Fuel Polishing and Algae-X

[spindrift]

I have noted the past threads addressing the Algae-X unit and fuel polishing.

Has anyone else had experience with the Algage-X unit? The cost seems to be quite modest versus potential benefits (under $1,000 for a 53MY).

Fuel polishing systems appear to be another matter. As they are able to operate while the yacht is not under way these units are far more complex and costly $3,000 and up.

Any thoughs on the cost / benefit of this type of equipment?

Cheers
DWM

 

[MicroKap]

In a previous boat, I used the AlgaeX additive to my fuel and had no negative effects. My Dahl fuel filters seemed to stay cleaner than prior to the use of the liquid.

On my present boat, it came installed with the inline AlgaeX fuel conditioners. My fuel filters never seem to be that dirty as the vacuum gauges on the top of the Racors rarely show any decrease in the ability of the fuel to flow freely. I've just done the customary fuel filter replacements at required intervals.

I think fuel polishing is a completely different thing as it filters the fuel in the tank and puts it back in the tank. The AlgaeX system "cleans" the fuel prior to the filters as it's being used.

Would you polish each tank of fuel after fill up, prior to running the boat so you don't take a chance that it's a bad load? From what I understand, the Racor will take care of the water and the AlgaeX would take care of the "algae" clusters of degrading diesel fuel.

 

[bobk]

INHO you don't really need polishing or Algea X on Detroits unless you hardly ever use the boat. Detroits recirculate a lot more fuel than they burn so the inline fuel system is polishing as you run.

Bob

 

[Boss Lady]

I have a different opinion about some of the miracle products on the market. Just remember that the crud in your fuel must go somewhere, so either the fuel filters catch it or it goes through your injectors. The magnetic type fuel conditioners cause the stuff that clumps together and is normally captured by the racors, to stay seperated and pass through the filters. So do you want dirty filters, or the crud to get to the injectors.

I have yet to see any scientific data.

I am prepared to have a different opinion if someone can explain it to me. But any other possibility will take some logical explanation.

 

[Brian Degulis]

I think that in most cases the crud in your filters has nothing to do with algae it's the fuel forming asphaltines which is natural and expected in diesel fuel that is sitting still. Take a glass container and fill it with clean diesel then put it on a shelf for a few months if you carefully pick it up and look at the bottom you will see asphaltines developing. IMO AlgaeX does nothing at all the reason people think it works is simply because they are moving the fuel and preventing asphaltines. A 1/2 HP 120V gear pump a filter and a timer is all you need for a polishing system but to work it must move at least 3 GPM preferably 5. Set it to run about an hour a day and the fuel will stay fresh.

Brian

 

[REBrueckner]

Unless you are experiencing dirty fuel problems, meaning frequent clogging of filters, there is no real need to worry. Dirty fuel seems to be more prevalent in southern climates in which case use your engines more or store less fuel. In northern climates it can make sense to keep tanks full to minimize condensation in bitter winters and even if the boat is not used all that much dirty fuel seems to come from fills rather than on board environment. Use most of the fuel in your tanks annually and you'll ikely not have any worries.

 

[NAN-PO 41]

This brings up a number of possibilities. Supposedly the Algae-X units prevent the asphaltine drop out in the fuel. I don't know whether they really do work or not but they were given to me and they do seem to keep the fuel from turning dark. (Just an observation no real proof ) I agree that the Detroits return enough fuel so that polishing is not needed if they are run regularly. As to keeping the tanks full during the off season we are now told that fuel (or gasoline ) will turn stale in 2 months and we should start the season with fresh fuel and end with empty tanks.
I really don't know the answer. I did store with full tanks this year and I guess I will find out this Spring. I did have a problem with the gas in the tender last year. It went stale in less than 2 months and I had to clean the carb on a brand new outboard because of varnish. ( Small engine, small passages I don't know how much a larger engine would be affected ) At this point I guess it is a crapshoot.
Fred

 

[Traveler 45C]

Diesel is good for 100 days after it is refined before it starts to degrade.

 

[34Hatt]

Magnets separate the + and - charges for better filtering. Everything has particles and different charges after time group together. Now this might sound like BS but actually its what happens. This is the purpose of snake magnets http://www.agsrhichome.bnl.gov/RHIC/Spin/ At RHIC "Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider http://www.bnl.gov/rhic/
So it does nothing for bacteria except that it can filter it better. That is why the have a additive which KILLS it. The problem with all of these additives that only kill it is the dead bacteria then falls to the bottom of the tank. After years and years of this it builds up.

