Water in diesel
Dirtythirty
Member Posts: 393 ✭✭✭
Here is something that happened to me last weekend, and I will try to add in as much detail as I can think of in hopes for some input as to how this happened.
My boat was sitting for a couple weeks without using it. Between some bad weather and some previous commitments, we hadn't been out on the water for about 3 weeks.
I had just taken the boat over to top off the tanks (which were 1/2 full) and a pump out. Since it was nearing the end of the season, I added a container of Stabili to the tanks.
I had done my usual engine room check, and did not notice anything out of the ordinary. And 3 days after filling the tanks, we had a beautiful weekend and decided to go out for an end of season cruise.
After we motored out of the marina, we entered the channel and began to bring it up on plane.
The engines maxed out at 2770 RPMs and wouldn't go any further. I tried time and again for about 20 minutes, and then as quickly as it happened, the problem disappeared and we climbed straight up to 3200 RPMs and had a great day with no further problems.
When we we got back about 2 hrs later, I climbed into the engine room and looked around, I found that both my diesel separators were half full of water. I assumed that was the issue why we couldn't get past 2770 RPMs. I emptied the separators and I am hoping for another nice day before I get hauled out, to try the engines one more time.
My my question is this. I have good seals on my filler caps. My marina swears that they have good filters on their tanks to pre
vent water from contaminating their fuel. Some have suggested that with aluminum fuel tanks, and the cooler water and air at night, it could be a condensation issue. However my separators are large and to have them both HALF filled with water seems excessive for condensation.
does anyone have any ideas how this may have occurred. ???????
My boat was sitting for a couple weeks without using it. Between some bad weather and some previous commitments, we hadn't been out on the water for about 3 weeks.
I had just taken the boat over to top off the tanks (which were 1/2 full) and a pump out. Since it was nearing the end of the season, I added a container of Stabili to the tanks.
I had done my usual engine room check, and did not notice anything out of the ordinary. And 3 days after filling the tanks, we had a beautiful weekend and decided to go out for an end of season cruise.
After we motored out of the marina, we entered the channel and began to bring it up on plane.
The engines maxed out at 2770 RPMs and wouldn't go any further. I tried time and again for about 20 minutes, and then as quickly as it happened, the problem disappeared and we climbed straight up to 3200 RPMs and had a great day with no further problems.
When we we got back about 2 hrs later, I climbed into the engine room and looked around, I found that both my diesel separators were half full of water. I assumed that was the issue why we couldn't get past 2770 RPMs. I emptied the separators and I am hoping for another nice day before I get hauled out, to try the engines one more time.
My my question is this. I have good seals on my filler caps. My marina swears that they have good filters on their tanks to pre
vent water from contaminating their fuel. Some have suggested that with aluminum fuel tanks, and the cooler water and air at night, it could be a condensation issue. However my separators are large and to have them both HALF filled with water seems excessive for condensation.
does anyone have any ideas how this may have occurred. ???????
Comments
1) Do the tank vents have their covers on? Mine were missing when I bought my boat and my separators were half full as well.
2) Do you use an algeacide as well as a water emulsifier treatment? I use both and a cetane booster.
3) Maybe the props were fouled and it wore off briefly and then you were able to take off.
4) Unless the marina has a good water separation/filter system prior to the fuel entering the tanks then it cant stop the water. Do they dip the tanks to test the water level in the tanks? There is a special paste to apply on the end of the sticks to check depth of the water if any.
5) You should also have your fuel polished every year in your boat. They can do their tanks as well at the Marina.
Hope this helps.
Thanks again !!
Rain water was just running in through my fuel fillers all this time, and I had no idea.
Installed new o-rings...problem solved.
My boat was previously owned by a gentleman who kept the boat at the Jersey shore in salt water. That was the main factor in the o-rings dry rotting.
keep a bead of silicone on those o-rings and you wont need to replace them nearly as often.
Thanks for all the input
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express