Cloudy Fuel

[Sadey]

Finally finished what turned out to be a long trip from Nashville to Longboat Key Florida. We had a fuel cooler that went bad and allowed water into one of our tanks. That issue was resolved and all of the water has been removed from that tank. This has been verified multiple times by sticking the tank with water detection paste. We changed the racor filter after all the water was drained from the bowel and there didn’t appear to be any snot in it. However, the fuel coming from that tank is still cloudy in the bowel. There’s no water in the bottom of the Racor and the engines are running fine. Is this just emulsified water and I have to burn that tank empty? I’m reluctant to put any chemical treatment in the tank to clear it because at this point the motor is running without hesitation. Suggestions?

 

[Dan Mapes]

What micron filters are you running?

 

[Sadey]

Pretty sure they are 30’s

 

[Avenger]

Some additives have water dispersants which emulsify water. This is a big no-no because you end up running water through your fuel injection. Water is highly abrasive on precision surfaces.

Often we see cloudy fuel from pumps, but if we let it sit it clears. That usually indicates an emulsifier.

Is it possible that the people doing your work may have tried to help clear the water with an additive?

If that's the case I don't know if it can be fixed. However quality fuel additives have demulsifiers that are intended to precipitate the water out of fuel so filtration can deal with it. However, I'm not sure if that can overcome something already treated with an emulsifier.

 

[Sadey]

Nothing has been added. We polished initially but ended up removing fuel/water until all water (minus what hides behind the baffles) was removed.

 

[Avenger]

Despite that old saw about water and oil, diesel fuel can hold water. Consider an additive with a demulsifier. I know Stanadyne and Alliant Power have it. Those are the products I deal with, but there are plenty of others so read the labels.

 

[Captain Ralph]

I have gone thru this. Do not ad anything.
Burn it up; Run that tank low a few times and refill with quality fuel.

 

[Sadey]

I figured it would come down to this. Much like the fuel cooler, there’s a 50/50 split, it’s not the fuel cooler/it is the fuel cooler. Add/don’t add. I wanted all the opinions, but I was leaning towards if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The motors ran fine for roughly 30 hours. I will say I was hoping it would take just the emptying this tank, but it sounds like I’m in for a couple of tanks. Darn, that means more boat rides.

 

[rsmith]

I’ve been running 2 micron 2020SM in my racors for over 40 years and almost 20,000 hours in my 12/71s any one that tells you you can’t is full of chit and only repeating an internet myth. The secondary is probably 5 micron. Get it out in the primary which is easier and quicker to change. Plus it’s not the fine particles that clog the filter site the large gooey algae that’s way more than 30 micron.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I’ve been running 2 micron 2020SM in my racors for over 40 years and almost 20,000 hours in my 12/71s any one that tells you you can’t is full of chit and only repeating an internet myth. The secondary is probably 5 micron. Get it out in the primary which is easier and quicker to change. Plus it’s not the fine particles that clog the filter site the large gooey algae that’s way more than 30 micron.

Agree 100%. I have always run 2 micron primaries as well. We've done it for as long as Scott has. And our boats don't sit. We use them.

 

[Sadey]

Anybody need a bunch of 30's?

 

[Captain Ralph]

30 or 2, The later Racor paper media will soak with water. They stopped using the stinky fish oil a while ago.
So, examine your Racor filter media. If it is mushy, it's water. If it's rigid, then just some suspended particles that will filter out and settle.

rsmith has commented on a 2mic primary for a long while. I cringe every time he mentions this but it works for him.
Pristine tanks and reliable fuel source allow such great results.
However; It defeats the design of staged fuel filtering.

We actually use three filter stages on our 12V71TIs. It all starts with the Racor 30 mic mud filters, a second spin on primary (with a mini bowl) @ 20mic, then secondary spin on around 5 mic.
Since my episode with water, snot, tomato soup, cloudy then finally clear; It was just using the boat that cleared all up after the fix.

Yes, use your boat. ☺☺

 

[Sadey]

That’s one thing Benedetto can’t be accused of being, a dock queen. We use her and plan to use her even more now that she won’t sleep from October to May.

 

[Captain Ralph]

That’s one thing Benedetto can’t be accused of being, a dock queen. We use her and plan to use her even more now that she won’t sleep from October to May.

Then go out and have some serious fun. If it is fixed, the tank will clear.

 

[rsmith]

With the advent of racor type filters the secondary is only there to protect the injectors in case the fuel pump grenades. I have gauges on the racors and valves on each side of the filter and I saw minimal difference in vacuum pressure with 2 vs 30 mic. I can change a racor out in less than a couple minutes and never lose prime. Can’t do that with the secondary. So why send all the garbage between 2-30 microns to the secondary?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

If you use 30's and you plug a secondary in 7-10's, have fun changing it. If you use 2's, you can flip a valve and switch to the next Racor until you get to port and have time to change it. Your call. But I'll stick with the 2's.