Cleaning diesel tank
 

This winter I plan on removing my stainless steel fuel tank, so this is a
good time to clean the inside.
I figured I'd take it somewhere that does this sort of thing...steam it out,
I thought. The place recommended by my local fuel distributor said he would
just use a pressure washer, cold at that, and that I could do that as well
as he.
Now, maybe he is thinking of a 10,000 gal tank which is somewhat larger than
what I'm dealing with. Same principles would apply, but he'd have better
access than I will thru the little clean-out hole.
Anybody have experience with this ? Any suggestions ?

Cleaning diesel tank
 

Garland Gray II wrote:
This winter I plan on removing my stainless steel fuel tank, so this is a
good time to clean the inside.
I figured I'd take it somewhere that does this sort of thing...steam it out,
I thought. The place recommended by my local fuel distributor said he would
just use a pressure washer, cold at that, and that I could do that as well
as he.
Now, maybe he is thinking of a 10,000 gal tank which is somewhat larger than
what I'm dealing with. Same principles would apply, but he'd have better
access than I will thru the little clean-out hole.
Anybody have experience with this ? Any suggestions ?




My neighbor does fuel polishing. He sucks the fuel out, filters it,
and puts it back under high enough pressure to stir up the crap on the
bottom and around and round it goes til his filter no longer picks up
anything.
Many tanks have little or no access. He cuts a hole and installs an
access port or two as necessary.
G

Cleaning diesel tank
 

I bought a 12v stainless steel pump at harbor freight and some hose, a
two ft length of copper pipe, a big water filter cartridge system and a
cheap spin on diesel filter and assembled a fuel filter. My biggest
problem was getting around the built-in baffles in the tank. When I was
done the tank leaked like it had been shot with a 12 gauge!


Garland Gray II wrote:
This winter I plan on removing my stainless steel fuel tank, so this is a
good time to clean the inside.
I figured I'd take it somewhere that does this sort of thing...steam it out,
I thought. The place recommended by my local fuel distributor said he would
just use a pressure washer, cold at that, and that I could do that as well
as he.
Now, maybe he is thinking of a 10,000 gal tank which is somewhat larger than
what I'm dealing with. Same principles would apply, but he'd have better
access than I will thru the little clean-out hole.
Anybody have experience with this ? Any suggestions ?

Cleaning diesel tank
 

I don't think it is real dirty, but when I drop a tube down to the bottom to
pump out any water that might be there (I've never gotten much, at that),
there is some black grime on the tube.
Since the tank is coming out, I figure why not clean it.
"Paul Cassel" wrote in message
...
Garland Gray II wrote:
This winter I plan on removing my stainless steel fuel tank, so this is a
good time to clean the inside.

What makes you think it needs cleaning?

Cleaning diesel tank
 

Good ideas Jeff and Gordon, but since the tank is coming out, I'd like to
just blast it out and drain it.

Cleaning diesel tank
 

"Garland Gray II" wrote:

Good ideas Jeff and Gordon, but since the tank is coming out, I'd
like to
just blast it out and drain it.

Find someone with a Steam Jenny.

Lew

Cleaning diesel tank
 

Garland Gray II wrote:
This winter I plan on removing my stainless steel fuel tank, so this is a
good time to clean the inside.

What makes you think it needs cleaning?

Cleaning diesel tank
 

"Garland Gray II" wrote in message
...
Good ideas Jeff and Gordon, but since the tank is coming out, I'd like to
just blast it out and drain it.


I did just that in late 2002 on my cruising cat. In early 2003 I went on a 3
month cruise and halfway through the diesel stopped. Managed to flush out
the fuel lines and kept it topped up and got home. When it was taken out and
a large inspection hatch cut, the comment was that it was unbelievable how
much garbage was in the bottom of the tank. I'd suggest an inspection port
so you can see if it is truly clean.
I'd put in additives and kept it full to prevent contamination, but I had
bought it second hand a few years earlier so who knows before that.

