.
I strongly suspect that particles exist in my fuel tank, and rough seas cause them to suspend and enter the fuel filters, which clog frequently for me.
What is the best way to clean out the fuel tank?
Is it only the two circle panel holes on top?
What are my options here?
Thanks!
.
—
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
A lot of rad shops clean fuel tanks these days. If you can find one that's the best bet. I have one close to me, they've done several tanks for me. They use a variety of solvents to soak the yutz out and then they use a high pressure washer and specially shaped wands to blast the leftover guck out. Tank was spotless inside when they were done. It cost me less than hundred bucks to have it done.
Or you can cut an access hole into the top of the tank and DIY it, then drill and tap a pile of holes and make a gasket/plate to close it up after you're done swamping the goo out of there. This would be my last choice, I'd probably just buy a new tank before I did that. Pretty messy job.
Some people do fuel polishing, I do not believe that will get the yutz off the tank walls and bottoms, I have seen several anecdotal accounts where people have done this and then had the problem return the next time they were in the washing machine. Seems to me Maine Sail had some pictures on his site of the inside of a dirty tank which illustrated why fuel polishing isn't the answer. This stuff really gets stuck on there and it takes brute force to get it off.
.
When I look in the Lazerette, I see a floor with two white plastic screw plates to get at the aluminum tank.
How the heck would a person remove the tank? :confused:
Does that floor cut away? Is it removable?
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Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
Rick,
Here is Bud Street's excellent write-up on removing the fuel tank on a C36 MK II.
[url]http://www.c36ia.com/node/1663[/url]
Sorry but I don't have any leads on radiator shops in the area. If you find a good one please post.
If you need a hand with the tank please PM me. Good luck!
Ken Akers
1995 C-36 MkII #1378 SR/FK M35A
San Francisco Bay
Rick - I had to replace the hoses that are connected to the water muffler and mixer that has a siphon break in the lazarette. To replace them I had to take off a wooden cover that was on the port side of the aft berth. Behind the cover I found the fuel tank. I did not have to remove the tank - but it can be removed by removing 4 screws and the connected hose and wires.
See the image enclosed.
Haro Bayandorian, 1999 C36 MKII, Sail La Vie #1787, M35B,
Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA.
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Thanks Ken for the link.
Thanks Haro for the photo.
I think I will be taking the tank out after I run the fuel lower...
Will also consider adding that larger access port...
Not a job I look forward to, but neither do I like the engine quitting mid trip...
Will report back.
.
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
Rick, if you remove and clean the fuel tank, you won't ever need those access ports anyway.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
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Yes, OK, I'm going in.
First thing is to open the two existing openings to shine a light to see how things look in the tank.
Maybe the pick up tube is clogged or otherwise mis-fitted (wire gauze? Flex end?)
If I see that things warrant further work, I will then pump the tank dry, remove the hose fittings and level sending wire, and remove the tank for a good cleaning.
I'm already pretty sure that the two existing holes will not be adequate for reaching the arm in the tank for cleaning access. We'll see...
[B]
Stu, were you saying above that a removed tank can be easily cleaned without a larger port?[/B]
With some luck, the tank MIGHT already have a larger access hole there, visible only once the whole tank is removed.
If not, then I will most likely install one of these ports:
[url]http://www.seabuilt.com/demo.php[/url]
The kind with the folding backplate of studs for a good gasket seal.
I did this sort of job once before on my previous Catalina 27, and while it's not very fun, the results of knowing that the tank is free of debris and sludge is very rewarding.
Also, having an engine that will run without fuel suck problems and quitting will be quite a nice relief too...
Summer is coming!
.
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
No, Rick. What I was saying is that IF you take it out and then clean it, once it's clean I see no reason to add access ports and potential points for future leaks. Once cleaned out, it should be good for another 25 years.
