The fuel truck was at the marina yesterday. This lead to the inevitable dockside debate of keeping tanks full or letting them run down adding fresh fuel on an as needed basis.
For me, I only turn over about 1500 gallons of diesel per year. My tank holds 1100 gallons. My diesel is delivered with Valvetec.
My observation of the Racor sediment bowl reveals no water but a significant quantity of "tar balls". I suspect these balls are byproducts of old fuel.
So I am inclined to keep my tanks between 1/4-1/2 in an attempt to minimize stale fuel. Dockmates are calling me foolish but what do you guys think?
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08-13-2019 10:32 AM #1Senior Member
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Age Old Questions: Keep Fuel Tanks Topped Off or Run Them Down?
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08-13-2019 11:03 AM #2
Re: Age Old Questions: Keep Fuel Tanks Topped Off or Run Them Down?
Tar balls are muck in the tank and should be cleaned out.
1500 gallons is OK for the years turnover and circulating the fuel more often is as helpful as burning it.
Valveteck is junk.
https://www.jatonkam35s.com/DeuceTec...itive_test.pdfScott
41C117 "Hattatude"
Port Canaveral Florida.
Marine Electronics and Electrical Products Distributor.
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08-13-2019 11:46 AM #3Senior Member
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- Apr 2005
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Re: Age Old Questions: Keep Fuel Tanks Topped Off or Run Them Down?
Love the fuel dock argument because no winners or losers and no political parties are involved.
I am in your camp. I estimate consumption with a safety factor and add that to tanks that are 25% full. My theory is that the DD's return so much fuel that after a cruise the fuel in the tanks has been through the Racors a few times.
I live in Florida where the temperature change doesn't lend itself as well to the condensation in the tank argument.
So I run around with less than full tanks saving money and only about half the people at the fuel dock think I am an idiot. That's a better approval rating than any politician has.
Bruce
Freestyle
1986 62 DCMY (54MY with 8 foot cockpit ext.)
Tampa
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Re: Age Old Questions: Keep Fuel Tanks Topped Off or Run Them Down?
I keep my tanks 100% full while at the dock. I put Biobor in them if I won't be cruising for a couple of months. I do this mainly out of paranoia that one day the BIG ONE will hit California and i want to make sure I have enough fuel to get out of the state if needed and have enough diesel on hand to run the generators so I'm not living in the stone ages.
Looking for a 80 plus foot yacht
Hatteras of Cheoy Lee
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Re: Age Old Questions: Keep Fuel Tanks Topped Off or Run Them Down?
I base my fuel purchases on price. If it seems really low, I fill them up. If not, I just put in what I need. As for winter storage, it goes into storage with whatever is in there. Some years its near full, other years its near 1/4. Never a problem in 16 years so I'll keep doing it this way.
Sky Cheney
1985 53EDMY, Hull #CN759, "Rebecca"
ELYC on White Lake--Montague, MI
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Re: Age Old Questions: Keep Fuel Tanks Topped Off or Run Them Down?
I’m like Ron I keep them full. I ran out of fuel once (owner error) and will never find myself in that spot again. Filters are clean as new so that’s not an issue.
SEVEN
1979 53' MY Hull #563
Antioch, California
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08-13-2019 05:01 PM #7Senior Member
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- Apr 2005
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Re: Age Old Questions: Keep Fuel Tanks Topped Off or Run Them Down?
I think the answer To this one is it does not make a hoot of difference either way.
Some dockside experts just have to have an opinion on everything an like to argue about nothing.
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Re: Age Old Questions: Keep Fuel Tanks Topped Off or Run Them Down?
I try not to keep diesel for more than 6 months. Up north where you get condensation in the tank I can see why they s want full tanks but in Florida it isn’t an issue.
In hurricane season... I try to keep the tanks full so I can run if neededPascal
Miami, FL
1970 53 MY #325 Cummins 6CTAs
2014 26' gaff rigged sloop
2007 Sandbarhopper 13
12' Westphal Cat boat
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08-13-2019 08:06 PM #9Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2018
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- 1,069
Re: Age Old Questions: Keep Fuel Tanks Topped Off or Run Them Down?
Sometimes full, sometimes half. Depends on the last trip. I try to at least keep them half full in case I need to go somewhere or move the boat. There have been times when the fuel dock has been out of order. Half a tank will pretty much get me to any marina within a day's cruise if need be.
Prometheus
1978 53' MY Hull #529
Viera, FL
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08-13-2019 08:11 PM #10Senior Member
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- Jun 2018
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Re: Age Old Questions: Keep Fuel Tanks Topped Off or Run Them Down?
Just a data point. When I bought the boat last year, the fuel had been in it for 4+ years. 3/4 in one tank and 1/2 in the other. Before the 1800 mile trip down here, we changed all the filters etc, but not a single issue with the fuel. Of course, we filled the tanks a few times during the trip (19 days) and when it got here changed all of the filters again.
Prometheus
1978 53' MY Hull #529
Viera, FL