[C320-list] Fuel polishing/fuel tank cleaning

[Mark Cole]

Greg;

After comments on this blog, I’ve started looking at the option of replacing my fuel tank.  One thing I discovered when researching access plates to add to fuel tanks is that you can’t add an access plate to a plastic tank, only metal tanks.  Some plastic tanks may come with access ports, but from all the stuff I've read about keeping your fuel tank clean, it seems important to have on opening large enough to get your hand inside the tank to clean it.

Mark
Fiddler’s Green, #8

> On Jun 15, 2017, at 2:34 PM, Greg Flanagan <greg.flanagan at shaw.ca> wrote:
> 
> I think changing the tank periodically is a good idea. I have heard of failures after as little as 10 years. However, how much of the boat do you have to disassemble? Is there an article on doing this? Do people replace the aluminum tank with a plastic one?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Greg 
> 
> 
>> On Jun 15, 2017, at 12:22 PM, Michael Rauh <raceannouncer at verizon.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Before paying $900 for cleaning your fuel tank consider replacing it with a new one from Catalina Direct.  I believe they are less than $600.
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Jun 15, 2017, at 08:49, Bob Hoyt <rehoyt at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I had a Racor 10 micron filter fail due to "stuff" in the diesel fuel. I
>>> opted to have the fuel polished for $400 for my 20 gallon tank in
>>> Pensacola. There were no problems downstream from the filter so the engine
>>> worked fine after the polishing. The primary filter should be 10 mic and
>>> the secondary 2 mic due to what has been said on the forum
>>> 
>>> Bob
>>> 
>>> Liza #58
>>> Pensacola, FL
>>> 
>>> On Thu, Jun 15, 2017 at 12:57 AM, Greg Flanagan <greg.flanagan at shaw.ca>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Does anyone have their fuel tank cleaned and the fuel "polished"? If so
>>>> how often?
>>>> 
>>>> Has anyone ever had an engine failure due to water or debris getting to
>>>> the injectors?
>>>> 
>>>> How much faith do you put in the Rancor fuel filter removing any water
>>>> from the fuel? What size filter do you use? 10 micron or 2? Other?
>>>> 
>>>> Sorry for all the questions. But I am interested in what others do and
>>>> their experiences in fuel management. Calder is very serious on fuel
>>>> cleanliness. However, my sailing neighbours seem unconcerned and no one I
>>>> know has ever done a tank cleaning/fuel polishing here. I had two quotes
>>>> for servicing my 20 gallon tank. $1100-$1200 Cdn or about $900 US.
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> 
>>>> Greg
>>>> Hoop Dancer #1076
>>>> Sidney, BC
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -- 
>>> 
>>> *Robert (Bob) Hoyt MD FACP*
>>> 
>>> *Diplomate, Clinical Informatics*
>>> 
>>> InformaticsEducation.org  <http://InformaticsEducation.org>
>>> rehoyt at gmail.com
>>> 
>>> Cell: 850-384-5235
>>