[C38] To polish or not to polish

[Les]

Here in Dana Point we have BioDiesel available.  It is like polishing
compound... The little buggers that make the black stuff don't seem to
tolerate it.  We used a full tank of it to clean out the lines and
stuff.  Changed a few filters, and had the local fuel dock siphon out
the last 1/4 tank or so, then wipe out what was left in the lower
forward corner.  That was a year ago.  No problems since.  

	However be aware that the old universal Diesels may not run on Biofuel,
and some new diesels will say it violates the warranty.  I find that
funny, since the diesel engine was originally run on peanut oil.

	Also it can be hard on hoses I have recently heard, but see no issues
with ours (yet).  Of course I have to tempter this with the fact we
haven't used the boat much yet this year. (two short trips, plus a once
a month run to recharge the batteries (on the buoy now).

Regards,
Les H
On Mon, 2008-08-04 at 19:28 -0600, Max Soto wrote:
> Hi Steve,
>  
> My heatexchanger bracket broke because it was corroded , I just made
> one myself out of  stainles steel and that was it. 
> I also was the one that threw the chain inside the tank. it took about
> an hour of shaking until the tank was really clean.
> It worked. A local mechanic recommended that. 
>  
> I also welded a 1/2 nipple with a plug on the, so I can remove it and
> reach the deepest side of the tank with a stick and be able to check
> fuel level in case the fuel meter stopped working. 
>  
> I was giving the chain a chance, if I had no results, I would have
> followed Rich`s way.
> Thank god it worked, because $229 for the ports, plus shipping to
> freight forwarder, shipping to costa rica, plus CR taxes, they would
> have cost me around $450. 
> In my case about five gallons of old and dirty diesel, and that was
> it. Give the chain a chance!
>  
> Hope this helps,
> 
> Max Soto
> C38 #198 ESTANCIA
> Puntarenas, Costa Rica 
>  
> 2008/8/4, Steve Smolinske <SSmolinske at rainierrubber.com>: 
>         On our trip we hit a stretch of motoring for about 4 hours
>         where the bow was in the water as much as it was out.  To say
>         the least the tank got pretty welled stirred up, the next day
>         our fuel supply was plagued with lots of water causing us to
>         loose power 5 or 6 times, until I went down, drained the bowl,
>         bleed the engine and waited for the next time it cut out.
>         When we got to port I changed the filter which after 15 hours
>         was black and full of organic material.   Before starting home
>         at the end of the week I changed the filter again and this
>         time it looked like you would expect after only a 10 hours of
>         use.  My question is for comments on peoples experiences and
>         thoughts about polishing the tank.  It is in the yard right
>         now having a bracket fabricated for the heat exchanger
>         which broke during the trip as well.  My two thoughts are to
>         1) install access ports in tank and polish the tank,  or
>         2) filter the fuel that is in the tank, and buy a big supply
>         of primary and secondary filters.   I like the second option
>         just from the expense side of the equation.  Im also
>         considering installing a Y from the fuel pump to two separate
>         secondary filters, that way in the future should similar
>         problems arise, I can while under power just switch from one
>         filter to the next without loosing the engine.  Thanks All. 
>           
>          
>         Steve Smolinske
>         Peregrine #312
>         Seattle
>          
>         
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> 
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