I am sceptical by nature and I wonder about the problems that people encounter with water in the fuel tank. First there should be a water separator fitted in the fuel line. I have a Wasp water separator/trap fitted. I do a test on it every month. I have never found any water yet. Then there should also be an in-line particle filter that you change from time to time as part of the service routine.

As fuel is drawn out of the tank – passes through the water separator then passes through the particle filter what is not used is returned back to the fuel tank. In this way the fuel can pass through the filtration  many times. The fuel pipe is normally fitted to draw off the fuel from several inches above the bottom of the tank for obvious reasons. So water and other sediments can build up and still not be a problem.

I think that fuel bug is the more significant problem in this context though it needs water to be present in the tank. I have seen red diesel supplied that looked crystal clear and I have seen it when it seemed a bit cloudy in the container. The next big issue is Bio diesel, there are many problems to come from the use of that.

 There are tests you can do to establish the extent of the problem. Plus housekeeping to prevent problems. I wrote a bit on the problem on my blog a while ago. (http://the-onion-bargee.blogsp…..-tank.html)

I have only noticed this thread and hope you can pick it up ok.

The best product on the market without any doubt is a solution called Soltron, its enzyme based and is a highly effective way of removing sludge and bugs in the fuel system of any engine, either marine or road. Its not expensive, and 125ml bottle at ASAP Supplies, (they are online) for approx £9.00. You only use a tiny amount.

Red diesel is the least refined diesel you can buy, (hence i never used it for diesel central heating, I used kerosene) and some retail outlets have dubious holding tanks that have heavy condensation build up and ofcourse unavoidable particles of dirt over time.  As it is ‘rated’ for agricultural use it’s not monitored as effectively as road diesel. It is inevitable that we get contaminates in our tanks.

If you can afford to fit a racor fuel filter then put it in line as early as possible after the tank, they are extremely effective, not cheap but very robust, easy to clean, you can see the dirt and water at a glance and last for ever, they have the ability to take copious amounts of water out out of the worst diesel. It has a very clever design in that the diesel ‘swirls around’ inside the different compartments prior to release to the injector pump.

I have seen tanks that were too difficult to remove financially, and having the addition of Soltron over a period of one or two seasons become almost completely clean. I had 2 1000 litre  tanks in my last boat, a yard converted trawler which had very dirty tanks, and using Soltron at every fill of diesel completely cleaned them. The enzyme within the solution literally eats the bugs and sludge as it sits in the tank. It really is amazing stuff!!!

Another good tip is to keep your fuel tank filled as near the brim as you can, this stops condensation from forming

Hope this helps you and very one else reading this thread.

Boasters should also invest in a tube of water finding paste. I use Kolor Kut. Just smear a bit on the end of the dipstick and drop into the tank. A change of colour shows the presence of water. Used regularly it show the water before it becomes a problem.

Regards

Pete