As I recall, most marine diesels recirculate 5-7 times consumption. Even at 1 gph usage that's not much flow back to the tank. Not nearly enough to agitate the tank.
A buddy of mine tried to motor his boat to the Gulf Coast in some rough seas. Had to return due to blinding fuel elements. The local yard did a recirculate and clean on his tank. Next day he tried again in rough seas with the same result. If the "pro" doesn't have the right equipment, knowledge and technique, you're wasting time and money. FYI, Touche' had been idle for 10+ years when I bought it. When I dug into the fuel system, I didn't just yank the tank and clean it, I REPLACED it with a new one. After repowering with a diesel, Touche' now has an Algae-X and a vacuum gauge on the Racor 500. Fuel issues are one thing I never worry about. Dennis C. On Jan 30, 2017 7:39 PM, "Josh Muckley via CnC-List" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Dennis, > > I've watched for return flow from the injectors and been quite > disappointed. Hardly any and certainly not enough to suggest that it is > "recirculating" the tank. > > I hear what you're saying regarding the agitation not being sufficient. > Its always a question in my mind of just how bad is it in there? Is > nothing coming out cause its clean or cause its stuck? > > Josh Muckley > S/V Sea Hawk > 1989 C&C 37+ > Solomons, MD > > On Jan 30, 2017 9:28 PM, "Dennis C. via CnC-List" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > wrote: > > I have little faith in recirculating fuel to clean it. IMHO, if it is not > strongly agitated, sediments will remain in the corners of the tank. The > first encounter with rough seas and you will blind your fuel filter quickly. > > The best solution is to either remove the tank and clean it. Second best > is to drainit, install a fuel compatible access port in the top and clean > it manually. Third, have a professional clean it with a high velocity wand > inserted through the fuel sensor port. > > If you can't do any of those and choose to recirculate it using the > engine, install an Algae-X unit ahead of the fuel filter. > > http://www.diesel-fuels.com/algae-x/magnetic-fuel-conditioning.php > > Install a vacuum gauge downstream of your fuel filter to give you warning > when the element is beginning to blind. If you have a Racor 500, get the > vacuum gauge that replaces the T-handle. > > Carry lots of spare fuel filter elements. > > Dennis C. > Touche' 35-1 #83 > Mandeville, LA > > On Jan 30, 2017 6:30 PM, "Bruce Whitmore via CnC-List" < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > Out of an abundance of caution, given that the boat I am buying has been > started, but not substantially run (other than for our survey) for about 5 > years, I would like to be extra-cautious about potential fuel tank > contamination. > > I think that the tank is about half-full. At the suggestion of one of our > contributors here, I will patch in a 12v. pump and recirculate the fuel > through my Racor filter for a number of hours in an attempt to polish the > fuel. > > That said, do you think I am better off trying to burn off the old fuel as > much as possible before putting in new (if of course the engine appears to > be running well), or dillute the old stuff with new? > > Finally, does anyone here have experience with Starbrite Star Tron Fuel > Tank Cleaner? While its NOT cheap, I'd rather start off with as clean a > fuel system as possible. The reviews seem to be good (and Practical Sailor > rated their biocide highly), but I don't believe everything I read on the > 'net... :) > > Thanks in advance! > > Bruce Whitmore > > (847) 404-5092 (mobile) > bwhitm...@sbcglobal.net > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you > wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > All Contributions are greatly appreciated! > > > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you > wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > All Contributions are greatly appreciated! > > > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you > wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > All Contributions are greatly appreciated! > >
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