fuel contanination

Ian_Edwards

Ian_Edwards

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Can any help me identify the type of fuel contamination I've acquired with my new to me boat?

The back objects effectively blocked the fuel shut-off valve,which has a very narrow bore (4 or 5mm) and caused engine failure just as we were entering Mallaig harbor earlier this week. The problem was compounded by more or less simultaneously blowing out the clew of the Genoa. Fortunately a local boat gave us a tow into the harbor.

The particals in the picture are about 10mm long and feel quite "grainy"





Any help in identifying the source of the contamination and how to get rid of it would be gratefully received, although I suspect that I'm going to have to empty and clean the tank.
 
Last edited:
Ian_Edwards said:
Can any help me identify the type of fuel contamination I've acquired with my new to me boat?

The back objects effectively blocked the fuel shut-off valve,which has a very narrow bore (4 or 5mm) and caused engine failure just as we were entering Mallaig harbor earlier this week. The problem was compounded by more or less simultaneously blowing out the clew of the Genoa. Fortunately a local boat gave us a tow into the harbor.

The particals in the picture are about 10mm long and feel quite "grainy"





Any help in identifying the source of the contamination and how to get rid of it would be gratefully received, although I suspect that I'm going to have to empty and clean the tank.
Click to expand...
Looks like the bug
Fuelcontamination1_zps7dc09a88.jpg


forscale_zpsb673b1bc.jpg
 
We had fuel contamination similar to this on our boat which we bought in Tobermory last year.It was gritty,like crystals but clumped together.I was always under the impression that diesel bug was more soft jelly like.Had to take tank and lines out to pressure wash insides clean.Like you the contamination stopped our engine outside Tarbert Loch Fyne in interesting conditions.Maybe both boats got bad fuel from same supplier on West coast somewhere sometime.
 
I had a useful email conversation with Marine 16 and I'll try a long pipe to the bottom to suck any water/sediment out of the tank, and combined it with combine that with some of their additives and see how I go.

The boat sat in the hamble for 2 seasons/3 winters virtually unused with about 1/3rd of a tank of diesel. My guess is that it accumulated water from condensation in the tank, but I've no idea where it got the bug from.

The fuel I've bought this year has come from Inverness Marina, Oban Marina and (most of it from) Linnhe Marine. I fairly sure that the Diesel from Linnhe Marine is OK. They have a relatively small tank which is refilled most weeks at this time of year and it also has a 10micron filter inline on the output.
 
You may never know where you picked up the bug, it may have been there with the PO. Take this as a leaning curve and always use something to prevent this happening again.

Too many out there never take preventative action and then complain about problems. Travelling around like I do, I have to pick up fuel from different places, non of them will tell you they have a bug problem. The way I see it is its my problem and have to protect myself when ever I can. ie.... always use something to irradicate the bug.

This doesn't mean you won't ever pick up contaminated fuel but at least you will be trying to protect yourself from an engine failure due to clogged filters.

We trust in good engine maintenance but seem to neglect good fuel maintenance, probably due to never having to do it with the car. Boats are very different...... Apart from the fact that cars don't float.:)

Tom.

Ps. Told you marine16 were helpful.
 
I think you're dead right abut the condensation, leaving a tank for long with a significant airspace is asking for trouble. That, at least, is a relatively easy thing to fix!

The biocide additives seem to work well but I'd still try to maintain a full tank when away from the boat for long.
 
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