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From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Thu May 22 2008 - 10:01:16 EDT
In a message dated 5/22/08 12:00:52 AM, Barry writes:
> I recently pick up my new used boat and ending up changing 3 filters
> during a 3-day period. I want to polish the remaining fuel and to my
> knowledge there is no one in the area that does this. I have an old
> Dahl diesel fuel filter and plan to buy an electric fuel pump to hook up
> to the filter. I would appreciate any specific recommendations on pump
> brand, horsepower/gallons per minute, and 12 volt versus 110 volt. My
> inclination is to get a 110V pump since I don' look at fuel polishing as
> a task that I need to do away from the dock.
>
Barry,
Fuel polishing is one of those quasi-religious subjects like chain vs. nylon
anchor rodes, singles or twins, natural or varnished teak that divides the T&T
community into argumentative factions.
In theory fuel polishing is simple. Simply suck the dirty fuel from the
bottom of the tank, pass it through a filter, and return it to the top of the
tank.
It is the method used that varies. Some favor elaborate continuously
operating systems with as many valves and bypasses as Chernobyl, others use
occasional
systems that pass the fuel through a roll of paper towels. A dissident group
never filters fuel at all, advising boat owners to fill up with fresh diesel
and use it quickly.
One hundred gallons is not much fuel, although at today's prices salvaging it
is a worthwhile investment. If you already have a suitable filter and a
supply of filtering elements all you need to add is a pump and a few lengths
of
tubing to make a working occasional use filter. For a temporary installation,
fasten the filter to a board. Buy a small Walbro or Facit 12 v. pump suitable
for
diesel fuel. This should cost between $40 and $70 at any larger auto supply
store. Mount the pump on the board near the filter. Now get a length of copper
gas line which will reach almost to the bottom of your fuel tank. Insert the
copper tube into the tank. Run a length of fuel hose from the top end of the
tube to the input of the filter. Run a short length of fuel hose from the
output
of the filter to the pump input. Run another length of fuel hose from the
pump output to the top of the fuel tank. Make sure everything stays in place.
The
specifics of hose routing depend on the layout of your boat. Now connect up
the pump.
Fuel will be sucked out of the bottom of the tank and through the filter by
pump action. Filtered fuel will be deposited back into the top of the same
tank. An ordinary fuel pump will circulate up to 30 gallons of fuel per hour
so
you will need to let the polishing system operate for at least 24 hours for
several passes. Inspect and change the filter elements several times during
the
process. If you have the option, start with a 30 micron filter. After a couple
of fuel passes, change the filter to 10 microns. You will be surprised at how
much gunk is deposited in the filters.
I've made such a simple filtering system and use it about once a season,
usually after I launch the boat in the spring. This takes care of any little
creatures that grow in the tank during the winter layup. It is described in
the
archives. Incidentally the reason a 12v. pump was specified is that when you
finish filtering fuel, you can install it in your fuel line as a filter
priming
and emergency pump. It makes engine maintenance a lot easier.
Larry Z
**************
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