fuel in water tank

minisailor · 04-12-2008, 19:42

Hello All
Don't ask how but we got about 5 gallons of fuel in our 70 gallon water tank and are looking for ideas on how to get it out with out removing the tank or furniture. We have very limited access to the tank top but we would have to take furniture out to do it (hard job). The only thing I can think of is to pour a lot of dish detergent into the tank add water to suds it up and pump it all into a safe container. Any and all ideas will be appreciated
Thanks
Minisailor

Cheechako · 04-12-2008, 19:49

bummer. I dont think you'll ever get the taste and smell out...

Chuck Baier · 04-12-2008, 20:04

Is these metal, plastic, fiberglass, cardboard?

minisailor · 05-12-2008, 05:16

Chuck
The tank is Stainless

**Pblais** · 05-12-2008, 05:55

Fuel floats and clings to surfaces. It will leave a taste at exceptionally low concentration levels. Aside from the foul taste it is also toxic. If you have pumped any of this through your fresh water lines all those are probably shot now. If not then don't even think about using your fresh water pump to remove it.

Steam cleaning could salvage the tank. It's going to require access ports into each area of the tank divided by any baffles. You might do this in place. You do need to treat and clean all surfaces in the tank as well as the pickup and replace the fill line and any hoses that have been contaminated.

Hampus · 05-12-2008, 05:56

You're lucky it's stainless and not plastic. Lots of detergent and hot water, boiling if you can. That will get it out till a point where it's probably safe to drink. As said before, you will probably never get the taste out.

/Hampus

Chuck Baier · 05-12-2008, 15:54

Sounds like you are doing it right. This is no place for short cuts.

jean1146 · 05-12-2008, 16:14

Minisailor,I had to read your post twice,because usually it is the other way around....water in fuel.I don't want to sound pessimistic but diesel fuel is a tough one.I don't think you will ever get rid of the taste or the odor.Good luck.JC.

MidLandOne · 05-12-2008, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by jean1146

I don't think you will ever get rid of the taste or the odor.

Should that prove to be the case then get a company in that provides professional tank cleaning services - they will get the tank pristine again.

(Not that I have had to use them on my own boat

cos it is set up so that it is pretty much impossible to get fuel into our water tanks by accident or even by a saboteur

).

sandy daugherty · 05-12-2008, 16:24

I was extremely skeptical of the claims, but I broke down and tried Orange TKO. It works. It will emulsify gas and oil and allow you to get rid of the taste and smell.
TKO Industries Intl, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, From the US call 1-800-993-2463, or google it. See if you can reach the inside walls of the tank with this stuff on a soft brush.

**Pblais** · 05-12-2008, 18:48

I would agree with Sandy about cleaning the SS tank, but if any hoses or water lines are contaminated they need to be removed. I would also replace the gaskets on the access ports to the tank too.

Jesse · 05-12-2008, 21:13

It happened to me too. And Sandy is right the orange TKO works well. If any diesel got in the system run a dozen gallons or so of TKO treated water through it and then rinse it with twice the amount of fresh water. A slight odor seemed to linger for awhile but it could have been my imagination.
Jesse

minisailor · 06-12-2008, 04:57

Thanks again guys & gals you have been a huge help. I will try Sandy's trick using TKO but the only problem is we are out in the eastern Caribbean and it is very hard to get things delivered from the states with an certainty. We will head back to New England by air for the Xmas holiday. I will order some now and have it delivered to my house and transport it back to the boat in my luggage. I will have to figure out how to deal with a waterless boat until the job is done.
Thanks again
Minisailor

Ziggy · 06-12-2008, 05:07

Another product that may work is a microbial powder from Clean Water Solutions, Inc. It seems pretty effective at digesting diesel fuel. You could follow that with conventional cleaners and then chlorine bleach to disinfect the tank.

swagman · 06-12-2008, 02:40

Well done. Once its all cleaned and maybe lines replaced, might also be worth adding in a silver filter to your drinking water faucet? We've one added into our line just in case we take on bad tasting water - and they work.
Cheers
JOHN

04-12-2008, 19:42	#1
minisailor Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New England Boat: Radford 450 45' Vamoose Posts: 37	fuel in water tank Hello All Don't ask how but we got about 5 gallons of fuel in our 70 gallon water tank and are looking for ideas on how to get it out with out removing the tank or furniture. We have very limited access to the tank top but we would have to take furniture out to do it (hard job). The only thing I can think of is to pour a lot of dish detergent into the tank add water to suds it up and pump it all into a safe container. Any and all ideas will be appreciated Thanks Minisailor

04-12-2008, 20:04	#3
Chuck Baier Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Where ever the boat is. Boat: Marine Trader 34 Posts: 2,140	Is these metal, plastic, fiberglass, cardboard? __________________ To boldly go!!

