Cleaning Fuel Tanks
Date: March 2, 2000 I am in need of some help with my 20 gallon diesel fuel tank on our 1979 Endeavour 32. Due to algae and other impurities in the tank (assumed original and never removed before), I have removed the tank from the boat. Tank was dirty, dirty, dirty. Can I clean and reinstall the tank? How should it be cleaned? If the tank can not be cleaned and reinstalled, where can I find a new one (30 x 24 x 7"). Date: March 8, 2000 My records show that the following was the original manufacturer for all the Endeavour fuel tanks. I don't know if it's current: Florida Marine Tanks, Inc. Also, I believe that there was some discussion about fuel tanks in the Forum: Date: March 8, 2000 I have an Endeavor 37 and pulled the fuel tank a couple of years ago. I took it to a welding shop and they steam cleaned it. Minimal charge. Date: March 8, 2000 Try puttimg a new ome in the bilge.... Date: March 8, 2000 I used a long handled brass bristled "gong" type brush. Also a few putty knives, one or two lashed to long handles. I found scraping with the putty knives to be pretty effective. I also wore long heavy gloves..I'm clumsy, seems I'm always cutting my self on something!... After I was done, I decided to replace the tanks, and I think it is the best way to go if one can fit it in the budget. My decision to do so was based somewhat on articals in the forum that related to water tanks starting to leak. Most of the articals were from owners of boats of your vintage, I can't remember all the models, but, I think most of the endeavour tanks were from the same company, and model probley not an issue. Mine is a Jan. of 1983 model (37 footer), and though a few years newer, I thought it prudent to replace while I had them out to avoid what seemed to be a problem I would surley have in the not so distant future.. I plan on keeping the boat for a long while, and the thoughts of that much diesel in the bilge..UGH. If your tank appears to be in good shape and you decide to continue it's use, I would at minimun take it to a tank shop, and have it pressure tested before putting it back in. Date: March 9, 2000 Had the same problem with our Endeavour 32. On two separate occasions the engine died while running in rough water, and the problem was stirred-up debris from the tank getting into the fuel lines. The problem was solved by hiring an outfit in Ft Meyers, FL (where the boat was docked) that came to the boat and filtered the fuel through their mechanical cleaning system. Reportedly it required more than an hour of fuel filtering and recirculating to get all the debris out. The firm is appropriately named, "Florida Sludge Suckers." I don't know if they have other branches, or if there are similar firms elsewhere, but they did solve the problem. Date: March 9, 2000 Florida Marine Tanks is still in business they obviously could make you a new tank. The address Endvr32 gave is correct but I vaguely remember that the area code changed when I called them last year. Other than that; Your tank should have a round inspection plate (maybe 8" in diameter) with about 16 screws on the top, there are small plastic sealing washers on the screws and a neoprene membrane gasket under the plate. The washers were available at ACE hardware in my area if they are all bunged up. You said the tank was already pulled, which obviously makes the job easier. The contents of the tank are considered to be hazardous industrial waste. I had mine pumped out by " Safety Kleen " (while still on the boat, with over half a tank of something that didn't smell at all, they got all but 2"). I do not know what area you are in for a commercial source, or if your marina has a hand / or electric pump and disposal facilities. I have a small automotive electric fuel pump (12V, all push no real pull). Put a filter on the end (easily changed with several spares), ran the wires direct (soldered) and drop it right into the fuel. This pumps out the liquid. Now you are down to the crud on the bottom. (I had about an inch) At this point you might be able to find someone with a steam cleaner who will clean it out for you. OR; If you are going to do the job put part of it into a 5 gal bucket or ? you are going to need some. If you threw out all the old get a couple of gallons of fresh. My tank had a baffle in it so I couldn't get to part of the tank, from past conversations I'll bet yours probably will. Start with a long handled small broom (or ?) and with some liquid start swishing..:>) Pour or pump it out. Now go back in with more fuel and swish the fuel around, you should get more crud, pour it out. Keep going this route and get it as clean as you can. In the end I was using the cheap dishwashing cloths plastic zip strapped to a broom handle to get the last of the crud. Bearing in mind that my tank is like 36" deep and I couldn't reach it with my hands. WARNING: Do not go really slamming the fuel pick up pipe, it is soldered at the top and you don't want to break the joint. Check to see if there is a screen filter at the bottom of the fuel pickup tube and if it has crudded up too. Dispose of all the fuel pulled and used. All Clean! Go take a shower :>) Now inspect your tank exterior (as you have it