Fuel Funnels for Polishing

Freesail99 · #1 04-20-2008

Has anyone used a fuel funnel for removing water and dirt from there diesel fuel ? I had plans to drain my fuel tank yesterday and clean the tank, thinking the tank was near empty only to find it was near full. It is a 42 gallon tank. I am looking at this product.

West Marine: Fuel Filter Funnels Product Display

Practical sailor did a reveiw which can be found here.
Fuel Filter Article

sailingdog · #2 04-20-2008

Freesail-

they'll help, if you have some way of transferring the fuel through the funnel and back into the tank...and I would imagine that you could "polish" the fuel in a rough way doing this for an extended period of time... but IMHO, if you can afford the parts to install a proper fuel polishing system, you probably should.

erps · #3 04-20-2008

Freesail,

I planned on doing the same thing to get the big chunks and water out at least. I figured it would be better than nothing and a good start. If you beat me to it, let us know how it worked out.

Freesail99 · #4 04-20-2008

I have a small pump and enough hose that I could do this. The polishing systems that I looked at, well right now I don't want to afford them. As we all know we can justify anything to ourselves.

It just seemed that the Practical sailor article was so positive and the funnel at $35 cheap, seemed very doable in a couple of hours and would have to improve the condition of my tank and fuel, both of which, I have no idea, how bad or good they are. It just seemed like the prudent thing to do ( clean the tank ). I am just wondering if anyone has used the funnel ?

Freesail99 · #5 04-20-2008

While I am on this topic has anyone used the Algae-X AFC-705 Fuel Additive ? Is it any good, or is there something better out there ?

sailingdog · #6 04-20-2008

I've used the fuel funnels and think they're a good idea when you're filling up and would do a good basic job of helping clean up your existing fuel.

Get the biggest funnel you can afford—makes spills less likely.

camaraderie · #7 04-20-2008

Free...I used that exact filter through the Caribe (and with excellent results based on the crap it filtered) whenever I filled up outside of the USA.
The problm with your proposal is that you need to stir up the crap that is in your tanks to get it all out...then the funnel is quite slow at letting you put the fuel back in.

Freesail99 · #8 04-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

I've used the fuel funnels and think they're a good idea when you're filling up and would do a good basic job of helping clean up your existing fuel.

Get the biggest funnel you can afford—makes spills less likely.

The largest funnel listed says it needs a 2 inch opening. Not sure many have one that big. I thought about the funnel tipping over and was thinking of building a plywood stand that it would sit in and which would support the funnel on deck.

Faster · #9 04-20-2008

We removed dirty fuel from our tank through an access port using our vacuum-pump oil changing tank, put it all into jerry cans through a filter medium, mucked out the tank and then returned the fuel to the tank filtering it again. New filters at the same time, of course and things were fine again.

Not full on "polishing" I suppose, and long and messy work, but it does the trick. using the oil changing tank made the removal process very contained, if slow (about 1 1/2 gal/tankful)

craigtoo · #10 04-20-2008

Hey Free,

I'm searching myself for an outside company to come "polish" my fuel (actually I don't really want it back.. they can have it.. i want my tank cleaned...)

anyway... here's someone that may be able to help you with any questions.. in your area... Apparently they polish fuel... I mean.. the internet never lies does it?

APPLICATION ASSOCIATES
252 Lackland Dr., Box488, Middlesex, NJ 08846,
Tel: (800) 327-2247

craig