Fuel tank comtaminated

[seaboy]

Change my inline fuel filter and found Gel like substance inside. Now I can't get any fuel through from the petrol tank because of a blockage inside the tank. Tried poking a wire through the pickup pipe into the tank, fuel flowed for a while then the bloackage returned.

The problem I have is I cannot remove the tank as its under the main fibre glassed deck and the pickup is a 1/4bsp pipe welded into the tank.

Is any Product to break this Gel down and so I then can flush it out.

What is this gel substance and what causes it ??

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[muchy_]

All together now........SOLTRON!!!!!...

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[rich]

Pardon!!!!!!!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.jersey-harbours.com>http://www.jersey-harbours.com</A>

 

[seaboy]

Ok. So what does Soltron !!!!!!!!!!!!! do.

What causes this gel and how do you stop it.


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[pvb]

What Soltron does...

There are various minute organisms which live on hydrocarbons, such as you have in your fuel tank. When these organisms die, their sticky remains collect on your fuel filter. Soltron contains enzymes which "eat" the organisms, removing the sticky remains so that your filter doesn't get blocked. Unlike many other products, Soltron actually works. Try it!

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[seaboy]

OK.
I've got some Soltron today and recommends using double dosage on the first use. Will this dissolve the Gel like substance that appears to be blocking my pick up pipe and allow me to drain the rest of the petrol. If so, how long roughly does it take to breakdown.

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[muchy_]

Put it in and leave it for a few days. Then try blowing air, via a pump back up your fuel line to see if this will clear the blockage. Once you get it running just run it round and burn all your fuel off and then refuel and add second dose of soltron. It should start to clear it all by then.
When I first got my boat the engine would hunt up and down the rev range whilst at cruising speed. A mechanic told me this is due to a blocked filter. Added Soltron and it stopped doing it straight away.

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[Guest]

Is it PETROL or DIESEL ?

If the fuel is Petrol - you have Gum deposit which is not micro-bio ...... the question then comes - where did you get the fuel as gum formation is strictly controlled in Euro Spec Gasolines. If the fuel is a two stroke - you may have somebody use cheap old 2T in the petrol .... and now has deposited out as gum residue. IF this is the case .....then it will be hard to clear without serious application of solvents or steam-clean it out ! You are way past the point of Anti-gum agents and would be money wasted.

If the fuel is Diesel - then most likely is micro-bio related and product such as Soltron will help you clear it.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.qqbaltic.com/index.html>http://www.qqbaltic.com/index.html</A> For all those disbelievers ! /forums/images/icons/cool.gif

 

[roger]

If its petrol then I dont like the idea of bubbling air through it and raising a very imflammable gas mixture!!

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[Jules]

If it is petrol you will have to syphon or drain all the old fuel out and dispose of it safely. Your problem is the old fuel has gummed up the carb, filter and pipes. Strip and drain as much as you can. Fit new filter.
When done you may be lucky and find adding some fresh petrol to the tank will be enough to dissolve the gum and find its way to the carb and bingo!
This trick always gets a lawnmower going at the start of the season, when the owner has forgotten to drain the tank and run the engine till it stops at the end of the summer. Used to charge £50 for this!
Hope its this simple
Regards

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[muchy_]

During a car mechanics course that I did a while ago this was taught to us using a compressor and worked very well indeed for blowing out fuel lines, none ever exploded in a ball of flame.

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[seaboy]

The problem arisen from where the boat has been in storage for approx one year, so the petrol mix for a two stroke has stood in the tank. The problem came to light, last week when the engine only ran for 5mins at the pontoon. Then when the engine filter was removed the gauze filter was clogged with this gel. I then put a inline plastic filter to syphon out the rest through the pickup pipe, which then became blocked, I can push wire to move it but as soon as you start to syphon it becomes blocked again.

At the weekend, I put in fresh 5ltres of petrolmix with a double strength of Soltron and will leave it a week to see what happens. The only access I have into the tank is the sender unit of 3" dia.

Thank you for your help and suggestions.

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