Brian.
Fuel Tanks
Fuel Tanks
This might be teaching your Grandmother etc. but last week I removed the fuel tank from Triagos and found the bottom of the tank to have a layer of sludge covering the bottom, in parts to a depth of 1/4". In spite of this the fuel filters always "look" clean. The last boat we had was a similar story except instead of sludge it was like rubbery strings.Do you know what's lurking in your tank?!
Brian.
Brian.
The RYA President is, when I mentioned Glasson she said "Oh you have mud" (sludge)
Fuel tanks are designed so that the fuel pick-up pipe is well clear of the bottom of the tank so that it doesn't suck up the debris at the bottom of the tank. That's why your filters are clear. Tanks could also have a 'well' under the pick-up pipe to collect the sludge so that you can use most of the fuel
I think there's an organism which can thrive in diesel and that's what produces the sludge. I think you have to keep cleaning the tank out and using new fuel.
Normally the sludge stays at the bottom of the tank if you keep sufficient fuel in. Normal sailing won't shake the fuel up much.
If you have a steel fuel tank I've been told you should fill the tank up at the end of the season to prevent water condensation. That may encourage the organism?
For some reason, Brian Roberts knows why, diesel has a limited amount of wax in it. At cold temperatures this wax solidifies - maybe some of your sludge although we don't usually experience those cold temperatures?
Fuel tanks are designed so that the fuel pick-up pipe is well clear of the bottom of the tank so that it doesn't suck up the debris at the bottom of the tank. That's why your filters are clear. Tanks could also have a 'well' under the pick-up pipe to collect the sludge so that you can use most of the fuel
I think there's an organism which can thrive in diesel and that's what produces the sludge. I think you have to keep cleaning the tank out and using new fuel.
Normally the sludge stays at the bottom of the tank if you keep sufficient fuel in. Normal sailing won't shake the fuel up much.
If you have a steel fuel tank I've been told you should fill the tank up at the end of the season to prevent water condensation. That may encourage the organism?
For some reason, Brian Roberts knows why, diesel has a limited amount of wax in it. At cold temperatures this wax solidifies - maybe some of your sludge although we don't usually experience those cold temperatures?
Non sibi sed aliis
Everything you say is correct, Mike, except that the stack pipe in my tank is surprisingly very near the bottom. Keeping the tank filled,especially in Winter is what I have done but I don't know if previous owners did. The sludge definitely consists of oily silt rather than waxy stuff. There have been quite a lot of reports on the Moody Owner's forum about this and I think the problem is more common than we think. Having said all that, Triagos is 20 years old so some maintenance was due.