bad fuel?

[jekyl]

Had a wonderful day weather wise on the water and everything was working as it should ,until we started to come home and about 30 minutes into our return trip the mtrs started to loose power.
As I have just cleaned out the oil tanks and replaced those filters I was fairly confident it was a fuel issue.
Sure enough those beautiful Racors i have just installed show something in the fuel. It was a gelatenous substance that floats in the fuel.I switched over to the aux tank after emptying the racors.
What I am looking for is anyone with experience as to what this may be?
This is the second time I have had this in my filters the last set were a brand new pair of Yamaha factory 10 microns.

 

[Kenlahr]

All of these problems seem to be related Haydn. Did your Express sit for a long time waiting for a buyer? It sounds like your tanks need a good cleaning. I had mine done at a dealer many years back after the boat sat for three years in a warehouse. Wish I could offer more help, I am sure others on this board will jump in.

Did ya do any fishing out there?

 

[gradyfish22]

I agree, sounds like you need the tanks cleaned. your best bet is to have the fuel removed from the boat and pumped into drums, use a filter when pumping it to sift out the water and gel in it. Empty the tank and clean it well, not sure what would work well, I know dish soap and water will work, but you need to rinse well and get it out after which may not be easy. I'm sure there are other ways to clean it. Once they are cleaned, you can reuse the fuel left over since it was all filtered, you may want to filter it again putting it back in, but at least you can salvage much of the fuel. I'd top the tanks off with fresh new fuel as well. This is exactly a DIY job, but I agree with Ken, sounds like the boat sat for at least one season and the owner did not put anything in the tanks. I put yamaha lube and startron in my tanks. Star tron allows a little bit of water to pass through the engine safely if it accumulates, preventing that gel from forming. It also adds a little octane boost to the fuel so if it lost octane from the water forming, it wont make the engine run rough. If the boat sits for a month or so at a time, add some fuel stabilizer into the tank, that will help prevent some of the water separation and gel formation. Sorry to hear about all of your bad luck, but it does all sound like the same issue. I'd think the sooner the tanks are cleaned, the sooner she will run correctly and give you years of trouble free use.

 

[jekyl]

Thanks guys for your concerns and advice. Whilst it is frustrating i am learning all about the systems on Tanami in a thorough way.
I have always said i would rather have a boat that had been used often and maintained regularly rather than one which had sat in a shed all it's life. Guess which one I bought.
Seriously tho' the these problems are all interelated and one by one i am knocking them off and learning heaps in the process.
Due to unseasonal bad weather and those niggly probs we haven't been able to do all the fishing we would like. As our billfishing is just about to get started i am not too worried yet.
I got to use the downrigger on the weekend and was really happy how that went . Also the port side outrigger wasn't quite right so i had repositioned the base which worked a treat also. As you saw Ken the high speed fairing is providing awesome pictures. Haven't wired up the 585 yet and i think I'll wait for the wide angle flush mount tranni that's about to be released.
We got to use the new head on the weekend and it is excellent.
So while these fuel issues are annoying there is lots to be pleased with. And the ride and performance is the best I've experienced in a 26 footer.
When I wash her down and have her sitting in my driveway or cruising on the Coral Sea there isn't much to not like.

 

[catch22]

I would talk with a marina/dealer. You should be able to find an outfit that does "tank polishing". They will circulate a solvent through your tank. That should also include testing and filtering your fuel. If your fuel is too far gone, they should be able to dispose of it.
I would not be comfortable trying something like that myself.... too many "what ifs".... spark, heat build up, static, etc. I've worked for chemical companies and refinerys, and even with a lot of safety precautions.... (all fuel lines, pumps, hoses, and the storage containers have to be grounded, as well as enerted with nitrogen, to remove air), I've still seen fires and luckily, lol small explosions. Let a pro do it.

 

[jekyl]

Thaks for all the advice i have spoken to a very good boat mechanic here who believes the best way to make sure the tanks are clean is to remove them.
If I go down this route.....the owners manual is not clear on where each of the tanks are located and as to whether they can be removed?