Peter HK

Cleaning diesel tank
 

On Dec 2, 11:01 pm, "Garland Gray II" wrote:
This winter I plan on removing my stainless steel fuel tank, so this is a
good time to clean the inside.
I figured I'd take it somewhere that does this sort of thing...steam it out,
I thought. The place recommended by my local fuel distributor said he would
just use a pressure washer, cold at that, and that I could do that as well
as he.
Now, maybe he is thinking of a 10,000 gal tank which is somewhat larger than
what I'm dealing with. Same principles would apply, but he'd have better
access than I will thru the little clean-out hole.
Anybody have experience with this ? Any suggestions

My main tank holds 600 gallons of diesel and I use a Gulf Coast F-1
filter combined with a Walbro pump connected to a 12 volt timer. My
fuel is completely polished every few weeks. For the past 2 years, I
have used Startron's enzyme based fuel treatment. Prior to using
Startron, I would change out my F-1 filter (roll of Bounty) and it
would be appear deep maroon and almost brown in some spots. After
using Startron, the filter is now the pinkish red of diesel. The only
other "additive" I use is the Stanadyne fuel treatment as recommended
by injection pump specialists. Don't use algacides since the result
will be sludge accumulation.

Capt. John
www.blueseas.com

Cleaning diesel tank
 

On Dec 3, 9:53 pm, "Garland Gray II" wrote:
I don't think it is real dirty, but when I drop a tube down to the bottom to
pump out any water that might be there (I've never gotten much, at that),
there is some black grime on the tube.
Since the tank is coming out, I figure why not clean it."Paul Cassel" wrote in message

...



Garland Gray II wrote:
This winter I plan on removing my stainless steel fuel tank, so this is a
good time to clean the inside.

What makes you think it needs cleaning?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

They make some new kind of fuel additive that contains an enzyme that
supposedly digest the gunk over the winter, while the boats in
storage. It's made for boats, so I figure, what the hell, give it a
try. My fuel guy reccomended it. It was only $27 for a container big
enough to treat both tanks, so worst case, I waisted $27.

I'll know how it worked in the spring!

Cleaning diesel tank
 

"Garland Gray II" wrote in message
...
This winter I plan on removing my stainless steel fuel tank, so this is a
good time to clean the inside.
I figured I'd take it somewhere that does this sort of thing...steam it
out, I thought. The place recommended by my local fuel distributor said he
would just use a pressure washer, cold at that, and that I could do that
as well as he.
Now, maybe he is thinking of a 10,000 gal tank which is somewhat larger
than what I'm dealing with. Same principles would apply, but he'd have
better access than I will thru the little clean-out hole.
Anybody have experience with this ? Any suggestions ?


I recently had the fuel polished in the tanks on my boat by the marina
service department.
They recommended the following:

First they gave each tank a large dose of biocide, let it sit for a week or
so, then waited for a fairly rough sea state here on Buzzard's Bay on Cape
Cod. The boat was run for an hour or so at varying speeds and at normally
uncomfortable angles to the sea state to slosh the fuel around as much as
possible. It also helped to sit at the mercy of the waves in neutral,
allowing the boat to rock as much as possible. It was then returned to the
dock and the fuel was polished before the Racors clogged up.

I was told that a lot of the growth of "critters" adheres to the side walls
of the tank, baffles and bottom. The biocide with kill 'em but will not
necessary suspend the dead carcasses in the fuel. Sloshing the fuel around
helps remove as much of it as possible as these areas are somewhat difficult
to get to with a power washing wand, especially through the fuel fills.

Eisboch

Cleaning diesel tank
 

On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 04:26:24 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

Sloshing the fuel around
helps remove as much of it as possible as these areas are somewhat difficult
to get to with a power washing wand, especially through the fuel fills.

It certainly does, although most people find out the hard way after
their filters clog on a rough day.

I was talking to a professional fuel polisher in North Carolina last
month who highly recommends Priocide. He said that it is as effective
as Biobor at kiling "diesel bugs" but results in less clumping. That
makes the residue easier to filter and less prone to clogging tank
screens.

http://www.priproducts.com/priocide.htm

Cleaning diesel tank
 

Thanks; these are some things I can do in the future.