Hi all,
I'm getting ready to install an Espar D4, and was thinking about how to connect the fuel line. The standard install uses a pickup in the fuel tank, but I was wondering whether that's the best set-up for a marine install, given the gunk that likely lives in our fuel tanks. Or would this largely not matter, since there would be relatively small amounts of contaminate compared to fuel?
I believe another option is to tee into the fuel line, and I was thinking it would probably be best to do this after the racor, so that the heater is burning filtered fuel. Does anyone happen to have any insight on this? Would there be any issues with an install like this?
Thanks for any thoughts!
-J
Josh McElwee
Sailing from East Greenwich, RI
2000 C36 MKII, M35B, "Chinook", Hull#1900
I have a tank just for my espar that holds kerosean .Talk to the heater people and they want you to have the combuston chamber cleaned every so many hours with diesel .
Bill Miller
S/V Lorraine
Pacific Northwest,Sound Sound
Grapeview,Wa
1990 Mk1
My Espar has served extremely well on diesel from the boat's fuel tank, tee'd in just aft of the Racor. You should have no problems.
BUT for lots of reasons in addition to the Espar you should make sure you have no fuel contamination. Next time you have the cockpit locker empty, open up the access port on the tank and have a look with a flashlight. The fuel should appear clear all the way to the pristine clean bottom of the tank. It will be diesel color, of course, but clear. Is your Racor sediment bowl clear of debris? Do you use a fuel conditioner, particularly during the winter. And in cold weather do you keep the tank full to reduce air space for condensation to occur?
Water is death for diesel fuel, as it is at the interface between fuel and water that microbes grow.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Thanks Larry, great to know that my thoughts for tee-ing in should work!
Sadly, my tank does not have an inspection port, otherwise I'd certainly do as you suggest (and would likely get the tank cleaned). My racor does end up with some water in it during a season (nothing too terrible), although it does also get gunked up with various other gunge (last time i changed it, it looked pretty grim).
I'm considering one of my winter projects this year to be the addition of just such an inspection port, along with a clean of the tank...
-J
Josh McElwee
Sailing from East Greenwich, RI
2000 C36 MKII, M35B, "Chinook", Hull#1900
Josh... I installed an inspection port on my fuel tank a couple of years ago and documented the process on the website if you check back thru old postings.
Chuck Parker
HelenRita 2072 Mk II
2002 Tall Rig - Winged Keel
Atlantic Highlands, NJ