On another tack one of the shops here recommended a fuel additive and after speaking to the ditributor he is confident it will remove the polutant if I get the levels low and then put in a fresh batch of fuel.

Two diesel shops that i spoke to did not want to try emptying the tanks......

Tom you have the knowledge about the tanks removal i believe?

 

[gradyfish22]

I know the aft aux tank can be accesses, you need to remove the center cockpit panel, pull out the screws and the caulking, not a tough job. I think the main tank is forward of that, to remove it you may need to remove the aux first, not sure. I think it is directly below the fish box under the helm, I will be on the boat tomorrow and will look at access and how it might be done for ya. I'm assuming there is a bulkhead separating the two tanks, you may need to cut the one or it may be removable, not sure how they did it on this model. When you put the cockpit plates back in, fill all screw holes with 4200 right before you reinsert the screws, this will ensure they make a good watertight grab and do not let water in, many forget to do this and the core or wood it screws into rots and the deck goes soft. There should be an inspection plate that is accessible from one of the plastic inspection plates, you can unscrew this plate and view the tank when it is lower to see whats inside, you will need a bright lite to really see it, and make sure you have good ventilation. The inspection plate is maybe 6-8inches wide. I will look at the access tommorrow and report back with what I find to be the easiest solution if you need to remove the tanks, I'd try and avoid that if possible, but you may not have a choice....if it was my boat I know that Aux tank would be replaced and made about 15-20gal larger More range for me to reach more canyons!!!

 

[eppem]

pop the senders and look into the tanks...any "bad" fuel will sit under the gas...you can pump it out by hand with a home made hand siphon...email me at mike@diversemm.com, i am well versed in bad fuel and their remadies (spelling?) as when the state of ct made the switch to ethenoyl i was one of many who had problems...got em all fixed, never removed the tank!

 

[Kenlahr]

I was thinking the same think Haydn. By the time you get through all of these issues, you'll know that boat inside and out, and that's right where you want to be. Its a pain getting there, but in the end that boat will have part of you in it. After running the Coral Sea with ya, I am full of envy! I am already trying to figure a way back there, but during Marlin season! We'll be tuna fishing in a few weeks here, I'll keep ya posted.

Cheers Mate! Heep's of luck and No drama Cane Farmer

 

[JUST-IN-TIME]

you can polish them

 

[jekyl]

one of the forums suggested using compressed air thru the breather to force the fuel up the siphon. Sounded like a good idea.
Thanks for the ideas guys . Ken I'll keep you informed about the billfishing season in the Coral Sea . Remember this one "it's all over range rover"

 

[Grog]

one of the forums suggested using compressed air thru the breather to force the fuel up the siphon. Sounded like a good idea.
Thanks for the ideas guys . Ken I'll keep you informed about the billfishing season in the Coral Sea . Remember this one "it's all over range rover"

BE VERY CAREFUL! Your tank is not a pressure rated vessel.

 

[JUST-IN-TIME]

KABOOM

 

[gradyfish22]

I'd leave the tanks in, seems like more work then it is worth, it would be an absolute last resort. I do agree that polishing the fuel may be a good solution, some of the boats that are built where I work have them installed if they typically get gas in foreign ports that are known to have lower grade fuel or that might be contaminated. After all, they are running $400,000 engines so they need to be careful, but the polish cleans the fuel in the tanks great and keeps the engines free of fuel issues, plus it is safe. You may want to find a shop that has a system that can perform this for you. I'd avoid compressed air, it can explode if not done right. An experience yard can do it safely, but I'm not sure how much the tanks can handle and personally would seek another solution and not take the chance. Polishing the fuel seems like the easiest for you, you won't need to remove anything but the small circular inspection plate in the deck, and then likely the metal one below it on the tank, unless they use you fuel suction lines, it would probably be easier to have a small plate made the size of the metal round inspection plate and have suctions welded in there and have that be the source, that way nothing is changed on the boat, and you can keep that plate in case it ever needs to be done down the road, hopefully it will not though. That would be what I would do unless the person doing it had a better solution.