Fuel polishing

[alancollins]

Has anyone used a professional diesel polishing company and what sort of costs are involved? My boat is ashore in Southampton and has a 48 gallon tank.

 

[ST840]

I had my tanks cut into with access hatches installed , three per tank. Then the fuel removed, tanks cleaned and then fuel polished. It cost me around £700. I’m in Southampton .

 

[Sojourn]

Use The Clean Diesel company 07754717159 Chris. They do it properly not just polishing the fuel!

 

[ST840]

That is who I used too. They did do a very good job !

 

[PCUK]

Fit a Marine 16 Diesel Dipper with fine filter and do it yourself. You will then always have clean fuel!

 

[alancollins]

I have just had a quote of £481, or £20 per gallon of my tank capacity. Does this sound reasonable?

 

[alancollins]

Excuse my maths. I meant £10 per gallon.

 

[ST840]

Excuse my maths. I meant £10 per gallon.

I would say that that is an acceptable price !

 

[PCUK]

A Dipper is not much more expensive and means continually cleaned fuel. Why waste money on a one-off clean?

 

[burgundyben]

A Dipper is not much more expensive and means continually cleaned fuel. Why waste money on a one-off clean?

About 15 years ago, I had a fuel problem, 40 year old boat, no inspection hatches. I could barely get any fuel out, grp tanks, no inspection hatches, so I took a hole saw to the top of the tank to investigate. I found 2 internal baffles, so 3 compartments, So I cut a hole into each compartment. What I found was a disintegrating wooden handled wire brush!! Must have been left in when they bonded the lid on the tank. But also, on the bottom, a thick layer of brown sludge. I made big inspection hatches, 300mm square, and new clear lids. Once scrubbed and cleaned and refilled I could see the clear red liquid and I could see the bottom.

Since then, my view is that diesel tanks need manual intervention every 10 years.

My point is, dependent on age of the boat, fuel polishing or a dipper, will just not be enough. It may need a proper scrub out.

(as an aside, this thread started by Alan Collins, I have a mate of 30 years or so, Andy Collins, he has a brother Alan, who I have never met, but that Alan Collins lived next door to Fred West and went there for a BBQ on the patio!!!)

 

[alancollins]

Say what you like about Fred but he did a lovely barbecue.

 

[PCUK]

About 15 years ago, I had a fuel problem, 40 year old boat, no inspection hatches. I could barely get any fuel out, grp tanks, no inspection hatches, so I took a hole saw to the top of the tank to investigate. I found 2 internal baffles, so 3 compartments, So I cut a hole into each compartment. What I found was a disintegrating wooden handled wire brush!! Must have been left in when they bonded the lid on the tank. But also, on the bottom, a thick layer of brown sludge. I made big inspection hatches, 300mm square, and new clear lids. Once scrubbed and cleaned and refilled I could see the clear red liquid and I could see the bottom.

Since then, my view is that diesel tanks need manual intervention every 10 years.

My point is, dependent on age of the boat, fuel polishing or a dipper, will just not be enough. It may need a proper scrub out.

(as an aside, this thread started by Alan Collins, I have a mate of 30 years or so, Andy Collins, he has a brother Alan, who I have never met, but that Alan Collins lived next door to Fred West and went there for a BBQ on the patio!!!)

I cleaned my tanks every three years, but the design of the system meant almost no contamination.
I've fitted a Dipper on my current rebuild with a brand new tank so should never have sediment.
Even on a contaminated tank continual draining of the Dipper will eventually clean the tank. It will also vastly extend filter life!