Any recommendations for fuel polishing services in Brisbane, just bought a yacht I will collect in a couple of weeks and its been sitting around for a couple of years so I would like to get tank cleaned and fuel polished as a starting point to which I can then keep maintained.

I'm about to go through a similar process with a boat I bought thats been tied up for about the same time.
Obviously its a diesel ( re wanting to polish the fuel query ) but from an engineering perspective, especially with diesel in a warmer area, my advice would be to drain the tank(s), change the filters, (oil and fuel ) replace with fresh fuel and definitely put in some sort of reputable fuel /injector cleanse agent as well. It doesn't take much for the injector nozzles to become clogged or growth which will prevent them from allowing the correct amount of fuel into cylinder for combustion, ( or even change the spray pattern of the fuel upon delivery to the cylinder )
I know its things we don't like to think about with a motor and is often neglected but they are very necessary maintenance points for the longevity - and cost efficiency - of the engine in the long run.

Cheers

Draining a 250 litre tank will be an issue, and I think its quite full, that's a lot of jerry cans. Another boat I looked at had a manifold set up whereby filters could be changed whilst in use, I liked that idea.

Just checking out you tube advice ( cause its always the best place for truth right), thinking of adding a biocide then rig a set up to suck any gunk off the bottom for disposal then run the rest of the fuel through a DIY filter set up that could then be used to make up a manifold as above. Thinking if I ran the entire tank volume through a few times that would be enough to give the fuel a good polish. Any advice or experiences welcome

Hi Cammd
I would like to get tank cleaned and fuel polished

The first question that comes to mind is, Do you have a problem?

Is there water and sludge in the bowl of your fuel filter?
Have you done a filter change and hacksawed the old filter down the centre? If so what was the condition?
Have you lifted the fuel tank inspection hatch and shone a very strong light in there? If so was the fuel murky and could you see sludge or sediment on the bottom of the tank?

These are the checks I would suggest at this stage.

All the best

gary

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garymalmgren said..
Hi Cammd
I would like to get tank cleaned and fuel polished

The first question that comes to mind is, Do you have a problem?

Is there water and sludge in the bowl of your fuel filter?
Have you done a filter change and hacksawed the old filter down the centre? If so what was the condition?
Have you lifted the fuel tank inspection hatch and shone a very strong light in there? If so was the fuel murky and could you see sludge or sediment on the bottom of the tank?

These are the checks I would suggest at this stage.

All the best

gary

Thanks I will start there

I had the black bug in my fuel twice. Once on my Olympic 40 with 300 litres, then a couple years ago on my current boat with half that. Found out when filters caught the goo and blocked but no other harm done First time the fuel was disposed of, tanks cleaned and fuel replaced. Bug came back pretty quickly. Second time fuel disposed of and bladder installed inside tank with no further problems.

I had a hugely dirty diesel fuel tank when I bought my old Martzcraft 35. Boat had been sitting for 5 years. Tank had 2" water in as well.

I bought a 12V fuel pump from Supa Cheap autos and put it in series with two CAV filters connected to bottom of tank and the output of those feeding back into the top using clear reinforced hose. (I know its not for diesel but so I could see what was inside).

I made sure the hose feeding in at the top touched the bottom of the tank so when the pump was running there would be turbulence at the bottom inside of the tank caused by the incoming recycled fuel+crap.

Then left the system running on and off for days and days and changed the filters multiple times. After about a week the opaque muddy fuel passing through the filters cleared and after another week was perfectly clear and no water. I moved the feed in hose around a bit so the turbulence where it was feeding in at the bottom stirred up any crap in the corners of the tank.

All up 2 weeks, not expensive and have never seen any dirt or water in the fuel since.

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Trek said..
I bought a 12V fuel pump from Supa Cheap autos and put it in series with two CAV filters connected to bottom of tank and the output of those feeding back into the top using clear reinforced hose. (I know its not for diesel but so I could see what was inside).

I have a similar system permanently set up running on a timer 4hrs x 3 times / week.
The intake is at the lowest point in the tank but the return just at the top.

I took delivery of the boat today, it appears to be a good fuel set up already, I can transfer between upper and lower tanks via the pump in the bottom left corner of the picture and I was told it runs through the Racor filters on the way through which can also be switched when the engine is in use if one were to get blocked.

So much to learn on a new boat, lots of systems to get familiar with, turns out I have the capacity to polish my own fuel just by shifting a few lever and running the transfer pump.

Ordered some new filter elements and did the job on the starboard tank. The 2 micron filter looked dirty prior to starting so I had changed that the week before. I first ran the tank through the 10 micron filter for 2 hours then changed to the (new) 2 micron filter for a further 2 hours. Inspected the elements at completion, the 10 micron came out black and was replaced. The 2 micron was like new so I reinstalled it. Have two new elements onboard for spares and feel confident the starboard tank (120litres) at least has got clean fuel. Zero water but a significant amount of black sludge was removed in the process and brought myself some piece of mind.

Hi, I have had ashphaltenes in my tanks and used a high volume fuel transfer pump coupled to a filter on the suction and cleaned so much crap out I was amazed. Now I dose with fuel doctor and do a precautionry polish once a year. All good.