Diesel Fuel Maintenance

[pablosgirl]

Hi All,

I was wondering what steps do I take to keep my fuel tank/system clean and free of algae and water.  We use the boat on the gulf coast and it is quite humid and hot here.  I have not had any problems so far and we use the boat a lot.  I fill up the tank every two months or so.  The local marine fuel dock that I use has a good reputation for delivering clean fuel. I replace the Rancor fuel filter last month and the filter hardly looked dirty.  What sort of fuel additives should I use to keep the fuel system trouble free?

Thanks,
Paul Shields

[horsemel]

I typically fill my tank once a year in the fall at the end of the season.  We are weekend boaters so that about covers our use.  We will probably use more this summer as we are taking some time to travel a little more.  i always add STABIL at the fill-up along with an algaecide.  Never had any problems.  Changed the Racor and primary engine filters last summer and there was very little crap in them.  When I put the Racor back on I fill it with injector cleaner and run that through.  Now that Stabil has the new diesel additive I will probably switch to it.
Mark Mueller

[Ken Juul]

You should use a good stabilizer-cetane booster with each fueling.  Bio-cides tend to mix totally mix with the fuel and do their thing near the bottom of the tank.  A Westerbeake Service Manager recommended at a workshop I attended was if you run your tank to near empty use bio-cide with each fill.  If you refill at about half, then bio-cide once a season should be enough.  Another suggestion is to use a "Baha" type filter to prefilter the fuel as you fill the tank.

[Jeff Kaplan]

just to add to what ken just posted, bioside once a season, good fuel conditioner, make sure no alcohol in mix, look for water dispersent, cetane booster and also lubricity improver, especially for the older engines. because of the low sulfer diesel, unless lubricity is increased, the o-rings in the fuel pump can start to fail sooner than later. lubricity, as the name implies, adds back a little slickness to the fuel, that was lost due to the removal of the sulfer. your engine will thank you with great performance if you keep the filters changed, use good diesel and treat the fuel with a good conditioner. crc diesel, power service, howes, and fppf are good choices. look for them at truck parts stores and truck stops. if you carry gerry jugs to fill your tank, truck stop diesel is a safe bet as the fuel turns constantly. also, when adding conditioner, put it in first, so it mixes when adding the fuel, other wise, it will just float on the top. good fuel ='s a happy engine...jeff

[Terry Forshier]

I live in Naples Fl. Our summers are hot and humid. I use the cetane booster plus the biocide ( biobore) and also a diesel water disperser. I add the correct amount per gallon every time I add fuel. I change filters (racor and engine) at about 100 hours increments when I change the oil. I keep the tank full as I use the boat 12 months a year. I use the simple water separator funnel everytime I add fuel. I have had no fuel problems

[pablosgirl]

Hi Terry,

I have not seen the water separator funnel.  Where would I get one and how does it work?  Many thanks to all who have shared their knowledge.

Paul Shields

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

West marine sells them, alse if you google Baja filters you will find them.

[pablosgirl]

Mike,

Thanks!  I did a little research and found this article from Practical Sailor http://www.practical-sailor.com/sample/Fuelfilter.html that recommended the West Marine # 1933233 filter/separator as a best buy at $35.  I'll pick one up this weekend before I fuel up for the month.

Paul Shields

[Stu Jackson]

A little more research will note that the West Marine fuel fillers are not as helpful as the real, more expensive Baja filters because the WM units seem to get gunked up a bit.

Reply #7 here:  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5483.0.html  from a search on "baja filters" actually the very first hit.  This message board has a pretty darned good search engine. I highly recommend that you get used to using it.

PS - added 5/8/10:  I have never used a filter for fueling, nor have seen the need for one.  Of course, Steve Dolling, being in Mexico, requires one.

PPS - Of course, I should add that I've fueled up in all of maybe four of five different fuel docks in Northern California in 13 years of boat ownership.  Our "standard" fill-up dock is on the Oakland Estuary, the only one there now since the second one closed almost five years ago, so they get a pretty good turnover and fresh fuel regularly.  Guess this helps to  "prove" that a regular fuel dock has less problems than one that sees only small amounts of business.

[Ken Heyman]

I've had good results with the West Marine filter. There is the annoyance of always dealing with the residual fuel in the funnel that remains in the bottom. Other than that, its a thumbs up. I'm not familiar with the Baja filter but will take a look.

good luck,

Ken

[Ron Hill]

Paul : I've switched from Biobore Jr to the Starbright Enzyme additive. 
Haven't had the tank out to check the inside of late, but the filter does seem cleaner that it has in the past 22 years.  You'll also have to add a "Water Zorb" ( by MDR) additive to suck up the small water particles.  A few thoughts.

[Bill Asbury]

I've been using Startron the past 2-3 years and had no problems.

[foobie]

So I started reading this thread and had that sudden sinking feeling that one often associates with flashing lights in the rear mirror, or mail from the IRS....

Like an idiot, I completely neglected to treat the diesel in the tank before winterizing her in the fall of 98. She's sat on the hard for 15 months since. I am not near the boat at the moment so I can't even attempt to look at a sample. But I am not hopeful.

I'd appreciate your recommendations on how I might get the fuel into shape, if possible, before she splashes in two weeks. What I should do about the fuel in the line and how I should bring her back to life gently.

"Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward."

Thanks in advance,

Steve 

[Stu Jackson]

Steve, don't lose any sleep over it.  I'd been using the additives for many years, tried a few years without any and she's doing just fine.  Reason is I forgot to use it on a fill up right before my skiing accident in january 2009, then a surprise second surgery in August 2010, and now that I'm back on the boat, everything's working just fine.  Use it as an excuse to run your engine, which means being on the boat more often, and then choose what to use when you're down a half a tank.

[Ron Hill]

Steve : Get youself five 5 gallon clean fuel cans.  Disconnect the outlet hose (3/8") from the Racor and start pumping the fuel into the cans using the electric fuel pump.  The Racor will filter it and it should be OK.  
You might want to put the Startron enzyme in the tank a few days/week before and let it "eats-up" any of the "nasties" that have started to grow.  Make sure that you open your fuel bleed valve and let the fuel circulate/stirrup in side the tank after you add the enzyme.  Then filter it.
A thought