"Self made" diesel polish system

[PMvdb395DA]

Hello,

Thinking about, making my own fuel polish system.

Very simple with a electric fuel pump and T handles.

Planning to place the fuel pump in the fuel line after the racor's.

See my drawing.

Any comments?

 

[osd9]

Maybe a fluids engineer can comment with better conviction but here's my comment.

By using a single pump to simultaneously polish both tanks via the return lines, unless you can guarranty absolute equal volume/pressure to both tanks (filters, line, etc have the same restricitions) you may end up filling one tank higher than the other, and in a worst case, completely fill one tank and possibly cause it to spurt fuel from the overfill vent.

You could polish one tank at a time or just install two pumps....

 

[fwebster]

I just have to ask ....why?

The system you are contemplating doesn't address filtering capacity so it doesn't matter what pump...your add-on or the engine's own pump.....that moves the fuel, you still have the same filter to change. Unless you filter separately or add capacity, I don't see that you are doing anything but spending money.

If you are concerned about getting caught with plugged up filters, you would probably be as well off by just adding a dual Racor.

 

[osd9]

As usual, Frank makes an excellent point.

 

[wkearney99]

If you're going to do something like that then I'd put a three-way valve just after the center filter and pump. That way you could control which tank gets the returned fuel. It'd also be worth considering a change to the other valves too. Better, perhaps, to change the setup to allow pulling from opposite tanks, along with a line to your filter.

That is, put a two-way shut-off valve from each tank. Then put another two-way shut-off as a cross-over between the lines to the engines. This would let you turn off a tank, open the cross-over and have both engines pull from the opposite tank. Works great as a way to deal with bad fuel or an uneven load. And no, leaving the cross-over open will NOT automagically 'balance' the flow.

 

[fwebster]

That one bothers me a little..........

Each engine and fuel system must stand on its own meaning that any crossover feed system on a diesel must use 2 gang selector valves so both supply and return for the same tank are selected at the same time so your engine returns fuel to the same tank it draws from.

 

[wkearney99]

Fair point, if you're dealing with a return line setup then it'd certainly require being valved appropriately.

 

[Dancin Dave]

Add the additional racor, its not a big job. Start fabricating a "system" have a spill or some other mishap and the insurance company won't wanna know you.

 

[PMvdb395DA]

Maybe a fluids engineer can comment with better conviction but here's my comment.

By using a single pump to simultaneously polish both tanks via the return lines, unless you can guarranty absolute equal volume/pressure to both tanks (filters, line, etc have the same restricitions) you may end up filling one tank higher than the other, and in a worst case, completely fill one tank and possibly cause it to spurt fuel from the overfill vent.

You could polish one tank at a time or just install two pumps....

Hello Dom,
If I make the system like this, I polish one tank at the
time.
I mount a T- handle so I can switch between the port and starboard side.
Also I just want to polish when I am on the boat, and can watch the system.
This pump has a capacity of 140Gph
Not the whole year long, but a few times in the winter, using your old Racor filter.
Than after the winter install the new fresh racor filter.

I just have to ask ....why?

The system you are contemplating doesn't address filtering capacity so it doesn't matter what pump...your add-on or the engine's own pump.....that moves the fuel, you still have the same filter to change. Unless you filter separately or add capacity, I don't see that you are doing anything but spending money.

If you are concerned about getting caught with plugged up filters, you would probably be as well off by just adding a dual Racor.

Why?

I heard and read that "just" adding biocide and other fuel treatments is not so effective if the diesel isn't circulated.
Only adding biocide aggravates the situation and turns bio-film into solids, creating a real fuel filter nightmare.
Bio film develops throughout the entire diesel fuel system.
It grows in the water-fuel interface and on the walls, baffles, and bottoms of fuel storage tanks.
By circulating you can catch these rest solids in a polishing and filter system.
By mounting a second Racor you don't solve this problem...
So I want to add boicide and circulate my fuel through the "old" racor, and refresh my racor element after wards.

In the Netherlands we have high temp differences (-15 / + 15)in the winter and a lot of condense because of high humidity.
I had a lot of dirt in my racors last year.

Peter.

 

[fwebster]

Peter,

You will adequately disperse your fuel additives if you add them right before you refuel the boat.

Biocides only "aggravate" the situation if you just dump them in one time. If you initially "shock" the tanks with biocide then keep a maintenance level of the biocide in the fuel by adding it at every fill up, the biocide prevents the diesel fuel from supporting the microbial growth in the presence of water. Without something to feed on, you don't get a build up.

If you are getting enough water in your tanks thru condensatioin to cause "bio-film" everywhere in the system that regular doses of biocide won't handle, you need to examine your fueling prectices and your fuel system for leaks. Always top off your tanks after use in the winter and leave the boat sotred with the tanks as full as possible. If there is no air about the fuel, the tanks cannot condense moisture.....the alternative is to keep the tanks as full as possible so the air void above the fuel is as small as possible.

Finally, if you are going to do this, add a second Racor with the circulation pump and isplate both from the fuel system. If you don't keep the fuel polishing separate from your boat's regular filtration system, you will have to change Racor elements every time you use your boat, if your fuel is as dirty as you describe.

