Hatch in tank

[seajay535]

I have been having major drama with water in my fuel. I have drained the 80 litre tank refilled drained again and again and cannot get all the water out. The tank runs under my console and would be a trauma to take it out. Would it be viable as it is an aluminium tank to get a hatch cut in it to be able to clean it out properly then a larger piece of ali could be screwed down with a gasket to seal this after and also if this problem cropped up again would not be such a trauma to clean tank again if needed.

[Steeler]

couldn't see the problem if your thinking along the same lines as a fuel sender unit is fitted into them,pretty much the same just on a larger scale really.

Steve

[seajay535]

Thanks Steve
That is what I am basing my thoughts on just larger scale as you say.

[Dan5]

Mate i'd be addressing how the water is getting in first........maybe the breather tube does not have a loop in it or your filler connection is not sealing properly.....Are you using a water seperator?.....if not you should be.

Cutting in an access hatch is possible but stopping the water in the first place should be your priority really.....

Empty your tank and try some metho in there to mop up the water....as long as your not talking litre's it should clean it out.........have you considered that the fuel you are buying may be contaminated?.......

Another way to dry it out is with compressed air when the tank is empty ofcourse or somehow force feed it with some air to dry it out.

Any way good luck with it.

Dan

[seajay535]

Definately have water seperator as outboard is fuel injected.
Replacing all hoses, breather and filler after tank is cleaned.
Definately think I have had bad fuel but the amount of times I have emptied water out of seperator just wont give me peace of mind til I am sure there is no water left in the tank

[Dan5]

Definately have water seperator as outboard is fuel injected.
Replacing all hoses, breather and filler after tank is cleaned.
Definately think I have had bad fuel but the amount of times I have emptied water out of seperator just wont give me peace of mind til I am sure there is no water left in the tank

Do you think you got it in one bad batch or over time?
I'd be paranoid about it as well........Definatly change servo's if that's an option.

Dan

[seajay535]

Servo,s changed already also know that after I had this problem start that the servo I think the problem came from had all their tanks dug out and replaced

[Chimo]

Have you considered filtering your fuel on the way into the tank?

I use a large diesel fuel funnel with a upright "pole" filter in the centre as it catches crap including water.

If you did use a filter at least you could isolate the servos as the source of your water.

Cheers
Chimo

[Daisy Burnett]

Have you considered filtering your fuel on the way into the tank?

I use a large diesel fuel funnel with a upright "pole" filter in the centre as it catches crap including water.

If you did use a filter at least you could isolate the servos as the source of your water.

Cheers
Chimo

Chimo
What a good idea, never thought of that but it would save a lot of problems from starting. May I ask where you got hold of the "Pole" filter I don't think I have seen one before. I assume it is just jammed into the diesel funnel. Does it slow down your filling rate much??

Cheers
Daisy

[oldboot]

I can see issues just cutting a hatch in a tank that is not designed for it......that said, lots of big fuel tanks have maintenence hatches.

can you not get in thru the sender hole.

Blowing compressed air into any tank I have found to be most unsucessfull in clearing fuel or water from them.

The metho option is a good one and one I have had sucess with...

drain out as much of whatever you can out of the tank.....devious means may be required.

stick a decent ammount of metho on the than... like at least 10 times more metho than you think there is stuff left in there....4 litres is not unreasonable....give it all a real good slosh...if you cant get the tank out....roundabouts and speed bumps may be the go

then drain/ suck out as much of that as you can......look and see what you get.... compare what you put in to what you get out......fresh meto will be clean and crystal clear......mixed with significant amounts of water and fuel it will go cloudy

then stick a quantity of clean fuel... at least 10 times as much as you think you have stuff left in there.....slosh that and drain it.........do this again if you are keen........significant amounts of metho will send the fresh fuel cloudy...second slosh the fuel should come out as clean as it went in.

hope this helps

cheers

[Jabba_]

Have you considered filtering your fuel on the way into the tank?

I use a large diesel fuel funnel with a upright "pole" filter in the centre as it catches crap including water.

If you did use a filter at least you could isolate the servos as the source of your water.

Cheers
Chimo

Chimo, can you post up a picture and were you bought it from...

Jabs

[Chimo]

Hi Guys

The filter is an galvanised old one and I cannot tell you where I got it more than 30yrs ago.

More than likely you could obtain one from a fuel agent ie Depot that sells and delivers bulk diesel to to cockies.

I'll check with my depot where I get my diesel (which they tell me they direct import, and it does seem to burn cleaner with less stink) Maybe they have plastic ones though metal would be better if you can get it.

Anyhoo the filter in the centre is about 10cm (4 ") high with a dia of about 5.5cm (2 1/4")

The filter is not jammed its a commercial unit.

I dont have a problem with the fill rate, I tend to do it more slowly than the capacity of the filter anyway as I dont want too much turbuence to break up water droplets.

Ref pics

Cheers
Chimo

[Leighton]

could the water be condensation from storing the boat with an empty tank?

[seajay535]

Thanks guys after reading posts and a few beers to help the thinking process.I have decided before cutting a hatch to attempt old boots method and since the sender is under console drop the front of the trailer on the deck take filler hose off and try to find a plastic pump to get hose into front of tank and suck out whatever is left after draining again then metho then fuel and draining hopefully will get the bulk out and filters should handle the rest

[oldboot]

those pole filter fuel funnels made a come back a short while ago.

BCF were stocking them in a variety of sizes.

cheers