05-12-2008, 05:16	#4
minisailor Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New England Boat: Radford 450 45' Vamoose Posts: 37	water in fuel Chuck The tank is Stainless

05-12-2008, 05:55	#5
Pblais Moderator Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hayes, VA Boat: Gozzard 36 - Bright Eyes Posts: 6,570	Fuel floats and clings to surfaces. It will leave a taste at exceptionally low concentration levels. Aside from the foul taste it is also toxic. If you have pumped any of this through your fresh water lines all those are probably shot now. If not then don't even think about using your fresh water pump to remove it. Steam cleaning could salvage the tank. It's going to require access ports into each area of the tank divided by any baffles. You might do this in place. You do need to treat and clean all surfaces in the tank as well as the pickup and replace the fill line and any hoses that have been contaminated. __________________ Paul Blais s/v Bright Eyes Gozzard 36 37 15.7 N 76 28.9 W

05-12-2008, 05:56	#6
Hampus Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sweden Boat: Amigo 27, 25ft on sale. Transworld 41 Ketch getting ready for sailing. Posts: 266	You're lucky it's stainless and not plastic. Lots of detergent and hot water, boiling if you can. That will get it out till a point where it's probably safe to drink. As said before, you will probably never get the taste out. /Hampus __________________ http://adventureswithsyingeborg.blogspot.com/

04-12-2008, 19:49	#2
Cheechako Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Skagit City, WA Boat: Fellippi 32 Posts: 2,205	bummer. I dont think you'll ever get the taste and smell out...

05-12-2008, 15:54	#7
Chuck Baier Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Where ever the boat is. Boat: Marine Trader 34 Posts: 2,140	Sounds like you are doing it right. This is no place for short cuts. __________________ To boldly go!!

05-12-2008, 16:14	#8
jean1146 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tampa fl Boat: Mahe 36' Posts: 251	Minisailor,I had to read your post twice,because usually it is the other way around....water in fuel.I don't want to sound pessimistic but diesel fuel is a tough one.I don't think you will ever get rid of the taste or the odor.Good luck.JC.

05-12-2008, 16:24	#10
sandy daugherty Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: near Annapolis Boat: PDQ 36 "Page 83" Posts: 770	I was extremely skeptical of the claims, but I broke down and tried Orange TKO. It works. It will emulsify gas and oil and allow you to get rid of the taste and smell. TKO Industries Intl, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, From the US call 1-800-993-2463, or google it. See if you can reach the inside walls of the tank with this stuff on a soft brush.

05-12-2008, 18:48	#11
Pblais Moderator Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hayes, VA Boat: Gozzard 36 - Bright Eyes Posts: 6,570	I would agree with Sandy about cleaning the SS tank, but if any hoses or water lines are contaminated they need to be removed. I would also replace the gaskets on the access ports to the tank too. __________________ Paul Blais s/v Bright Eyes Gozzard 36 37 15.7 N 76 28.9 W

05-12-2008, 21:13	#12
Jesse Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Oro Bay Puget Sound Boat: Irwin sloop Posts: 81	It happened to me too. And Sandy is right the orange TKO works well. If any diesel got in the system run a dozen gallons or so of TKO treated water through it and then rinse it with twice the amount of fresh water. A slight odor seemed to linger for awhile but it could have been my imagination. Jesse

06-12-2008, 04:57	#13
minisailor Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New England Boat: Radford 450 45' Vamoose Posts: 37	fuel in water tank Thanks again guys & gals you have been a huge help. I will try Sandy's trick using TKO but the only problem is we are out in the eastern Caribbean and it is very hard to get things delivered from the states with an certainty. We will head back to New England by air for the Xmas holiday. I will order some now and have it delivered to my house and transport it back to the boat in my luggage. I will have to figure out how to deal with a waterless boat until the job is done. Thanks again Minisailor

06-12-2008, 05:07	#14
Ziggy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: U.S., Northeast Boat: Contessa 32 Posts: 178	Another product that may work is a microbial powder from Clean Water Solutions, Inc. It seems pretty effective at digesting diesel fuel. You could follow that with conventional cleaners and then chlorine bleach to disinfect the tank.

06-12-2008, 02:40	#15
swagman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Winter - land based UK south coast. Summer - sailing. We are currently on slow passage to Portugal. Boat: Hanse 461 - Swagman Posts: 1,316	Well done. Once its all cleaned and maybe lines replaced, might also be worth adding in a silver filter to your drinking water faucet? We've one added into our line just in case we take on bad tasting water - and they work. Cheers JOHN __________________ Read our boring cruising blog via http://www.yotblog.com/swagman/3099

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