 Check out the bookstore at IRBS.com |
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: Don White (no email)
Date: Fri Sep 21 2001 - 09:11:47 EDT
Gene -
You're most likely looking at a condensation problem. The best way to
prevent it is to keep the tank totaly full. The condensation comes from
moisture in the air and temperature changes. Even if the tank is water
tight, you will still have some exchange of air as the tank heats and cools.
You'll still get a little bit when totaly full, but air will expand much
more than fuel, making the problem much worse. The moisture comes in with
the new air. If you want to experiment, fill a jar half way with diesel and
add a little water. Let it sit for a while and watch the gunk develop.
Don White
----Original Message Follows----
From: Gene Gruender <>
To: liveaboard list <>
Subject: lv-ab: fuel tank woes
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 22:51:30 -0400
I just came back from a maintenance trip to Rainbow Chaser. We haven't
really used her since we returned from cruising 2 years ago. One of the
things I checked was the fuel tank.
What a mess! I thought I'd taken enough precautions to avoid problems, but
I found a completely gunked up tank. Fortunately, the cleanout I installed
a few years back made the fix pretty easy, but I'm puzzled why I had the
problem.
History: in about '95 or `'96 I cut a large hole in the top, cleaned it out
completely, then installed an access panel . Since then I've always bought
fuel at places that moved a lot of fuel, and I've used biocide every time.
I opened up the cleanout about 2 years ago, maybe 2 1/2 and it was clean.
Now I found about a quart of black goo, plus the inside was coated with a
black dust-like layer.
This was obviously a case of at least algee. What else? Any thoughts as
to what else to do? Obviously some of the self scrubbing systems some of
you use would help, but will it prevent this? There were a number of gobs
of something that resembled fishing worms in size and shape, but were just
goo, also. The very bottom corner had a big mass of solid goo.
The tank is now spotless and free of any water, plus has 5 gallons of fresh
new diesel, complete with biocide. I think I'll just plan to pump it dry
every 6 months or so and put it in my truck, then start over.
Any thoughs would be welcome.
Gene Gruender
Rainbow Chaser
___________________________________________________________________________
|| The Live-Aboard List : send a "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" request ||
|| in body of message to: ||
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
___________________________________________________________________________
|| The Live-Aboard List : send a "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" request ||
|| in body of message to: ||
|