Diesel Gunk Warfare: Our Ingenious Fuel Cleaning Pump Setup

Diesel Gunk Warfare: Our Ingenious Fuel Cleaning Pump Setup | SV Ramble On

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00:00 Fuel tank cleaning intro
00:34 Our portable fuel cleaning pump
01:09 Accessing the fuel tank
03:12 Gunk in the suction tube
03:44 Polishing the fuel
04:52 The filter is already clogged
05:08 Scooping out the bottom
07:06 Calibrating the fuel level
08:28 Making a gasket
09:44 How many pre-filters did we use?
10:14 What are we up to next time?
This is one we've been dreading for a loooong time. We suspected our fuel tank was filthy and boy were we right. We're pretty sure the tank has never been cleaned. It was amazing how much gunk we pulled out and how many fuel filters we destroyed!
The 12-volt pump we used is a Carter P4070 from Amazon
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Пікірлер: 68

@jonbennett3946 2 жыл бұрын

I clean aircraft fuel tanks as a aircraft mechanic. Almost identical to boat tanks. Only thing I can remind ppl is not to do this alone in a confined space! Always have a second person with you in case you become incapacitated by fumes and fresh air is your friend. Great video though. You pretty much did it exactly like us aircraft mechs!

@thereissomecoolstuff 4 жыл бұрын

If you ever do that again you can reuse the white oil absorbant pads with diesel by wringing them out into a used fuel tank or container. You can also reuse your prefilters by soaking them in rubbing alcohol then shaking them, next drain them and them rinse with clean alcohol. Good as new. I was going through 50-75 pads a day until I accidentally figured i could wring the diesel out of them. I used 5 more total for the project. Heavier oils and greases it doesn't work. They also do a great job of taking off wax when you are cleaning the boat. Good video...

@mishkahoyer6428 2 жыл бұрын

Great blog. Going thru the same process on our boat. Suckered out 80 GALLONS of crude orange gunk and refilled with all new filters. After seeing your tank clean out I will. Swab the tank out throughly!

@mainesailah 5 жыл бұрын

Great video. I have a permanent polisher i built using same fuel pump and 2 Shelco SS filter housings. The benefit of the larger housings is that you can run huge cheap filters for $5 from Mcmaster Carr. Mine runs when my engine is on and also acts as emergency lift pump supplying 5 micron fuel if needed.

@kimbellagurl5350 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing nice video on the process, yes also nice build on the pump cleaning system, very practical and handy, looks like it was fun especially dealing with those other baffles wishing you an awesome season ahead Fairwinds

@Yourfriendinendtimes 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!! Your videos are so simple, I really appreciate that.

@svrambleon 4 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

@brencostigan 2 жыл бұрын

Looks like you have diesel bug microbes - there’s no mechanical cleaning cure. You need to shock dose with a biocide and then use maintenance dosing to keep your fuel system squeaky clean. The microbes grow at the fuel/water interface.

@bilyd333 5 жыл бұрын

Great video as usual! You are the man where it comes to boat maintenance! Keep up the good work!

@svrambleon 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks again for the kind words. Stay tuned next time for the fuel filtration system upgrade project.

@AndyUK-Corrival 6 ай бұрын

Nice job, my tank is built in under a cockpit seat with no inspection hatch or fuel level indicator other than a dip stick. Pretty sure I need to somehow clean mine out or at least polish the fuel. I must take a look at the tank tender video. Thanks. Andy UK

@svrambleon 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching Andy. 👍🏽

@AndyUK-Corrival 4 жыл бұрын

Just found your video as I need to clean my tank. Very helpful, loved all your comments about the state of the tank, I’m sure that will be me when I do min. I don’t have an access hatch in my tank so not sure how clean I will get mine... I only have a small tank about 70ltrs. Nice boat btw, look forward to looking at more of your videos. Cheers. Andy UK

@svrambleon 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Andy for checking us out. Jeni edited out most of my comments on the fuel tank, so you only saw the ones suitable for public audience. Let us know if you ever decide to cut an access plate in your tank. I'm thinking that I'm eventually going to have to cut one into our forward baffle area that's virtually inaccessible. I'll wait and see how frequently I burn through those Racor filters.

@UltraFence 2 жыл бұрын

Hello, We are the new owners of m/v ¨Ramble On¨ and are facing the same issue in our 1974 Cheoy Lee Trawler with 650 US Gallons in three integrated tanks. What a job. Thanks for sharing this video. Cool boat name BTW. ;)

@svrambleon 2 жыл бұрын

Right on, happy to share. Glad you got some useful info, and thanks for watching. Keep Calm and Ramble On!