Where do you get your fuel? I get mine in the estuary. Ever since the Grand Marina fuel dock closed, the one at jack London Square is the only one there, so it gets lots of traffic, hence turnover, and they recently switched over to Valvetec fuel. I've been going there for the past13 of the 15 years we've had [I]Aquavite[/I], and I have never had any fuel issues.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Hi Stu,
OK, I understand. I'll have the tank out, will be able to invert it during the cleaning, will have solvents available to me, so I should be able to do it OK without adding an extra access port.
Regarding the question of fuel source, I suspect the previous owner let fuel sit for long periods of time, and what-have-you, and I have no idea where his fuel came from.
I always buy mine from either the corner Vallero gas station, or from the Sausalito Chevron fuel dock.
Well, my weekend looks like it will be fuuuuunnnnn!
.
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
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OK, I have seen the tank.
It is aluminum, rectangular box.
On the aft end of the top of the tank, there is the filling port (~2"diameter) and the vent port (~1"diameter).
On the bow end, there is the welded circle plate for the fuel send line (petcock valve), then the sender unit and plate (~3" diameter, possible access), and lastly the engine fuel return line (welded, small for access).
Also, I am pretty sure there is a baffle plate across the mid-tank.
So, with this limited access, what is the best way to clean and rinse out the tank?
[B]
My thought is to use 100% methanol to pour in one end, slosh it around, then pour it out the other end upside down.[/B] Let tank dry before adding fuel.
Is this the best way to clean the tank?
Is there a better way?
.
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
.
OK, it only took 2 hours to remove the tank and solvent rinse it.
Hardest part was removal of the six screws holding the tank to the hull shelf.
The screws are located in a very tight space (photo 1).
Once the tank was out, I did about 12 x 1 Liter washes using Acetone, until no more particles came out. Vigorous shaking followed by a rapid pour out the fill hose port was the technique.
Photos 2 and 3 show the various fitting on the tank. None very big.
Photos 4 and 5 show the collected debris from the tank. Wow!
Next I will blow the tank dry using my shop vac.
[B]Also will inspect the pick up tube. What should be on the end?[/B]
.
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
[QUOTE=RPowers;22088].
[B]Also will inspect the pick up tube. What should be on the end?[/B]
.[/QUOTE]
Nothing. If there is a screen there, just remove it.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
.
OK, here are some final photos of the tank outside the boat.
I believe I was successful in cleaning the tank by using the Acetone Wash method. I used about 4 Liters of acetone total.
The "Crud in a Bucket" photo above is my proof of cleaning :)
For Stu, I inspected in uptake tube, and found it to be in good condition. There is a small rubber hose on the end with no screen, so all looked good.
One thing also I did was to change out the 3/8" fuel hose from the tank to the fuel/water separator filter. I have already changed out the other lines (from F/W filter to fuel pump), to if there was any vacuum leak from the old hose, that should now be fixed.
Tomorrow I will pour the fuel back in (actually I will pump it through a fuel filter on the way into the tank) and get the engine working again.
This job will have been worth it, to not have the engine stop mid-journey
for lack of fuel supply. That had been really bugging me!
Peace Out.
.
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
One small tip: Make sure to put some sealant on the threads of the screws for the float gauge (and any other screws holding in gasketed fittings). Apparently, fuel tends to wick up the screws if the tank is full (as I found out after replacing the gasket).
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
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Yep, did that on the threads. Gave the Goo 24hrs to cure.
Today I re-filled the tank, primed the fuel line, and started the engine.
Ran super great after hiccupping the slug of air (love the self-priming loop).
After all that work, and the debris I removed from the tank, I think that the engine stalling was really from sips of air being introduced into the fuel flow from the old (original) fuel line from the tank to the first fuel filter.
My advice? Just go ahead and replace that section of fuel hose if it is old like mine was.
OK, now I look forward to a good weekend of motor sailing to test the new fuel system out.
Thanks everybody for all the advice and help!
-Rick
.
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay