Diesel Fuel Filters and Racor in Jamaica

[Pieter]

Hello forum members,

The combination of: bad diesel fuel, dirty fuel tank and choppy seas resulted in clogged up Racor primary fuel filters (on both engines). Needed to change course and made it to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. So, on my urgent to do list:

* Find Volvo or generic fuel filters (Volvo Penta MD2030). Anyone has a list of what brand of fuel filters work on this engine?
* I have a stainless steel fuel tank with a tiny lit/cap that i can screw of. What would be an adequate way of trying to clean out the tank (i dont think i would want to get the whole thing out just for now) but if somebody could suggest on how (and with what liquid) i should try to flush the gunk out of the tank.

Thanks a lot.
Best rgds
Pieter Kommerij
SV Onda Boa

[skipmac]

First, pump the dirty fuel out of the tank. If you can rig it, run the fuel through a filter system and you can probably reuse it? If you have two tanks pump all the fuel into one tank, clean the empty, then through a filter back to the empty then clean the second tank.

If you can access it, steam clean the empty tank. If you can find someone with a portable rig on a truck, maybe a carpet cleaner for the hotels and a long hose you can poke the wand through the little hole in your tank and get at least some of the crud out. Thoroughly rinse out the tanks in case there's any residue from the steamer, dry and refill using clean, filtered fuel and your favorite fuel additive/biocide.

If you aren't happy with the old fuel, even after you filter it, I'm sure you can find a local that will take it off your hands.

[HappyMdRSailor]

There is no "magic liquid" that I know of to clean tanks.... follow skipmac's advise.... You will probably have to install inspection ports...

Mechanical (rag) wiping, steam cleaning... fully drying...

[gonesail]

when you are thinking of cleaning the tank let the fuel run low so you can pump out into 5 gallon containers. drop old fuel off at recycle center. hopefully you have inspection ports to clean the bottom of tank with old rags.

[salar]

We are about to install an inspection plate for the same reason, without removing the tank. See Seabuilt - Access Plate Systems

[Stumble]

Ducass is the only store I know of on island that has a decent selection of marine parts. The issue from Ocho is that they are in Kingston.

[salar]

ok - didn't realise. We are in Sydney Australia. We bought directly from Seabuilt. Plate arrived within about a week. Excellent service.

[mcm]

You could try Montego Bay Yacht Club for filters I bought racors there in 1991,