@airwaycherry4310 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir, for a great tutorial on cleaning a diesel fuel tank, and conditioning the fuel recommendations. I was so fortunate to find out that my 48 foot fishing boat had a factory installed 141 Gal Aux tank. This was in addition to my 235 Gal Main Eng tanks x 2. So in addition to my 470 Gal capacity it was a wonderful discovery I have 611 total capacity. the only downside was not knowing the condition of that Aux Tank and fuel within it, if any. It will be a lot cheaper to pull together the Hardware as you did. Then also having the ability to do the job in the future if needed. Thanks again

@svrambleon 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Airwaycherry. That little unit wasn't my invention, but definitely a good piece of kit to have onboard any diesel powered boat. We use it to filter & transfer jug-fuel into the "clean" tank now and it's amazing what that filter pulls out of pump fuel!!! Thanks again for checking us out.

@lisarowell454 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! We copied your design, built our own polisher and are working our way through our tanks now. Thanks for posting this.

@svrambleon 2 жыл бұрын

Glad our video was helpful

@svalthea6758 4 жыл бұрын

Just found your channel! I like what you got goin on here! Thank you ! We are new subs⛵️

@svrambleon 4 жыл бұрын

Welcome, and thanks for watching. Hope you find something useful. Don't hesitate to hit us through our website email if you ever have a question on the things we've done to the boat.

@RobFomenko 4 жыл бұрын

I had planned on my Endeavour to put in a fuel polishing system with a reverso gear pump and 2 racor 1000's that I was able to get cheap at a boat us going out of bizness sale. I still have the reverso, but sadly the racors got left behind on our last move somehow. Still plan on using that reverso pump. its a beast. It can also be used for oil changing on the same pump and manifold.

@davidlevitz3119 Ай бұрын

good video thankyou

@svrambleon Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@DirkJacobsz Жыл бұрын

excellent video

@jonathanoasis 4 жыл бұрын

the first stage inline filter.. look up the micron of a standard coffee filter, if a simple housing can be found that is clear for a diy inline solution, it sure would be cheaper to keep replacing large surface area coffee filters in the thing, rather than buy dozens of small, easily clogged inline filters.

@mandmmilling3716 4 жыл бұрын

You can clean that prefilter with rubbing alcohol and keep using it...Thats what i do.

@buzzart410 3 жыл бұрын

great videos, even though i worked at a boatyard 15 yrs, always something to learn, especially since i just bought a 1985 shannon 38 with a perkins 4108. fuel tanks are anaerobic, no oxygen, its not living algae ., anyway the amount of crud is shocking, Ill need to clean tanks and polish fuel as soon as i can,, owners would always get clogged filters when it got bumpy

@TOMVUTHEPIMP Жыл бұрын

Fill the tank about half way, put some BioBor in and hit some rough seas. : ) That will clean up the gunk.

@cuppfw50 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you I have been in the trades for 43 years. WHEN I tell people to clean out there fuel tank . They are told by there MACHINCE just change filters or add one more filter. believe me on a dark and stormy night your engine will keep running.

@svrambleon 5 жыл бұрын

I read somewhere that filtering diesel fuel without first cleaning the tank is like putting a clean baby back into a dirty diaper.

@markjennings2315 4 жыл бұрын

Save money and back flush the wix filters and use again for 'course' 30 micron type polishing.

@1stinsonguy Жыл бұрын

Would be great if you could DRAIN the tank then begin the process of cleaning out the sludge. I have just done this but with only a 28 gal gas tank. Thanks for the video!

@colonelfustercluck486 4 ай бұрын

you can, if you know the volume of your diesel tank(s), then drain them (whatever method..... syphon if necessary, but draining preferred) into tank(s) slightly more volumetric. EG: You have a 28 Gal tank.......... use another clean tank, slightly larger than your 28 Gal......whatever closest size you can find within reason. Then clean your tank(s), clean your fuel (filtering and fuel polishing is recommended) and return it to your main tank. [Keep recirculating and re-cleaning (re-filtering) if possible] Re-cycling cleaning your fuel tanks is known as "POLISHING"... this is highly recommended. Obviously, if you find a problem, correct the problem. Also consider repeating this for as long is considered reasonable. Storage of Diesel is problematic and 1/4 full or 1/8 full or 7/8 full is frowned upon, as that leaves part of a fuel tank with air in it. Atmospheric air naturally contains water (moisture)... and, as your diesel fuel tank cools down, water starts to form (condense) from the atmospheric air within the tank. Condensation forms, and falls to the bottom of the tank(s) And then you are back on the treadmill of having cleaned your tank(s), but there is huge potential for this fuel fouling problem to repeat itself. I don't know your set-up........ so the suggestions mentioned above may have to be changed around, to suit your situation. But you have to stay on top if it.... end of story

@theislandpackrat 5 жыл бұрын

That's why I don't like steel tanks, A friend just had to cut his tank in pieces to get it out! Had a pin hole leak but the top was like a homey comb, you could see thru in spots! he's going to put in four fiberglass one's to make up the same space! My filters are three years old and still clean. I carry down my fuel five gallon's at a time and never get it from a marina. Look's like that tank is to big to get out also!

@svrambleon 5 жыл бұрын

Yeah, that's the problem with these old Tayanas is the iron fuel tanks. The yard installed the bow tank before they put the lid on the boat so the only way to get it out is to cut it into smaller pieces. Luckily ours appears to be structurally sound on the inside and no leaks after 42 years. I was surprised to see only a couple teaspoons of water beneath the fuel.

