Let's discuss diesel fuel polishing systems...

[Boat Guy]

I'm thinking of adding / creating a fuel polishing system and want to know if you have any experience / thoughts....

My thought and design is something like this:

Add three-way valves before the supply at each Racor filter - Engine / Polisher / Off
Connect both of these lines to another three-way - Port / Stbd / Off
From that valve to fuel pump (to be determined)
From fuel pump to Racor (or other) filter water separator
Either:
From filter to three-way valve - Port / Stbd / drain
Or
From filter to hose that I can put into one of the deck plate fuel inlets

I'd prefer going right back to the tanks, but I don't want to cut the tank and add another opening if possible... I don't know if there is an easy way to T into the existing return and if it is reachable on the 400DA.

 

[PartnerShip]

I'm thinking of adding / creating a fuel polishing system and want to know if you have any experience / thoughts....

My thought and design is something like this:

Add three-way valves before the supply at each Racor filter - Engine / Polisher / Off
Connect both of these lines to another three-way - Port / Stbd / Off
From that valve to fuel pump (to be determined)
From fuel pump to Racor (or other) filter water separator
Either:
From filter to three-way valve - Port / Stbd / drain
Or
From filter to hose that I can put into one of the deck plate fuel inlets

I'd prefer going right back to the tanks, but I don't want to cut the tank and add another opening if possible... I don't know if there is an easy way to T into the existing return and if it is reachable on the 400DA.

Go here:
https://www.sbmar.com/articles/marine-fuel-filtration-the-seaboard-way/

 

[fwebster]

Why?

If you manage your fuel system properly, you shouldn't need to polish the fuel:

http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/diesel-fuel-management.84670/#post-1060105

post #1


However, if you do get bad fuel or a sludge build up, it is more efficient to just get a local fuel cleaning service to come to the boat and do it for you. They have high volume pumps and can clean the tanks in one trip to the boat, whereas you will change Racors or your polishing filters many times to get the same result.

 

[bahamabreisus]

We just installed algea-x systems on our boat, wont know how they do for a while. I have a lot of friends with them and they are thrilled. Their Racor bowls are crystal clear now.

 

[Boat Guy]

Did you install it yourself? What was pricing like?

I'm thinking about just getting a Reverso Gear pump and use it as an oil change pump and fuel polishing pump.

 

[bahamabreisus]

Did you install it yourself? What was pricing like?

I'm thinking about just getting a Reverso Gear pump and use it as an oil change pump and fuel polishing pump.

Algea-x vary in price, based on fuel passed thru. Ours were around $400 a piece, plus install, which ran around $400 with necessary fittings

 

[carterchapman]

My genny "processes" 20 GPH and uses 1-2 GPH depending on load. It is a great fuel polisher! I change my genny racor every 200 hrs of operation as it is flowing a lot more fuel than it uses. I'm not sure about yours, but if I feed from one side and return to the other, I will transfer 20-30 GPH from one side to the other... Does the 450 have the capability to feed from one side and return to the other?

 

[Boat Guy]

Interesting thought... I guess in some ways you're correct...But even at 20gal/hr I'd be running the gennie a fair amount and you'd still be running the fuel through the gennie... On my vessel there is no way to switch which side the gennie draws from so it would only be one side....

RE: Algae-x.... I read about it, and frankly, it seems gimmicky...Perhaps it works...Keep us posted on your thoughts...Though, magnet and "kinetic energy"?.. Not sure what the would do to bio-growth...Seems to just spins it to a finer particulate, but that might not be best as it just might get through the filtration.