Sludge in diesel fuel tanks. Does any adative help?

[JonGM]

I have taken one of my tanks out, I have two and are Veteus 50gal, and in the bottom of the tamk is about quarter to half an inch of brown sludge! I can easily now clean out the first tank but to get the 2nd out is a big job. Are there any addatives that can break this down or do I have to result to taking it out and cleaning them both?
I have about 50 gals of red sitting in jerry cans! it is about 4 - 5 years old, is it best to keep it for NOv 5th? or put back in through a filter system?

 

[savageseadog]

One approach is to heat it up (carefully) to about 90C, this will encourage separation of water and dirt.
If you are anywhere near Cheshire I would take it off you if you don't want do deal with it.

 

[discovery2]

If you have an inspection plate on the top of the tank, you may be able to use a wet & dry vacuum cleaner to suck out some/most/all of the dirt.

I would NOT RECOMMEND this method for petrol tanks due to the explosive nature of the gas, but unless someone advises otherwise (your local fire service?) - it may save having to remove the tank.

Alternatively an in-line pump suitable for pumping diesel connected to a length of rigid (copper) pipe would empty the tank and suck the dirt at the same time.

 

[Zulane]

had same problem.My final and best solution was cut access hatch and get the dirt out by siphon/bucket/.Scrub tank. Then biocide with killer ingredient but best type keeps the sludge in the diesel so it burns it out instead of dropping to the bottom of tank.
Larger fuel lines and larger filters helped. Twinfilters are great setup. Then regular use of biocide.
I open access hatch every year for inspection.

 

[Guest]

You could use an Oil-Change vacuum system ... long rigid pipe to get down into the gunge.
Brown sludge - if dark brown and of squishy mashed pea like - is most likely dead bugs. If gritty - then is sediments.

The level of sludge is really too great to "dissolve" into the fuel with additive and should be sucked out. What's left could be dissolved out with an additive such as Soltron - you need an enzyme based one to "eat" the sludge.

Your old fuel ? Add a dose of Bug killer ..... leave it to settle and siphon off good fuel. It should be ok for engine then as Diesel doesn't go off unless something drastic has been added / done to it. Off course - you could donate it to the SBC Charity Fuel fund ... via my fuel tank !!

 

[DepSol]

Double dose it with Soltron with enough for the whole tank capacity, then fill up the tanks with good diesel and leave for 24 hours. Keep the tanks topped up as much as possible and keep dosing with Soltron on every fill.

Had a client in guernsey recently with the same problem next day went off on his travels around the Islands and France I think before going back to Brixham.

The sludge will be broken down to minute particles and burnt off during combustion.

 

[Piers]

Agreed - Soltron

 

[fishermantwo]

Switch to biodiesel. Change filters till the whole unit is clean. Biodiesel not only burns cleaner it has a much higher detergent effect.

 

[Birdseye]

I cleaned my tank in situ by pumpiong as much as poss, then adding a fair bit of Gunk, agitating / brushing the tank bottom, washing out with water, repaet with wasjhing up liquid, pumping out, and then swabbing out to dry with cloths etc.

Makes sense to use an additive but I am suspicious of the ability of an additive to get rid of a lot of diesel bug sludge.

 

[catmandoo]

Some people insist on a polishing system as well as using an additive .
Not quite sure about this approach
I suppose its to catch the ones that got away

( By the way met your agent in Vibo in May the one with the Prout . Sold me a bottle and lightened his boat )