@swolle2 5 жыл бұрын

Fuel will break down fiberglass over time. Plastic or aluminum are the way to go.

@sdspivey Жыл бұрын

You should have used a cyclonic filter to catch the largest solids. Then your first filter wouldn't clog as fast. Why not use a long tube to reach into the other baffle areas. I would also spray "clean" fuel into the farthest area I could to move crud towards the front.

@gking5522 5 жыл бұрын

I was told that the crud or "mud" you found in the bottom of your tank is the remains of algae that lived and died in your (my) tank. Dead 'bugs' are messy in the bottom of the tank. Live 'bugs' float around and will clog your fuel lines and filters in normal or nautical sailing conditions eventually. Using Startron is a regular procedure on SV Intuition and has kept the growth to a minimum. Try an articulating squeegee, cut down to fit the forward baffle opening, to scrape the forward section of your tank for more mud removal. ;8> ) Just a thought. G.

@svrambleon 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks, that sounds like a good plan once we take on some more fuel here pretty soon. Get the tank level up near full, add the treatment, and get her out on the water and slosh it around a bit. I'm sure that will loosen up some more gunk and clog a couple of those new filters I just installed.

@richardlynch7301 4 жыл бұрын

You should start your own fuel tank service cleaning business wow that looks like a lot of dirty work!!!!!

@svrambleon 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Richard, but I'll pass on that idea. Already having one boat to maintain is more than enough for me.

@aDogNamedGromit Жыл бұрын

I just went through this but more minimally. Mine wasn't that bad. but I made a fuel polisher similar to yours and talked to everyone at the club that had a similar problem. It is very common. Many people here said the starbright stuff is not so good. Research Biobore. about 25$ It is not that expensive. You can tell allot about the age of the fuel by the color. New fuel is a blue. as it ages it goes more yellow then brown. It eventually turns into a kind of shellac. I have a TDI car and the simplest solution is to take it out of the boat every year or so and burn it in the car. Or a diesel heater if you need it. Although the brown stuff I would dispose it. It will just contaminate your car too. but 1 year old and clean should be fine to put in a car filtered. Car filters also can be pricey. Using lower cost filters is a good idea.

@bbviper3674 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the informative video. What is the make/model of the diesel pump you used? You happy with it?

@svrambleon 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Bb Viper - I used a Carter fuel pump; picked it up on Amazon. I really didn't put a lot of thought into it, just needed something inexpensive and it works great.

@abatesnz 2 жыл бұрын

How do you clean the fuel lines? I am looking at buying a boat that's not be run for 10 years.

@coldnorthadventures5905 3 жыл бұрын

l need to do the same to my boat well thats another project besides what l already do.

@ralph9987 3 жыл бұрын

I can't remember red diesel ever being a good sign. Red diesel bloom.

@maddogmaz1576 3 жыл бұрын

Red fuel is none taxable or off road fuel. red diesels just dyed so the Tax man can tell if you are running it in a Big truck

@ralph9987 3 жыл бұрын

@@maddogmaz1576 oh. News to me, Thanks. I always associated red with bad diesel

@youngypaul 3 жыл бұрын

I was about to do the same. Can you tell me the name and model of your 12-volt pump? For the " pre-filter" I was going to try using a 10-inch water filter housing with 1-micron pleated sediment filters. Housing about $12 dollars and Filters about $4.5 each. Designed for water but I'm sure will work for a one-off job like this.

@johnyalowica8423 4 ай бұрын

Do you have a list of items to build the polisher?

@svrambleon 4 ай бұрын

Not really, it was just a small 12 volt fuel pump and disposable pre-filter and replaceable canister filter (like a Racor) and tubing.

@rockymnthodad3047 2 жыл бұрын

Prior to this tank cleaning were you having any engine performance problems you believe related to fuel quality such as clogged filter or fuel starvation ?

@svrambleon 2 жыл бұрын

No, not at all.

@grasscutter88 2 ай бұрын

would it not flow fuel through the small clear filter anymore? The filter media turning red is normal

@svrambleon Ай бұрын

The flow would start to slow down significantly as the filters clogged with the junk from the bottom of the tank.

@jonathanoasis 4 жыл бұрын

the air vent line does not look to spec..

@crwmdp9 4 жыл бұрын

how long since the last tank cleaning?

@svrambleon 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Michael, you just watched it from about a year and a half ago. We're not sure how regularly people clean their fuel tanks, but judging from ours, almost never. Thanks for watching.

@ericnordquist8412 5 жыл бұрын

Quick question, what material did you use for the gaskets?

@svrambleon 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Erik, I used two layers of cork gasket sheet material made by Fel-Pro locally sourced here through NAPA Auto Parts in California. Each gasket was 3/32" thick (about 2.4mm), and I used two because the tank flange was a bit warped. The gasket sheet came on a roll about 16 inches wide and approximately 3 feet long.

@ericnordquist8412 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

@colonelfustercluck486 4 ай бұрын

gasket material