Fuel quality issues and tank configuration

[Timm]

I have a 1978 53' YF that has caused me significant troubles due to poor fuel quality and poorly designed FloScan installation, since I bought her 18 months ago.

I won't bore you with all of the issues but leave it to say I have been placed into a position multiple times where the engines have stalled and needed to be primed due to fuel starvation. And, everyone knows the pain involved with trying to get them running again. Been towed in 3 times now when even the manual priming didn't work. This last time - just before Thanksgiving, even the manual priming couldn't get them to stay running.

I thought about trying the little Walpro priming pump installation that has been on a few threads but didn't like adding all of the extra plumbing to what is already a nightmare of hoses due to the FloScan installation issue.

So, I decided to try the Racor priming pumps that are available for the 75/1000MA's FWS's and low and behold, I have solved my priming problem. For those of you interested, it takes about 30 minutes to install. The biggest pain is unmounting the FWS's and disposing of the fuel so you can tear them apart. But other than that, it is quite straight forward. An added bonus is that in addition to filling the cans, they have enough power to prime the entire fuel system. They're not cheap, but if they help me avoid getting towed in again, there isn't a price you can put on them that is too much.

(By the way, I had already purchased the Walpro pumps but won't be using them. I paid $113 each and will sell them both for $200 and I'll pay shipping to anyone interested.)

Now, this doesn't solve my basic fuel quality problem which is actually the topic of my thread. I'm going to get all three tanks polished, again (had done that before I took possesion of the boat). But, I wanted to know what the standard (if there is one) fuel supply configuration is for those of you that own this similar model of boat with 3 tanks - forward, aft and lazzerette.

I understand that both engines can pull from the same tank which is how I have it set up now. But I am thinking of having each engine draw from a different tank. The reason being is if one tank gets screwed up again or something with it's piping, I won't lose both engines which has been the case to date.

And to confirm, the genset pulls from the forward tank only, correct?

Any thoughts, comments?

Tim

 

[doc g]

Timm, if those Walbros are 32 volt I want them ...........Pat

 

[Finalee]

I had fuel issues as well initially. Had the fuel polished and still had the problem. (Clogging filters on Starboard tank). I built a wand to attach to the techs fuel polisher and swished in every corner possible. We managed to clog his machines filters 2 x in the process. This solved the problem. I have added treatment every other tank full since ,without incicident. If I had to do it again , I would pull from the intake line of the the tank being cleaned, and be sure to have room in the other tank for the return. This would gaurantee all the fuel actually gets polished.
I think aside from preventing both engines from stopping when there is fuel quality issues, the other reason for seperate tanks is keeping the fuel cooler.

 

[Timm]

Pat,

The Walpro's are the 12 volt versions.

 

[58yfsb]

Some possibly relevant info: Genset in our 58YF always pulls from the fwd tank (only).

I had fouling in the lazarette tank (only) when I took possession of the boat - polishing didn't work. Finally pumped it dry, then okay - so far. Have split the engines only once - after the laz tank fouled the port so bad it shut down - ran that way for several hours with no issues. But, I'm not experienced enough to really comment on that set up.

 

[Capt K]

You might try looking up AJX treatment online. I have used it and it does a great job. The cleaning treatment cleaned up the mess, and the maintenance treatment keeps it looking pretty good.

I had one pretty bad tank for a number of years before using AJX.

Capt K

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I always set each engine to draw and return to it's own tank. This can help to keep both engines from doing down at once, but it is no guarantee. I usually fill both tanks at the same time from the same source, so it is likely that I would also contaminate both tanks at the same time as well if the fuel source was bad. I only have 2 tanks, but with 3, you could keep the third tank as a reserve that always has good fuel from your next to last fueling in it.

 

[REBrueckner]

SkyCheney has the right idea: you have separate engines, fuel filters, alternators, batteries and electrical systems, fuel lines, fuel tanks: WHY would anyone run both engines from the SAME tank?? especially when running from port and starboard keeps the boat in proper trim?

ALWAYS run from and return fuel to a separate tank for each engine. And if you fill two tanks,say at one refuel location, to be safe, switch one engine to your third tank to help insure at least one engine will be free of fuel troubles. But DON't let fuel sit in that "third" tank endlessly...use it every year and refill with fresh fuel...

Also, if you want to avoid unpleasant engine failure due to clogged filters, upgrade your old RACOR filter bowls to new ones with with the water probe mounting, and add the water alarm and vacuum gauges at your helm....YOU'LL BE WARNED BEFORE YOUR ENGINES STOP!!!!!

 

[Timm]

(REBrueckner) Rob - this reply is in regards to your question: WHY would anyone run both engines from the SAME tank?? especially when running from port and starboard keeps the boat in proper trim?

That is why I specified the year and model of my vessel in the post so your question wouldn't be asked since the answer is so obvious.

Possibly you are not familiar with this boats model tank configuration: it has 3 tanks mounted down the center line. The forward 2 are down the keel, in-line, the 3rd mounted athwartship (centered) in the lazzarette. Therefore, there would never be a port/starboard trim issue. Possibly a fore/aft trim problem but the boat is so well balanced that way it doesn't appear to make much of a difference with various quanities of fuel in the 3 tanks.

Thanks for the advice on the upgraded FWS. That setup already exsists in my system. My problem is not water, it's crud at the bottom of the tanks (from the boat sitting non-used for many years prior to my purchase) that gets sucked up.