Enjoy as I explain a simple yet effective fuel polishing system I have built for my Cal 31 sailboat. The individual parts were all purchased from Amazon for less than $100.00.
Did something very similar to this, but I put a 20 micron filter before the water filter separator, that will clean most of any debris. Also a water fuel sep filter like yours is $20 on Amazon, fuel pump is about $10, and I got Wix 20 micron for $4 each. I got a cheap garden sprayer and filled it with fuel, and sprayed it into the tank against the walls and any areas that might hold things. I did a pump out into barrel, then pumped it back out into the tank (two cycles of cleaning...the last 20% of fuel in barrel, went though a 3rd cycle). Afterwards I ran it from the tank, through the filter system, back into the tank overnight. I also took samples in clear bottles to compare throughout the process. At the end I plumbed a 10 micron filter/pump with SOV (2), so I can run it as needed for further cleaning. I also pour some fuel conditioner into the tank.
Excellent idea! I'm going to build one. I just got a Catalina 28 that has been sitting for a couple of years and I'm guessing the fuel is pretty dirty, it used to start right up and now it won't start. I'm replacing the fuel filter this weekend, but I think polishing it would be more efficient that just trying to let the engine run and keep clogging up new filters.
Yeah after I polished my fuel out of the tank I couldn’t believe how much junk and water was in the bottom below the fuel pickup. I added some inspection ports, such a piece of mind. Glad you enjoyed the video!
I don't have a video showing how I cleaned the tank. I removed the tank from the boat, emptied it completely, put approximately 1/2 gallon of gasoline in and sloshed it around until all of the gunk and debris was desolved. I then flushed it with fresh water, dried thoroughly in the sun with good heat, back in boat, filled with diesel and back in service.
As .far is I understand, you are duplicating what happens to the fuel during normal operation. Fuel is always passed through two fine filters then there is a significant % recycled to the fuel tank as the engine runs. I agree that cleaning diesel fuel of unknown quality is a must but generally speaking we are spared the trouble. Happy Cruising.
Basically yes, here’s the difference; your average fuel pickup is not at the very bottom of the fuel tank, the bottom is where debris and water live. When you bypass the fuel pickup and stick a tube directly in the bottom you pick up stuff that the fuel pickup will never see unless the contents of the tank are being sloshed around, like during foul weather. It really comes down to how confident you are that your tank and it’s contents are truly clean. I wouldn’t say the point of this system is to be a redundancy to what the engine filtration accomplishes, The point is to go above and beyond. Thanks for watching.
You are correct, this is primarily removing water from the fuel tank as the water will settle in the bottom of the tank. The filter will be replaced based on how dirty the fuel is. The filter bowl and what collects in it will tell you everything you everything you need to know about your fuel. If the bowl is free of water and debris then you are good. It’s important to make sure that your pick up for the polisher is at the bottom of the tank, and more importantly that it is much lower that the fuel pick up for the engine.
I am copying your system but after six stores (Marine, hardware, et al) I cannot find the 5/16 fuel filter replacement nozzles you replaced the 3/8 with! Where did you get yours? Thanks
I didn’t use any 5/8 fittings, all of my hose barb ends are 5/16. All my hoses are 5/16. The filter came with 3/8 hose barb and I switched it out to 5/16 so everything would be the same size and accommodate my 5/16 hose. The fittings are easy to find on Amazon, everything was MPT to hose barb. I hope this answers your question, if not let me know and I’ll help you get it nailed down.
@@VoyagingVoyager Thanks, this does help. I am having trouble finding the fuel filter fittings on Amazon. Looks like it is m14 x 1.5 male to 5/16" barb. Only one I can find for sure that will ship in the timeframe I need is this: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FLLB2B2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1L90E4GEJR5BT&psc=1
Great basic idea, however it does not clean the walls of the tank. Most fouling is on the walls of the tank, not in the fuel itself. Most cruisers experience fuel filter and fuel feed problems during and after a rough passage. Problems are caused from junk off the tank walls. Done correctly a polisher will spray the sides of the tank.
We may disagree a bit here, the most problematic items in any fuel tank is water and settled debris. In the case of a rough passage I would be more concerned with what settles in the bottom of my tank getting sloshed around and contacting the fuel pickup than what is on the walls. In my experience the only thing on the walls would be something like asphaltine sludge and other than scraping, no amount of spraying it with more diesel will remove that in an old diesel tank. Fuel pickups don’t go to the bottom of tank, and for good reason, my polisher system does. It’s designed to remove water and debris from the bottom of the tank, and for less than $100 it does pretty good. Cheaper insurance cannot be had. What you are describing would cost thousands and even then with the shapes of most boat fuel tanks still wouldn’t guarantee the entirety of the walls would be sprayed…
Your system is flowed. You need to filter the fuel before it goes through the fuel pump. The fuel pump mixes the water and fuel so fine that the filter can not remove all of the water. If you run the fuel through filter first, it will remove more water before mixing it with the fuel. Good luck.
Well not only is your spelling “flawed” but so is your understanding of my system. Im guessing you didn’t even watch the video……in short, my pump is on the downstream side of the filter, I quite literally explain why the pump is after the filter, you would know this if you watched the video…….
Did something very similar to this, but I put a 20 micron filter before the water filter separator, that will clean most of any debris. Also a water fuel sep filter like yours is $20 on Amazon, fuel pump is about $10, and I got Wix 20 micron for $4 each. I got a cheap garden sprayer and filled it with fuel, and sprayed it into the tank against the walls and any areas that might hold things. I did a pump out into barrel, then pumped it back out into the tank (two cycles of cleaning...the last 20% of fuel in barrel, went though a 3rd cycle). Afterwards I ran it from the tank, through the filter system, back into the tank overnight. I also took samples in clear bottles to compare throughout the process. At the end I plumbed a 10 micron filter/pump with SOV (2), so I can run it as needed for further cleaning. I also pour some fuel conditioner into the tank.
