Fuel tank serviced
- Thread starter Billylll
- Start date
Well it was money well spent in my opinion. I'm tired it's been a long day. The fuel was an absolute disaster. It lost all viscosity it looked like cranberry juice. It even passed through a 1 micron sock industrial filter they had. The top of the tank was opened and all the fuel was evacuated after the tank was for the lack of a better word blasted. The diesel mechanic said the fuel had to be 4 years old. He thinks it might have been able to get past the filters if I tried to run it and possibly damaged the injector pumps and the injectors. He said it could have been even worse.
In addition to the fuel polishing guys I had a Perkins mechanic on site as well.
I'll give a full report tomorrow but his initial opinion is the engines appear to be properly serviced. We couldn't drop it in the water and run them because we had no fuel and we were not scheduled to do that.
I do need a new filler hose about 12 feet of 1.5" though.
Between the diesel mechanic and the fuel polishing and tank testing company I spent $450.00 for the day.
Bill
In addition to the fuel polishing guys I had a Perkins mechanic on site as well.
I'll give a full report tomorrow but his initial opinion is the engines appear to be properly serviced. We couldn't drop it in the water and run them because we had no fuel and we were not scheduled to do that.
I do need a new filler hose about 12 feet of 1.5" though.
Between the diesel mechanic and the fuel polishing and tank testing company I spent $450.00 for the day.
Bill
Capt. Bill1
Active member
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- 2017
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As long as your happy that is what counts Bill. But clean new fuel will pass through a 1 micron filter just fine. It's not all that viscous to begin with. And it being red doesn't mean much other than it was dyed fuel.
What did the filters look like after or as the fuel went through? Did they go through a lot of filter elements? Or just a couple?
What did the filters look like after or as the fuel went through? Did they go through a lot of filter elements? Or just a couple?
I think you did the right thing. Peace of mind counts. You can look forward to enjoying cruising quietly at 8 knots and being able to walk around, cook, fix stuff, shower, or whatever while underway. You'll be surprised how far you get in a day at 8 knots and how much less tiring it is to travel on a trawler. You also probably won't be pulling up to the fuel dock except to fill her up at the beginning of the trip. Do remember to try to use the tide to your advantage where possible.
Bill I've seen dyed fuel this was no dyed fuel or what I call over the road truck diesel.
The broker, and the marina's service manager both had to see it once I called them.
Everyone agreed I had a great picture of the crap using my smart phone but somehow I deleted all the pictures taken yesterday.
Bill
I stopped counting but these were not normal looking filter elements. The filter container was large I'd say it was a 2 gallon Aluminum cylinder the filters looked like socks that went inside the cylinder. I stopped counting and was working on WiFi testing for the marina for about an hour in the middle of the tank cleaning.The pump they used looked like something that would belong on a fire truck if it was painted red not blue. I was pretty impressed with the operation although it wouldn't take much to impress me.....
I did however get a chance to see inside the tank, it is a single 250 gallon tank, it's made of Fiberglass and it looked to have 3 baffles on each side of the inspection, feeder & returns. The baffle system reminded me of a maze. They also tested the tanks vent something I wouldn't have thought about. They cleaned the tanks dip tubes well they cleaned everything.
Bill
I'm actually thinking of installing an Auto-pilot on this boat. I would always have a watch (my wife) or one of my sons. I would use the Garmin AP system. I'll be going with all Garmin equipment for Navigation and marine VHF radio.
Once we get the sea-trial done I will start a new thread and possibly a Blog about modernizing
and outfitting this new to me boat.
The new name will be "Wireless Too"
Bill
On this boat I'm thinking an AP would be more valuable to me than a bow thruster. I'm probably not going to install a stern or bow thruster on this vessel.
Again the money can be better spent or saved for cruising as in vacation style on my hopefully soon to be little trawler.
Bill
Again the money can be better spent or saved for cruising as in vacation style on my hopefully soon to be little trawler.
Bill
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2002
- RO Number
- 10265
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- 9,958
Guess the fuel was in good shape.
Is that top of tank or bottom?
Let' see the crud on the bottom!
Is that top of tank or bottom?
Let' see the crud on the bottom!
Actually the fuel was in terrible shape the picture doesn't do it justice. That is what if you can call it fuel looks like after polishing. I had the tank evacuated and there is now about 70 gallons of fresh fuel. The crud was captured inside the various socks in the fuel polishing machine. Plenty of yellow Urine looking stuff was removed during the process.
Bill
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2002
- RO Number
- 10265
- Messages
- 9,958
Oh, that's what I was looking to see.
Love the all Natural label on the jar.
I guess it is!
Love the all Natural label on the jar.
I guess it is!
Thanks for everyone's input. I'm glad I had the tank serviced. We closed on the boat yesterday 5/20/14 at noon. My wife and I are now the proud owners of a Gulfstar true displacement trawler that can take us places we could only dream of in Wireless One. We will be renaming the boat from Chantelle to Wireless Too. We got to meet the owners they were very nice people and actually cared about the boat. The wife said it was the only boat they ever owned that never left them stranded! That speaks volumes to me..... They also would like us to provide pictures of the upgrades. These were real down to Earth good people the Burton's.
Thanks,
Bill
Thanks,
Bill