Fuel/Engine Problems - Again - But Hopefully For The Last Time!

[dauntlessman]

Please help!

Over the last few months I have had various engine problems related to fuel starvation. You guys have kindly pointed me in the right direction in previous threads, advising that I clean the tank and replace fuel lines/filter etc.

Having tried all the easy bits and still not resolved the issue, I have now come to the conclusion that the tank is ready to retire. It's copper and looking very green. The fuel inside also looks like muddy water. I spent all of last night removing the tank (it is well secured in a wooden boat) and ended up soaked in diesel! Note that I had to destroy the tank to get it out s please don't tell me to try and clean it!

The problem that I now have is that the tank is a very strange shape and there is no direct replacement for the smallish, rectangular space which it fits into. A custom stainless tank seems the only way forward but they are very expensive and our local guy has a waiting list until the end of the season.

I'm hoping to rig up a temporary option and want to check to make sure you experts feel that this is feasible. The engine is an old Renault diesel, 8HP, single cylinder. I am thinking about using a good quality, external outboard engine tank and running the fuel hose (with hand primer) up to my water catching bowl and then filters.

I will need to also to cut the new tank so as to fit my fuel return valve which is low pressure so shouldn't be to big a deal. My last tank was mounted above the engine and gravity did a good job of feeding the fuel to the engine. This one however, will have to based at a level below the engine. So here is my question. Presumably if I use the primer on the new fuel line to bring fuel to the engine, will the pump on the inboard do the rest? The distance between tank and pump will probably be 3-4 feet. I am looking at a 12.5 litre tank which looks to be about the right size for the space I am planning to put it. A bit of a silly question I suppose but presumably running time/range will be reasonable on such a small inboard?

Does this seem like a reasonable method to get me sailing (or motoring) again and could I just forget about a replacement and keep it permanently?

 

[aztec]

if your engine has a lift pump, there should be no reason why it won't work. if not then the pump may not develop enough lift to overcome the flaxibility of the hose and priming bulb...


i'd be inclined to suck it and see... tanks are cheap enough 2nd hand.

might want to consider a day tank, if your main tank is too big for your normal use, the fuel will deteriorate, getting rid of a quantity of fuel is difficult.. so a small day tank may give you the opportunity to use fresh/clean fuel and only fill the main tank when you use the boat more...

dunno, just a thought.

steve.

 

[Guest]

have you spoken to any of the plastic tank companys ? Such as Tek Tanks ??

Of course there is no reason why your idea shouldn't work .... consider that often the tank is lower than an outboard - and that is often a carb job - not even a pump ... it still gets fuel once pumped up.
Fuel return - thats only a threaded tube into tank ... nothing fancy needed.

Mines a mild-steel small truck tank ..... been in there for donkeys years .... boat was commissioned late 70's .... About 70 ltrs and strange shape .... stands under the stbd ford bunk.

It may be worth looking at an old Land-Rover under-seat tank .... ?? They were more square than normal car tanks and didn't need such wide space ....

But worth talking to the plastic tank people .... back of mags for contacts.

 

[andy_wilson]

Range. I would have thought about 12 hours minimum.

Fuel return. It doesn't necessarily have to go back to the tank. You could T it into the supply line just before the pre-filter / separator. Mixing it in there should cool it enough.

Hose. You should check that the flexible hose is suitable for diesel, and also that it won't collapse under suction.

 

[marcusgillies]

i fitted one of theses engines a few years ago in replace for a petrol stuart turner.
May i suggest you dont fit the petrol priming bulb but go direct to your pre-filter and use the lift pump to prime as normal.
Range. i would agree with above i think you should be getting somewhere in the region of about 1.5 litres and hour

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Dauntlessman,

Steel tanks sweat and may rust, stainless steel tanks may suffer crevice corrosion or stress cracking at the weld and also sweat.

However plastic will not corrode or sweat but might be risk in case of a fire on board.

Work on composite tanks has come a long way, no sweating and no corrosion, very strong and developments in fire resistance are progressing well but still need more work, though better than plastic in there standard form already.

Have you considered purchasing a fibreglass sandwich constructed tank? They can be made to almost any shape and size, a pretty simple project if you are into DIY.

Just a though as it was not mentioned in any of the posts so far.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[fishermantwo]

Stainless Steel beer kegs are excellent. 2.5 mm thick, pressure tested, have threaded intake. Might be a bit big for your case. Or buy a plastic diesel tank. Plenty of them about now and all sizes up to about 800 litres. They look like quality items to me.

 

[Topcat47]

You can always line the awdward space with ply and put a bag tank in.