, I left mine in the sun when there were out of the boat, the times I did it in the boat I put an electric fan heater in there for a couple of hours to really make sure its all dry.

Then put the fuel back in through one of those water trap filter funnels.

I have used 25 Litre 25L Jerry Can Water / Fuel Container Food Safe Tamper Caps or Tap Caps | eBay

 

[burgundyben]

BTW Col at risk of the whole operation un ravelling...depending on your maintenance history....while the motor is out....replace all skin fittings and seacocks, all morse cable, all bilge pumps, exhaust hose, all jubillee clips, new bog, etc, go right through the boat chucking a couple of £1k's of chandlery at it, you can reset the boat elec and mech stuff for 15 years. I've done it twice on old Huntsman and its well worthwhile.

 

[colhel]

The boat is quite well sorted in that regard @burgundyben with a lot of new hardware from previous ownership. The main reasons for a refit are cosmetic, but due to restricted access, the engine and engine bay look extremely scruffy and even though running top notch, could do with an all over inspection. With a few non boaty projects on the go I am a bit concerned I'm taking on too much as it is