Fuel tank cleaning

[glk34]

Just put Iron Jack back on the trailer after a couple of weeks in the water. Appears I have some issues with some black crap in my tank. The stuff floats around and eventually plugs my racor filter. I always top the tank in the fall and add diesel stabilizer. This year I have some moisture and the black stuff. Tank is the original stainless tank-last cleaned by previous owner 5 yrs ago.

My question is, how is the best way to flush the tank once I get it removed and do I have to put anything in to stop this from happening again?

A25 "Iron Jack"
Chris

[RobS]

Here is some reading: http://www.diesel-fuels.com/

[Fortunate]

I always put the anti algae additive in my tank when I fuel up. This is critical (in my opinion) with the 25s and 27s because they are so fuel efficient that the fuel stays in the tank for a long period of time. I only fuel up once a year and put on around 100 hours.

[leprof31]

The algae will developp in hot summer day and form a jelly with the diesel. Many people think the jelly is caused by bad fuel, but it is not... it is caused by a contaminated fuel tank. very important to put anti algae additive.

[glk34]

Thanks guys, I did check the diesel web site Rob and lots of good info there. I removed the tank yesterday and got 2 gallons (Canadian gallons ) of brown yuck with water and the black blobs mixed. I flushed the tank with methal hydrate many times until the methal came out clear-let things dry out good, reinstalled tank and we should be ready for launch again tomorrow. I also cleaned the filler pipe just in case. I would have never believed that that much crap was in my tank.

Very easy job to remove the tank in the A25s so I would recommend anyone with concerns to go this route. We don't have a lot of expert advice on this subject up here in NB. I have never had this trouble with tractors and forestry equipment so I was a bit surprised.

Anyone got a favorite brand of algae fighter?

Iron Jack
Chris

[RobS]

Chris, way to go right at it!
Mack Boring recommended Biobor http://www.hammondscos.com/index.php?id=48
I have no personal knowledge with it. I don't use anything. I put on a fair amount of hours and have been lucky with getting good quality fuels and keeping the moisture out..

[glk34]

thanks Rob, just ordered some Biobor JF from West Marine. Will be here in less than a week. You know with boating you can't always prepare for everything but why not at least deal with the things you can.

off to the marina in the morning, we are getting ready for a 4 day run down the lower Saint John River here in New Brunswick. Should be about 150nm so I will post when we get back and let you know if I got all the tank gremlins out.

Iron Jack

[tranmkp]

Before I bought my boat it had been sitting over a year - I added about 25 gallons of fresh fuel and went to the work dock - I had a fuel centrifuge ( a real big one on the back of a one ton truck) it was a all day ordeal - we had to ultimately remove the fuel tank (like a Chinese puzzle) It took three extractions to clean the fuel - on the right is how the fuel looked with the clean diesel in it - opaque. In the middle is the second treatment and on the left is the third and final treatment.



This is what the filter looked like after the first treatment. What was interesting was the amount of pink metallic fluff. An aluminum tank that is very low on fuel that is allowed to sit for a long time in a high cyclic temp environment will will oxidize and corrode - the "sweat" water being an electrolyte. You need to keep it full or empty. The pickup tube - well, I just put a new one in. As far a biocide - I dont use it - If you have an infestation - it will kill it and the dead bugs will settle in the bottom of the tank - take it out on a rough day and it will stir them up and it will clog your filter(s) Been there done that. I suppose that if it is clean fuel it might be ok - Im not sure.

[glk34]

I guess in the end the best way to be sure all is good is to remove the tank and flush. Some tanks have large inspection ports which makes it much easier to get a look.

Iron Jack