How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

[SeattleMatt]

I've had some trouble with sediment in the fuel tank. At first I thought it was a carb problem until I saw the fuel filter full of orange particles that looks like rust but I'm pretty sure it's just sediment from old gas. My question is after going through three fuel filters, siphoning the tank dry, and refilling, what should I do to get this junk out of my tank so I can get through a full day of boating? <br /><br />The tank is built into the hull of the boat, so removal is not an option. It does have access portals at the top that are very small.

 

[placebo]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

Slow_boy, One way or another, you're going to have to replace your tank. How old is the tank and what boat do you have.

 

[tommays]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

are you cloging a water sepator or just the<br />carb strainer ???<br /><br />if the tank is steel and old watch out they will get a big leak with out much waraning because of rusting from the inside out <br /><br />tommays

 

[SeattleMatt]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

The tank is aluminum. I'm fairly positive the the sediment is not rust from the tank. It looks like what's left over after a bag of beer nuts.

 

[hondon]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

It is possble that a group of wasps has made it,s home in your fuel tank vent.When that nest hatches those larvae shed their skin making the beer nut residue you describe.Take the external cover off your vent then find the spot that hose attaches to your fuel tank and blow some compressed air from the inside out and see what you get.Good luck.

 

[tommays]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

if its alu you should be able to get it clean<br /><br />tommays

 

[cc lancer]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

Slo_Boy<br />Keep cleaning, add another filter, but do not try to remove your tank. Most central tanks are foamed in and you will scratch it trying to get it out and there goes the anodize coating on the aluminum. We ruined a tank about 5 years ago and I had to have a custom tank made for $450.00. If you have large drop in tanks, then you possibly can remove them for cleaning. But always use extreme caution because of the gas fumes.

 

[KaGee]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

One thing you can try is add a "pre-filter". Just a universal clear type that are cheap and throw-a-way. Just keep replacing it until you no longer see the sediment.<br /><br />I have a friend here whose business cleans and refurbishes fuel tanks... mostly auto, but also others. I would think in Seatle there is someone who works on fuel tanks that would have a process to clean your tank if you don't want to mess with it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

Much Easier to Just Keep Changing the Filter, for Awhile..............

 

[HULKSTERUPS]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

The same thing is happing to me,my boat sat for 2 1/2 years,I thought I had bad gas,dranged out the old gas added new gas, she would die out after 20 mins of driving,all the junk in the tank got stuck in the screen that is in the gas tank pickup tube.So I took out the screen that is in the pickup tube and added a clear inline gas filter .So now I could see dirt getting stuck in the filter.It finaly got cloged,but I was able to run the boat alot longer.I put the filter before the fuel and water seperater,Tommays ,Bondo,Should I put the inline filter after the F&W seperater.The F&W filter is much bigger and would be able to store my dirt. Don 1987 regal 180 mer

 

[Bondo]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

HULKSTERUPS,<br />If you want to See the crap, Leave it there.....<br /><br />I'm Pretty Sure the Big Can that everybody calls the Fuel + Water seperater is what's Really doing the Job.........<br />There's alot of Stuff that can pass thru those Filters like you have..... <br />The Big Can Filter, Filters to Finer Microns......

 

[tommays]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

i would not keep any universal type filter in the line unless they were made for marine use<br /><br />it sounds like your talking about the auto store type which really may break bounceing around the boat<br /><br />tommays

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

My boat sat for many years with gas left in the tank (aluminum 60gal belly tank) before I got to restore it . Changed out the fuel/water sep filter and like others said before, added a inline clear fuel filter (yes I got it from Pep Boys). I was looking at the clear filter yesterday and noticed a few specs caught by it that the big filter didn't get. This is years later. I have run them in every boat I have owned just to catch those last specs. As for the concern on wither it is “marine” or not. Like installed on a car you would not leave it where it could flop around when you go over a bump. Just make sure it secured.

 

[SeattleMatt]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

Went to a boat store today and a guy told me that the problem I am having is from oxidation of the Aluminum tank due to water accumulating in the tank. He said that the aluminum pits and oxidizes if water is in there long enough. He told me to put in a bottle of Stabil every time I fill up until the water is out of the tank and to keep changing filters. Any second/third opinions on this?

 

[Regalrunner]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

I also had similar problem. I tried continually changing filters, but the particulate still managed its way into the carb. Turns out there was copper fuel lines and and an aluminum gas tank. Dissimilar metal was creating exactly what you described. <br /><br />I removed the tank and took a length of chain with acetone shook them inside the tank to clean. Unfortunately cannot remember the name of the product, but it was a liquid acrylic gas tank liner that you poured into the tank and rolled to cover all sides. <br /><br />New gas lines and filters and never had the problem return. <br /><br />Boat out of action for 1 week however.

 

[tommays]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

you will always have water in a boat fuel tank unless the boat is in the showroom<br /><br />i dont know how stabil will stop water any water remover only makes it hard to filter out the water<br /><br />did you install The Big Can Filter water sepator it wil hold alot of crap<br /><br />tommays

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

Slowboy this is a little hard to get going on.Your boat has a fuel gauge sending unit on the tank?(most do).<br />Syphon the tank thru the motor feed hose,then pull the sending unit out.Mark it first,it only fits that way.Now tilt your boat (we are on the trailer here,follow me) so the majority of the fuel is under the access you just gained.Now syphon out all the fuel you can.Next step is a coathanger and a rag on the end of it.Swab the tank until the rags come out clean.Now add new fuel,and then check your filters (Use new ones for this)<br />DHP

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

forgot one thing, if all this got into the carb,it too needs work.<br />DHP

 

[steve n carol]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

don't use a shop vac! Not until it's void of gas and gasoline vapors... <br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=000633

 

[ron7000]

Re: How to remove Sediment in Fuel Tank?

I've used a wet dry vac to vacuum out the 55gal tank in my old 24'. But that was after sucking all the gas out with an engine oil vacuum extractor, then doing a couple times of filling it with a gal of water and extracting that and blowing air into the tank and waiting a week to clear all fumes. If your careful then you can get away with vacuuming the tank. Hopefully you're smart enough to not vacuum raw gas.<br /><br />The tempo vacuum oil extractors work great for stuff like this, only thing is you need to get creative with the extraction hose. The hose that would go down the dipstick is too small in diameter to work picking up large or heavy sediment pieces. And depending on the depth of your tank you'll need extra hosing.