Not quite a boat, but really need help for diesel in a water tank.

[simonfoley]

So.... not exactly the smartest thing I ever did, but I bought a new camper this weekend. First fill up was in the rain, late at night, in the dark. I reached for the diesel pump, opened up the fuel cap with the key and popped in 25 litres of diesel. Only when I hopped back in and noticed that the fuel gauge had gone nowhere did the full horror hit home. Now, I have fuel tank and pipe system which has had diesel in it. The water will is used for showering and washing dishes etc.

I have removed the water tank from the camper, and the tubing, but I need to be able to really clean the tank and get rid of the diesel, and the smell.

Any ideas. I have tried Soda which does some of the trick but not at all what is needed.

I know it was a stupid thing but.......anyone?

Simon

 

[jb2006]

Don't know the answer Simon, but most of us have been there - or done something similar - petrol or in a diesel car or such like. Mine was topping up the oil in a boat engine when someone on the pontoon started a friendly conversation - ended up with about half a cup of oil in the cooling system and much swearing. Just overfilled it for a few days and most of the oil came out - bit different from your problem though.

Hope someone on here can help

PS Sell the camper and buy a boat /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Norman_E]

If your camper has the usual blue or red plastic water piping, just replace the contaminated pipe and fittings, because they will be very difficult to clean completely. Almost any caravan dealer will sell what you need.
As for the tank, put a powder detergent in it, with hot water, shake it up well, pour out, repeat, repeat, repeat, as many times as you feel like. Get rid of the detergent by filling completely with cold water, again with a few repeats. With any luck that will remove the diesel, and the smell.

Edit. I have cleaned metal petrol and diesel tanks that way, but if your water tank is plastic it might not be proof against diesel effectively bonding itself to the surface and being very hard to eliminate completely.

 

[Impaler]

If the tank is metal steam clean it, if it's plastic bin it and everything else!! Sorry, diesel is very persistant.
Follow jib's advice!!

 

[boatmike]

It would not hurt to try a fairly aggressive detergent in hot water. Agitate well and pump through. The good news is that diesel is not poisonous just unpleasantly smelly. If it doesn't work replacemant is the only way to go. Er... in the mean time don't take a shower!

 

[pappaecho]

Diesel is a light oil and is fairly volatile so it readily smells. If the tank is metal steam clean it. If it is plastic, and designed for the camper (eg. a custom job) then you will have to work hard to get rid of the oil. I suggest that you use Gunk, Genclean or other oil dissolving preparation. You need to obey some faily obscure laws of physical chemistry in that you need to do repeat washings with smallish amount of the cleaner, without water, to effectively remove the oil from the surfaces of the tank. When this stage is reached then wash with copious amount of water, and then try a strong detergent to remove traces of the cleaner.
Fill with water, and then try giving a sample to your mother in law, who will no doubt be expertly critical about the taste.
If you have not got a mother in law, I have one who is on standby

 

[michael_w]

I noticed Wessex Chemicals have a method of cleaning diesel from water tanks. I've never tried it, but if it is as good as their teak cleaner; it will do the business.