This is why I got involved with AJX additive it kills the bacteria and then the micro organism eats the dead bacteria until it burst then start over breaking it down smaller and smaller. When it has nothing left to eat it then dies off and a solvent in the additive dissolves the dead micro organism. So there is no left over by-product.
I have been in my tanks after using it for a few years and I have Nothing in the bottom. I wiped the bottom of mine with a glove on and had 1.5" of fuel in there and glove came out clean. Also shine a light in there and it was spotless. After getting the tanks clean I have found other Interesting things one tank had a bottle cap in it. The other had a piece of 1/2" copper tubing some Idiot must have drop it in after cutting the pickup tube off. Yes the had change them to hose which I changed back. PO cna be a PITA

So there is no need for inline filtering If you just take care of the fuel right.
And yes diesel has a short spane these days that why it need to be stablized which AJX does but I still do not fill tanks in the fall I put extra additive in keep them low and add fresh in the spring.

 

[MikeP]

I don't know about diesel degrading in 100 days...at least not to any meaningful effect.

I had 100+gal of 10 year old diesel in our forward waste tank that had been converted to fuel by the PO. He had forgotten about it it back in the mid 90's when he disconnected the fuel transfer fittings but forgot to remove the fuel.

I discovered it when I bought the boat. The fuel burned just fine so it's hard for me to believe that it degrades in 100 days! I winterize our boat with whatever fuel is in the tank at the time since we owned it. Never add any additives to it. Come spring, she starts immediately with all that "old" fuel. Never have had any issues with clogged filters, etc. The concept of condensation being some sort of problem is a marketing thing by additive sellors. Never seen this "problem" occur in many years of storing cars/boats over the winter.

Polishing - Remember that a running DD polishes it's own fuel anyway since 75% percent of the fuel delivered to the engines after passing through the filters is returned to the tank.

Re the small outboard - if you shut off/disconnect the fuel and run the engine until it quits, you won't have any problem with clogged passages. I do this every time I am done using the outboard for that particular outing. Same for winterizing and she starts on the first pull every time in the spring - yes, needs NEW gasoline for the first spring start. Pour the old stuff into your car's 1/2 full tank - the car's engine will never notice the difference.

 

[Brian Degulis]

The degrading begins in around 60 days that doesn't mean the fuel is no good only that it has changed. The asphaltines that form are fuel and it will burn as fuel but it won't flow thru filters very well. So tthe fact that the fuel has been sitting means it has degraded but doesn't mean it can't be used with no ill efects other than more frequent filter changes. With diesel over $4 per gallon polishing proper aditives increasing cetane #s all begin to get a lot more cost effective.

Brian

 

[Traveler 45C]

Agreed. Old fuel will still burn, whats left of it.

The 100 Days thing I got from an article I read over on Boatdiesel:

http://boatdiesel.com/BDR/Articles/APage.cfm?P=20010922_Introduction.cfm&Y=2001

We've discussed this a long time ago: http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2110&highlight=days

 

[34Hatt]

I don't know about diesel degrading in 100 days...at least not to any meaningful effect.

I had 100+gal of 10 year old diesel in our forward waste tank that had been converted to fuel by the PO. He had forgotten about it it back in the mid 90's when he disconnected the fuel transfer fittings but forgot to remove the fuel.

I discovered it when I bought the boat. The fuel burned just fine so it's hard for me to believe that it degrades in 100 days! I winterize our boat with whatever fuel is in the tank at the time since we owned it. Never add any additives to it. Come spring, she starts immediately with all that "old" fuel. Never have had any issues with clogged filters, etc. The concept of condensation being some sort of problem is a marketing thing by additive sellors. Never seen this "problem" occur in many years of storing cars/boats over the winter.

Polishing - Remember that a running DD polishes it's own fuel anyway since 75% percent of the fuel delivered to the engines after passing through the filters is returned to the tank.

Re the small outboard - if you shut off/disconnect the fuel and run the engine until it quits, you won't have any problem with clogged passages. I do this every time I am done using the outboard for that particular outing. Same for winterizing and she starts on the first pull every time in the spring - yes, needs NEW gasoline for the first spring start. Pour the old stuff into your car's 1/2 full tank - the car's engine will never notice the difference.

Your missing the Point you are saying it was 10 years old !!!!!
Yes old fuel was able to last todays NO it just like the Gas todays is not the same as it was, your comparing apples to bananas and we old know one does not last the same as the other!!!!

 

[MikeP]

Well, in 3 weeks I guess I'll find out if the diesel I put in the boat last Oct (no additives) will still burn! I'm betting there will be no difference at all but I'll certainly let you know.

 

[34Hatt]

Well, in 3 weeks I guess I'll find out if the diesel I put in the boat last Oct (no additives) will still burn! I'm betting there will be no difference at all but I'll certainly let you know.

Oh don't worry it will burn in your DD!!!
Now if its good for them or the right thing to do that's a different story!!!