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08-09-2012, 17:29
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: 1980 Pearson 323 - 34ft LOA
Posts: 641
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Cleaning Out Diesel Tank
I have two 18 gallon tempo tanks. I have had clogged filters twice due to rough weather. I want to get in and clean out my forward tank. Removing the tank from the boat is probably more difficult than cleaning it in place. Do you have any advice? I can either go through the inspection plate or go through the fill hole. I plan to use a mirror to see in there and somehow flush them out with diesel fuel. Do you know of any other tools, pumps or brushes that would help?
Thanks again,
austin
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08-09-2012, 17:44
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Cleaning Out Diesel Tank
Doesn't look like it will be an easy job but definitely go in through the inspection ports. Some members have found that a piece of plastic like an old credit card works well and paper towels and simple green.
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08-09-2012, 17:50
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: 1980 Pearson 323 - 34ft LOA
Posts: 641
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeepFrz
Doesn't look like it will be an easy job but definitely go in through the inspection ports. Some members have found that a piece of plastic like an old credit card works well and paper towels and simple green.
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That sounds like a good way to start, thanks. Do I need to worry about simple green in the tank? I was thinking I would just use diesel fuel to wash/clean/flush.
And yes, I'm not expecting it to be easy with all the plumbing in that tight space.
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08-09-2012, 19:37
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Cleaning Out Diesel Tank
Make sure you get it all wiped out with paper towels.
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08-09-2012, 19:57
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: 1980 Pearson 323 - 34ft LOA
Posts: 641
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeepFrz
Make sure you get it all wiped out with paper towels.
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That's what I'm worried about, since accessibility is going to be tough. I'll see what it feels/looks like when I open it up. Thanks again.
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09-09-2012, 05:05
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Jamestown RI
Boat: Soverel, sloop, 37ft
Posts: 58
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Re: Cleaning Out Diesel Tank
Suck all the bottom muck out with a hand pump first. I got over 1/2 gallon of mud in my 30 gallon tank after it had been sitting dockside for a few years. You're lucky to have such a large inspection port. I'd go with paper towels if you can get your hand inside the tank. Mirrors, absolutely.
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09-09-2012, 06:19
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2
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Re: Cleaning Out Diesel Tank
Hi Austin, looking at youre story, you have a bacterial problem in your diesel fuel tank. Slime which blocks the filtesr is easy to kill and prevent with a biocide called Acticide CMG. I have had same experience and since the use, never popped up again.
We here in EU have special biodiesel, which causes the bacterial problem with any tiny condenswater formation. the saling boats are not used daily and bacteria have enough time to explode in number( exponential growth)
You do not need to clean whole tank.
Just tryu to suck out most bottom slimy material , add then the Acticide biocide and refill tank. In this way you save a lot of work and youre sure all bugs are killed
Goodluck with youre buggs killing
Seafrank
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09-09-2012, 06:21
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2
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Re: Cleaning Out Diesel Tank
Using a biocide will give an easy way to sterilise the whole tank without any additional work. the biocide does the work
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09-09-2012, 07:59
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sea of Cortez and the U.P. of Michigan
Boat: Celestial 48
Posts: 904
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Re: Cleaning Out Diesel Tank
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seafrank
Using a biocide will give an easy way to sterilise the whole tank without any additional work. the biocide does the work
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Biocides are great preventative medicine, but will not do much to clean up existing deposits. Unlikely you will get as much gunk as Terrylad, but expect a good amount of near solid gunk from the very bottom of tanks. You are lucky if you have access ports and small tanks, should be fairly easy to clean. Rags and elbow grease all you should need.
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09-09-2012, 08:03
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Cleaning Out Diesel Tank
The biocide just kills the organisms which then fall to the bottom of the tank waiting to get stirred up again in rough water to plug your filters. If you start off with a clean tank and clean fuel then a biocide will keep your tank reasonably clean until next inspection/cleaning in a couple of years.
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09-09-2012, 08:04
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: 1980 Pearson 323 - 34ft LOA
Posts: 641
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Ok, so the plan is to clean out the tank(s) the best I can with simple green, then use biocide to get rid of anything I might have missed. Thank you all for the input.
austin
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09-09-2012, 08:18
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,185
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Re: Cleaning Out Diesel Tank
Just me but I'd scratch the simple green. Paper towel it; the crud comes off easy enough with a swipe and some elbow grease.
It's a messy job so make sure you have a LOT of ventilation. Big fan blowing air towards you if you can. I wore organic respirators (3m) and had good luck.
Takes maybe half a day, then maybe the other half to get the inspection ports back on. You'll feel great when it's done.
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09-09-2012, 08:40
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: 1980 Pearson 323 - 34ft LOA
Posts: 641
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rebel heart
Just me but I'd scratch the simple green. Paper towel it; the crud comes off easy enough with a swipe and some elbow grease.
It's a messy job so make sure you have a LOT of ventilation. Big fan blowing air towards you if you can. I wore organic respirators (3m) and had good luck.
Takes maybe half a day, then maybe the other half to get the inspection ports back on. You'll feel great when it's done.
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Sounds like a good idea to me, thanks.
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09-09-2012, 09:50
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Nova Scotia until Spring 2021
Boat: Custom 41' Steel Pilothouse Cutter
Posts: 4,976
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Re: Cleaning Out Diesel Tank
Quote:
Originally Posted by theway
That's what I'm worried about, since accessibility is going to be tough. I'll see what it feels/looks like when I open it up. Thanks again.
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You'll want a length of 1 x 1 lumber with a small circle of plywood screwed into the end. Over this, you want to lash a couple of sponges. ON the 1 x 1, you want to tape off a pocket LED light.
The rest you can figure out! Remember to wear a good facemask and to run a floor fan and keep hatches open....the fumes from this job can give you headaches.
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09-09-2012, 10:01
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: 1980 Pearson 323 - 34ft LOA
Posts: 641
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Quote:
Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy
You'll want a length of 1 x 1 lumber with a small circle of plywood screwed into the end. Over this, you want to lash a couple of sponges. ON the 1 x 1, you want to tape off a pocket LED light.
The rest you can figure out! Remember to wear a good facemask and to run a floor fan and keep hatches open....the fumes from this job can give you headaches.
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I'm having a hard time picturing the result of the 1x1 device but what it sounds like is a mini sponge/brush with a light to see where I'm scrubbing. Yeah? Don't they make little scrubbers like that? (minus the light of course) thanks for the thoughts, I think I have a light that will work.
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