Cleaning gas tanks?

mikeporterinmd · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:36 pm Post subject:

This thread weighed heavily on me mind when, as we were pulling out of the slip, the motor stalled. I had just switched to the starboard tank, too.
Sorta. Actually, I turned the fuel off Smile

Hondas run fine so long as the fuel is turned on!

Mike

Wayne McCown · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:55 am Post subject:

I had to clean my tanks last summer. It was an easy job. The only hard part was that the gas in the tanks made them heavy to lift out of the boat. (I should have pumped it out first!)

While at it...I took apart the gas lines and blew air through them. I was advised to replace the pressure bulb (which I did), and I also installed a new RACOR filter. I used the stainless steel screw-down clamps (which are easy to install) at the end of each line.

All of this, including an hour run to the store, took about a half-day.

BrentB · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:38 pm Post subject:

Which RACOR fuel filter models is everyone using?

C-Hawk · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:50 pm Post subject:

While the tanks are out, I cut some viewing slots in the tank cover plates. Now I can see the fuel levels in each tank.
I won't be able to re-install the tanks until May 12. My son and I are taking the motorhome up to dive for jade at Jade Cove north of San Simeon this weekend with the dive club.

Wayne McCown · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:52 pm Post subject:

I wish I had marked the tanks at the following levels (as I refilled them from EMPTY): 5, 10, 15 gal.

tsturm · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:55 pm Post subject:

I removed the gray 18 gal tanks & replaced them with the see through 25gal tanks that the new 22's come with. Drain the racor when you see water / stuff & change the element every 100hrs & it will be all good Mr. Green

Anyone interested in 18g tanks W/new senders?

tsturm · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:01 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:24 pm Post subject:

There is a process called "fuel polishing"--mostly applied to diesel. Basically the fuel in the tanks is recirculated thru filters with a pump.
Yes, Startron--(Soltron) has been used. It does definately seem to work in diesel fuel. I have also tried it in gas, and it seems to work there--but I don't have the dramatic proof I had in diesel. A friend's boat had gelled diesel (he forgot about one intragral tank and the fuel had been in the tank for 30 years--the tank was "found" when he repowered recently. They could not pump the fuel out--so Soltron (Startron) was added to the tank--the boat sailed across the Atlantic and the diesel was then liquid enough to be easily pumped out--the tank was clean, after that fuel was removed and fresh diesel (with Startron added) pumped thru it. The boat had been almost continously sailing all of these 30 years--and covered about 150,000 miles during this time, including several circumnavigations)

I had some "missing" with my 18 footer, which had unknown history with the tank--and the Soltron resolved the problem. (Plugs and injectors were OK). So, I do use it.

One of the problems we will be seeing is with the addition of ethanol, there will be gunk loosened and cause plugging of the filters. I would try the Soltron, and pumping out the tanks. If the fuel is real old--get rid of it. I used to physically clean out my diesel tanks (man holes)--I have never done this with gas tanks--mainly because I don't have man holes in gas tanks...