On Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:51:49 -0500, Alex wrote:

Frogwatch wrote:
Got Algae in the diesel for my sailboat engine. Coulda been in the Bahamas but I'm not sure. Water separator actually had algae "mud" half filling it. I changed all filters, put in biocide and ran engine for hours. Now, problem seems to have returned. My daughter was sailing her out of Julington Creek and had to get towed in after dark (no wind at all) because engine would start but refused to run under any load. I havent been over to Jacksonville to verify this is the algae problem but considering how bad it was before and I never rinsed the tank......
So, removing the tank is not too hard but what then? What do I use to get the algae off the Aluminum tank walls (only real access is the 2" fuel sender opening). Must be some sort of high pressure spray thing I could spray diesel through against the walls.
Maybe empty all the diesel and fill with water clorox solution and spray it with a pressure washer. How would I go about drying out the water from the inside.
Can the old diesel be filtered or do I just use it for lighting fires (18 gallons).

Steam? After it's drained, of course.

Steam and ammonia is the trick for cleaning gas out of a tank before
you weld on it but I am not sure about diesel scum.