pulled), clean it up, sand down any corrosion, and paint the bottom and sides with epoxy. Particularly if you have a wet bilge, and very particularly if you are in salt water. You might want to think about this last if you pull your water tank. Date: March 9, 2000 Marine Specialty Fabrication and Manufacturing, Luthers Welding. Here is a site I found while looking for Florida Marine Tanks, Inc. We cleaned our tanks with vinegar. Not bleach because they are aluminum. Date: March 9, 2000 Ken, My boat was on Clear Lake, off Galveston Bay, on the Texas Gulf Coast. A check of the yellow pages revealed many firms that cleaned fuel tanks and the fuel contained therein, while in the boat. The process consists of dumping a large dose of biocide in the tank, removing the inspection port, to gain access to the inside of the tank, scrubbing all surfaces to remove as much gunk as possible, while sucking fuel (and gunk) from the bottom of the tank and running it through a polisher. A polisher is a large fuel pump attached to a humongous (large) fuel filter/water separator, and appropriate hoses. People tell me that they have taken smaller removable tanks like you describe, clean them as best they can with soap and water, put in a dose of sand and slosh it around in all directions to "sand" off the gunk. Then all you have to do is clean up/remove all the sand and water, and re-assemble. Simple, Huh? Piece of cake! Like all work on boats. Date: December 10, 2002 G'day from Australia, I have been in the transport industry for 20 years & have encountered quite a few fuel problems over the years. The worst was when an " algae" or "fungus" had contaminated your fuel tanks. It's like a " bug " that is very easily passed from bowsers to tank , mainly from dirty old fuel nozzles. This " algae " actually is very hard to kill, as it gets in the lines as well.It is a living thing that actually grows & expands. A common symptom is filters that block up more or less straight away. Performance increases as soon as the filters are changed, within a couple of hours , you can notice power loss. There is a diesel additve that will kill the bug. We use a Wynns product here that is very effective. Also if you wish to keep water out of your fuel you can add metholated spirts to your fuel . The water & metholated spirts will mix & be burnt in the engine & out the exhaust. I hope have I have been of some help . All the best Dave Date: January 13, 2003 Dave, Date: January 15, 2003 Hello Paul, Date: July 11, 2003 After reading all the replies I would like to give some advise to any one that wants to take the time to read this. Do not use any Biosides in your fuel. This will create a big mess, and you will need a service to come to your boat to polish/clean up the mess. People believe that biosides will clean the fuel, it only kills it, then it goes to the bottom of the tank, there are products that will break up, kill, and suspend these solids in the fuel so they will burn without plugging up your filters, and maintaining cetane levels. I am in the fuel/tank cleaning bussiness, and dist. of this product. Bell additives. Date: December 6, 2003 I just wanted to add that Micro Clean in N.E. Florida does a Great Job of Cleaning Fuel Tanks, they have a system that gets inside the tank with flexible wands that vacuum the bottom of the tank removing water,sludge and algea while returning the clean fuel to the tank and pressure washing with it. It took about 2-1/2 hours to clean my two 28 gallon built in fiberglass tanks on my 32ft motorsailor, I was amazed at how much gunk they removed. I will have real peace of mind on my way to the Bahamas now.
From: Ken Nye knye@poweruser.com
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
16480-84 N. W. 48th Avenue
Hialeah, FL 33014
305-620-9030
From: Alan Mealka amealka@tsd.k12.tn.us
From: Tom Gilbert TGil95746@aol.com
From: Ed Phillips EPhil49932@aol.com
From: William Gillette William.Gillette@med.va.gov
From: Carl Hibbard Chgypsy@aol.com
Some people may refer you to a fuel "polisher"(filter cleaning operation of just the old fuel) 1. They won't normally do this for small amounts and 2. The polishing removes some additives and lowers the Cetane rating of your fuel (makes it harder to burn overall, and lousy starts).
From: Dennis Rings Moxsun@aol.com
From: Sam Woolsey SamWoolsey@aol.com
As the fuel tank on the E-40 (holds 75 gallons) and is made into the keel, diectly below the engine, it is no simple matter to reach, much less to clean.
From: David Prior dep1@bigpond.com
How did you get on with this problem you had with your tanks?
From: Paul C. Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
What's the ratio of metholated spirits to diesel?
From: David Prior dep1@bigpond.com
What I used to do was, if I could see into the fuel tank I would pour metholated spirits down a hose or pipe directly where the water was, then the water & methol would mix & be burnt in the combustion chamber. I never put more than a litre (quart) at a time in each 400 litre tank( approx 85 gallons). With that mixture I did not have any problems. The vehicle was a Kenworth prime mover with a 400 hp Cummins engine.
From: Robert Rjs585@aol.com
From: Kim Cox CNM sailincnm@bellsouth.net
