Old fuel

3 posts / 0 new
Last post
Roger
Offline
Joined: 9/14/08
Posts: 29
Old fuel

My fuel in the boat is three year sold, haven't sailed much the last few years due to health reasons.  Thinking to siphon off some and the mix in some new fuel, any benefits in doing this os should all the fuel be replaced. The old fuel looks good, is there a way to test the quality of it.  Thanks

1996 C36 Mk II, #1545
Frankfort, MI

pierview
Offline
Joined: 9/27/09
Posts: 606

You can have it "scrubbed" by a fuel company but if you fon't have too much of it, I'd dump it and clean out the tanl brefore putting in new fuel. If you don't have a tank access port, you can get a pipe fitted to a dshop vac thru the fuel gauge sending unit and vacumn it out that way (also you can remove the fuel with an oil change pump thru that opening).

Chuck Parker
HelenRita 2072 Mk II
2002 Tall Rig - Winged Keel
Atlantic Highlands, NJ

dpower
Offline
Joined: 6/20/08
Posts: 239

Like Chuck suggested, you could have your fuel polished which would remove any contamination in the fuel.  I would have a concern about the sides and bottom of the tank. Seems like the experts like to have the tank half full so the can agitate the fuel to clean out the inside.  You could just pay them to pump out the tank and discard the old fuel.  It is then easy to remove the tank and have it cleaned out.  Several years ago I did that and had a radiator shop clean it for $50.  Then my tank was almost empty so I did not have a problem of finding lots of Jerry cans to store and remove the old fuel.  As for the "quality" of your fuel, I do not know if diesel itself goes bad with age.

David S. Power
Two If By Sea #1687
Burnt Store Marina
Punta Gorda, FL

Log in or register to post comments