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Topic: Fuel Polisher (Read 475 times) previous topic - next topic

Fuel Polisher

With excessively being parked and more often than not having to deal with old diesel fuel, I've been wondering if I'm the only one giving consideration to building a fuel polisher? 
If you are not up to speed on what a fuel polisher does, it is basically a filtration system that circulates, cleans and conditions diesel fuel, keeping it from turning sour and unusable.

If you are a boat owner (I am BTW) you deal with cleaning fuel cells and diesel fuel on a regular basis. pc
S/W Houston 95" U320C SE/40' 
Build #4778  Cummins M11
Repairs & Covered RV Parking (BAO)
PPL is close..

Re: Fuel Polisher

Reply #1 –
Long ago a bud and I built one out of PVC pipe and fittings, used a roll of bounty paper towels and an electric fuel pump, polished several hundred gals of diesel in a long laid up boat.  Worked like a champ.  Amazing amount of crud removed. Took some time and numerous rolls of towels.

I think it's an excellent idea.
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Fuel Polisher

Reply #2 –
G--Tell us a bit about how it works, please. Thanks!
Paul & Kathleen
1995 U320c SE 40'
Build 4681 --Cummins M11 /17511
"That Irish Girl"
Red MINI " 40"

Re: Fuel Polisher

Reply #3 –
I tend to go with the KISS method. 

Cheap pump, couple of filters,  magnetic strainer plumbed into the existing fuel lines, one way valves and a fused switch.
I'd guess the magnetic portion of the setup would be the costly part of the system.  pc
S/W Houston 95" U320C SE/40' 
Build #4778  Cummins M11
Repairs & Covered RV Parking (BAO)
PPL is close..

Re: Fuel Polisher

Reply #4 –
While diesel fuel may go out of spec emission wise in a few months, it will still run the engine fine for many years. It is not like gasoline in storage. In a marine environment, high humidity will condense in a vented tank and provide the interface for algae growth. Our U300 is sealed with a pressure relief for about 3 psi so I don't worry about  condensation plus we live in a much less humid location. 

Diesel engines only use a tiny amount of the fuel pumped through the filters. The amount not burned is returned to the fuel tank. If you monitor the primary filter sight glass, you can quickly see if there is any water in the system and if so, drain it. By the time the fuel is burned, it has gone through the primary and secondary filters many times.

If you check your oil every morning, make it a rule to check the filter and also after fueling. All smart pilots do it so why not diesel RV owners?

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Fuel Polisher

Reply #5 –
I lived on a sailboat for 17 years  in San Francisco and never had my fuel polished. There were never any issues with my fuel even sitting in the tank all winter. I agree with Pierce, just monitor your pre-filter.
1994 U280, Build 4490
Deming, NM.

Re: Fuel Polisher

Reply #6 –
Yes, monitoring the primary filter can alert you to problems.  The polisher is for when you know you have problems and want to proactively deal with them. I've never been a fan of changing filters in a seaway.  It would have taken multiple cases of filters to do the same job as the polisher, along with the fire drill each time.
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS
 

Re: Fuel Polisher

Reply #7 –
My mechanic buddy put together a fuel polisher we used the first couple of year as we got the boat ready for the next year.
(550 gallon fuel tank. Had sat idle for a year or so.)
I have played with putting a system together. (Could be passed around. - or rented out at Nac by someone there)

The expensive item is the continuous duty A/C pump

As I envision it, the pump would sit between two filters.
Initially the first would have the metal strainer to catch any big stuff and the second the waterblock.
Later would use the regular filters.

Item                                                                                                                    Vendor      Price Quanity Total
Roughneck Cast Iron Diesel Fuel Transfer Pump — 22 GPM, 120 Volt AC Northern Tool  200      1        200
GOLDENROD                    (495) Bowl Fuel Tank Filter with 1" NPT Top  Amazon              36          2        72
                                                                (491) Fuel Tank Filter Wrench        Amazon          8.40    1          8.40
                                            (470-15) 40-Mesh Fuel Tank Filter Strainer        Amazon        15        1        15
                                        (470-5)  Fuel Filter Element - Fits Item# 1703        Amazon        15        6        90
                                (496-5) Diesel/Gas Filter Element (WATERBLOCK)        Amazon        15          3        45

                                                                                                                                                                    430.40
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB