fuel polishing, tank cleaning

[dottieshusband]

Can anybody recommend a good Company in the Miami area to do a tank cleaning and fuel polishing on a 63 Hatteras? Thanks

 

[Angela]

I had a great experience about 4 years ago, but I can't for the life of me remember the name. He was referred to me by MarioG on the forum. I'll see if I can dig up the guy's business card this evening. He left me with a gallon of Technol (and I've used all of that by now and need more). I haven't had a fuel problem since, and before he polished my fuel, I was changing the genny's fuel filter every 20 minutes.

 

[dottieshusband]

Thanks, If you come up with the contact info, please post or pm me. Thanks

 

[wsdemmer]

Try Bruce with Gunn Marine. 954-522-6346. Bruce did my Hatt when I was in Aventura before I left for Texas. He came highly recommended by many different sources. Bruce did a great job for me.

 

[tomrealest]

Years ago when I bought my boat, I had the boat towed in twice and the system polished three times before the problem was solved. I have some definite ideas about what should be done.

The guy who finally solved the problem used a Racor brand fuel Polishing system that was on wheels and sat on the dock. It had two Racor 1000 fuel filter canisters. He said he was going to start with 30 micron filters and eventually use the smallest Racors made. He had a three foot steel pipe on the end of a pressure hose on the OUT PUT side of the pump. On the return line, he had a piece of hose that he stuck far into fuel filler hole down into the fuel. He took off the inspection plates on the top of the tanks where the fuel lines to and from the engines are mounted. He said the key to cleaning the Hatteras Fiberglass tanks was to send a strong blast of fuel from the pump to break the crude loose from around the baffles in the tank. When his filters were full, the canisters had coffee ground like material in them. He continued the process until he used his smallest filters.

Since then, I have never had a problem in 9 years. I used Techron because I believe it is a very good product or Valve Tech fuel.

You don't need a Racor polisher. It could be a home made polisher but it has to have a powerful pump in my opinion and you need to take off the plates at the tanks if you really intend to get them cleaned. My boat is a 1978 model and the previous owner said he used the boat back and forth to the Bahamas the summer before (7 months before I bought the boat)

Merely sucking the fuel out of the tank thru a set of filters and back into the tank twice did not work on my boat.

 

[Angela]

Ahhh....found my guy's name! I used Skip Trent. His polishing rig is built into his truck, so the boat has to be somewhere where he can drive up somewhat close to it. He's got a healthy length of hose, but not enough to reach down the end of a pier. I had him do mine after a storm while I will still in my hurricane hole which was a basin/slip with three sides of concrete wall where they launch drystack boats. My marina has some slips right by the roadway where you could moor for the day. My recollection of his equipment and process is very much like Tom describes. I remember the long wand with the spray nozzle on the end and the process of stepping down in filters.

Whatever he did solved my fuel problems and I haven't had one since. Now, I only change the fuel filters out of guilt for how long they've been in there - usually once a year. His card has two phone numbers on it:

Miami: 305-247-2177
Keys: 305-853-5900

I hope those are still working numbers. It's been a while since I've had to call him.

 

[dottieshusband]

Thanks Angela!

 

[humdinger]

There is numerous good fuel polishing companies in the South Florida area. However, I would talk to them and see how in fact they plan on doing it.

Here are a few things you should know.

There are 2 ways to clean tanks and fuel. First one is completely remove the fuel with a Vacuum Truck, clean the tank (power wash with water and a no residue degreaser), and polish the fuel right back in to the tank. Unless the fuel is really bad you should not have to go this route and if you do, stay away from a company that uses a bladder. Bladders are very difficult clean/decontaminate compared to a stainless or steel tank usually seen on vacuum trucks. Also, there are guidelines on how to clean a petroleum tanks (General Industry Standards, ANSI/API Standard 2015) and utilizing bladders is not one of them.

The second method is the dialysis method which most people are accustomed to seeing. This will usually cure most issues. However, I would request a test (ASTM microbial test and ASTM water and sediment) to ensure that the polishing did in fact work.

Additives in some cases are ok but keep in mind that most fuel has an additive packet already built into it. Unless it is a biocide, most additives companies compare the additive using a DuPont F21-61 test which is a stability test. When you finally realize that there is problem stability is not usually the problem.

Let us know how you made out……

 

[sandspur1966]

I'd be surprised if all your issues with fuel are not resolved by the fuel you are naturally running through her on this trip.

By the time you get to your home port, my guess is that your fuel systems will be fine.

 

[oldawg]

Can anybody recommend a good Company in the Miami area to do a tank cleaning and fuel polishing on a 63 Hatteras? Thanks

Just curious what problems you are encountering? The reason I ask is I recently spent/wasted significant dollars polishing fuel when there was another fuel system issue causing my problems (stuck check valve). This was after the $1,000/call Caterpillar tech told me my fuel need cleaning. Finally found a real mechanic, instead of a parts changing computer addict, who diagnosed and fixed the problem in about an hour.

 

[bobk]

I'd be surprised if all your issues with fuel are not resolved by the fuel you are naturally running through her on this trip.

By the time you get to your home port, my guess is that your fuel systems will be fine.

Burning lots of fuel will not necessairly clean up the tank. In 2010, after running about 10000 gallons through my 600 gallon tanks over the previous 4 years, a 60 mile off shore run in sloppy weather brought the Racor vacuum up to the yellow range. I still find I want to change filters every 1000 gallons, i.e. twice a year to keep the vacuum well in the safe range.

Bobk
1981 48MY
Chateau de Mer

 

[rsmith]

Burning lots of fuel will not necessairly clean up the tank. In 2010, after running about 10000 gallons through my 600 gallon tanks over the previous 4 years, a 60 mile off shore run in sloppy weather brought the Racor vacuum up to the yellow range. I still find I want to change filters every 1000 gallons, i.e. twice a year to keep the vacuum well in the safe range.

Bobk
1981 48MY
Chateau de Mer

IMHO fuel polishing without removing the access plates is a joke. The crap builds up on the bottom below the fuel pickup level. As Bob K found out you need to really stir it up to get it out.