Thanks for your video, just bought a sailboat that hasn't been in the water for 4 years. This is exactly what I want to build .
Also shared your video to Hunter sailboat page on fb
Excellent idea! I'm going to build one. I just got a Catalina 28 that has been sitting for a couple of years and I'm guessing the fuel is pretty dirty, it used to start right up and now it won't start. I'm replacing the fuel filter this weekend, but I think polishing it would be more efficient that just trying to let the engine run and keep clogging up new filters.
Yeah after I polished my fuel out of the tank I couldn’t believe how much junk and water was in the bottom below the fuel pickup. I added some inspection ports, such a piece of mind. Glad you enjoyed the video!
Thanks for the good info
Great system without breaking the wallet. I'll adapt it to clean the diesel of my sailboat. Do you have the video on how to clean the tank?
I don't have a video showing how I cleaned the tank. I removed the tank from the boat, emptied it completely, put approximately 1/2 gallon of gasoline in and sloshed it around until all of the gunk and debris was desolved. I then flushed it with fresh water, dried thoroughly in the sun with good heat, back in boat, filled with diesel and back in service.
As .far is I understand, you are duplicating what happens to the fuel during normal operation. Fuel is always passed through two fine filters then there is a significant % recycled to the fuel tank as the engine runs. I agree that cleaning diesel fuel of unknown quality is a must but generally speaking we are spared the trouble. Happy Cruising.
Basically yes, here’s the difference; your average fuel pickup is not at the very bottom of the fuel tank, the bottom is where debris and water live. When you bypass the fuel pickup and stick a tube directly in the bottom you pick up stuff that the fuel pickup will never see unless the contents of the tank are being sloshed around, like during foul weather. It really comes down to how confident you are that your tank and it’s contents are truly clean. I wouldn’t say the point of this system is to be a redundancy to what the engine filtration accomplishes, The point is to go above and beyond. Thanks for watching.
Hey what's the name of the filter you're using
I’m just trying to figure this fuel polishing stuff out. This is cleaning diesel fuel of water and any debris? Also when do you replace the filter?
You are correct, this is primarily removing water from the fuel tank as the water will settle in the bottom of the tank. The filter will be replaced based on how dirty the fuel is. The filter bowl and what collects in it will tell you everything you everything you need to know about your fuel. If the bowl is free of water and debris then you are good. It’s important to make sure that your pick up for the polisher is at the bottom of the tank, and more importantly that it is much lower that the fuel pick up for the engine.
I am copying your system but after six stores (Marine, hardware, et al) I cannot find the 5/16 fuel filter replacement nozzles you replaced the 3/8 with! Where did you get yours? Thanks
I bought them on Amazon, you don’t have to do 5/16, you could get away with 3/8 for the whole system just fine.
Why do you have so much air in the system? Just curious.
It's due to the cheap fuel filter, if it were supplying fuel to an engine it would be a big deal, here not so much.
The name of the filter system..?
I wish to build exactly what you have.
iFJF R25T Fuel Filter/Water Separator Assembly Replacement for 245R Series Diesel Engine 10 Micron with 2 Fittings Replaces WK940/38X 20386081 33771 www.amazon.com/dp/B07T2P8TP4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_NCX18QT51GGY0CKTY2XX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Can you share the source for your 5/8" fittings? I guess the threads are not SAE so I hope to grab some that will work. Thanks!
I didn’t use any 5/8 fittings, all of my hose barb ends are 5/16. All my hoses are 5/16. The filter came with 3/8 hose barb and I switched it out to 5/16 so everything would be the same size and accommodate my 5/16 hose. The fittings are easy to find on Amazon, everything was MPT to hose barb. I hope this answers your question, if not let me know and I’ll help you get it nailed down.
@@VoyagingVoyager Thanks, this does help. I am having trouble finding the fuel filter fittings on Amazon. Looks like it is m14 x 1.5 male to 5/16" barb. Only one I can find for sure that will ship in the timeframe I need is this:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FLLB2B2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1L90E4GEJR5BT&psc=1
Great basic idea, however it does not clean the walls of the tank. Most fouling is on the walls of the tank, not in the fuel itself. Most cruisers experience fuel filter and fuel feed problems during and after a rough passage. Problems are caused from junk off the tank walls. Done correctly a polisher will spray the sides of the tank.
We may disagree a bit here, the most problematic items in any fuel tank is water and settled debris. In the case of a rough passage I would be more concerned with what settles in the bottom of my tank getting sloshed around and contacting the fuel pickup than what is on the walls. In my experience the only thing on the walls would be something like asphaltine sludge and other than scraping, no amount of spraying it with more diesel will remove that in an old diesel tank. Fuel pickups don’t go to the bottom of tank, and for good reason, my polisher system does. It’s designed to remove water and debris from the bottom of the tank, and for less than $100 it does pretty good. Cheaper insurance cannot be had. What you are describing would cost thousands and even then with the shapes of most boat fuel tanks still wouldn’t guarantee the entirety of the walls would be sprayed…
Can you share the model of the pump please?
Certainly, www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CKS4CHH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thank you
@@VoyagingVoyager, thank you!
Your system is flowed. You need to filter the fuel before it goes through the fuel pump. The fuel pump mixes the water and fuel so fine that the filter can not remove all of the water. If you run the fuel through filter first, it will remove more water before mixing it with the fuel. Good luck.
Well not only is your spelling “flawed” but so is your understanding of my system. Im guessing you didn’t even watch the video……in short, my pump is on the downstream side of the filter, I quite literally explain why the pump is after the filter, you would know this if you watched the video…….