I'll leave you with this......I've got dual Racors, I use a biocide on a maintenance basis and our boat is in a worse area than yours as far as the climate is concerned. It may be 20 degrees at night and get up to 65 in the late afternoon in the winter....in the summer, it may be 72 at night and 100 with 100% humidity in the afternoon. All I ever have do is change my Racors once a year when I do my regular service.

 

[Robski97]

Add BAd fuel and having a polishing set up would be a godsend. 2 x last year I got CRAP in my tank from Big fuel dispensing Marina's. Having single racors in terrible locations didnt help matters. my 2 cents ....


Rob

 

[osd9]

.........Not the whole year long, but a few times in the winter, using your old Racor filter.
Than after the winter install the new fresh racor filter............
Peter.

Peter:

I would suggest that you Re-read Franks post.

Using your (Only) primary (Racor) filter to polish your fuel is just asking for trouble. After all, your polishing the fuel for two main reasons: 1) to clean out any impurities/water you suspect in the fuel and 2) because you suspect reason 1.

Let's say you just finished polishing your tanks for reasons 1 and 2 above.....you've now fowled your (ONLY) primary filter. Why would you chance to continue using this filter to run with?

 

[Pirate]

I have a polishing system on my boat, but it is completely separate from the main feeds. Mostly it is separate because the pickups for the mains are purposely elevated within the tank in order to avoid picking up the water, dirt, and debris that reside on the bottom of the tanks. I made my polisher myself, it runs through a 10mic RCI centrifugal filter and then a 2mic Fleetguard before returning to the tank. The pickups for each tank are fitted at the lowest point. Frank is right that a well maintained fuel system that is properly stored will likely never need this. I put this system on just before we made a trip from TN to FL to Bahamas to Turks/Caicos to BVI and back. Considering some of the suspect places where we had to take on fuel, we always overnighted and let the polisher run through the night..... pretty amazing the amount of garbage it pulled out. That said, unless you are taking distant trips or forced to fuel at suspect points, the $$ would be better spent paying a polishing service and maintaining your tanks per Frank's suggestions.

 

[PMvdb395DA]

Thanks for your reactions so far.

I think I go with separated a self made separate mobile polish system with a racor filter.

I used Biocide and a water separate treatment several times now.
I also put a shock amount in my tanks.
But I still see to much dirt in my racors.
I add the additives when I put diesel in my tanks.

I think the former owner didn't tread the diesel at all.

This pump I have, can circulate the the total volume of one tank in a hour.
I have the idea that if I add the biocide and circulate the fuel with this speed through the racor filter system I can clean my system.

Peter

 

[tc410]

Racor's are sized by GPH of fuel flow. Make sure the one you buy is rated for 140 GPH (your stated pump flow rate). You'll need either a single 1000MA or dual 900MA's.
http://www.parker.com/racor/tbn_specs.html

 

[PMvdb395DA]

OK I dismounted my racors yesterday.

Here are some pics again.

Is this a normal situation?

 

[PMvdb395DA]

I hope I can get a answer on the above photo's.

I hope that some diesel guy's can tell me if this clogging dirt is normal.

Thanks Peter

 

[Skip]

Peter,
How many gallons have gone through these filter elements? I have to tell you, I think they look exceptionally clean. I put about 3400 gallons, or about 12,870 liters, of diesel through my fuel system last year, and the 30 Micron Racor elements in my 900MAs were black, but there was no buildup within the filter element, minimal residue in the bowls, and no visible water in the racor bowls. I shock the tanks with biocide at the start of each season, use a maintenance biocide dose at each fill up, and use Power Service Diesel Kleen to compensate for ULSD fuel. I also keep my tanks full. Before I winterize I shock again, and add Diesel 9-1-1 to take care of any water. I change my racor elements once a year. My generator's Racor 500MA had a 2 Micron filter element, and did just fine with the fuel managment regimen (taught to me by Frank W) outlined above. I really think you are fine without the polishing system, but if you want additional filtration, the dual Racors are the way to go, in my opinion.
regards
Skip

 

[PMvdb395DA]

Ok Skip, thanks for your reaction.

I did the same treatment of the fuel as you did.
Used about 1500 gallons of diesel this year.
What bothers me, is the residue that sits in the bowl.

I hope it's from the shock therapy that I started last year.
I want this dirt out of my tanks, and think if I circulate all my diesel a few times through a racor system, that the most dirt filtered out than...

Peter.

 

[Pirate]

Peter- Under normal circumstances, my filters do not look like that. That said, I have polishers and I use a bit fuel so it is always fresh. In the past, I have done shock treatments when I bought a used boat. It's a seemingly endless process that involves dozens of filters. If the dirt and residue bother you (and it would bother me), I would recommend calling a professional fuel polisher to come service your tanks. From that point forward, follow all recommended procedures for storage, i.e. full tanks, maintenance additives, etc. There are many who would simply keep filter elements on board and change them as necessary. That route along w/ some additives would likely result in clean fuel as well if you use a lot of fuel.

Good luck.