Fuel Polisher for less than $100

[LMBoat]

Hi All,

I've found a cheap way to polish fuel (I think). I got a diesel fuel transfer pump (gear, not impeller) from Amzn (about $90), then I disconnected the fuel hose from the Racors, connected it to the pump (needed a fitting to do so), then disconnected the fuel hose that goes to the tank from the fuel cooler and connected it to the output side of the pump (also needed a fitting, and basically taking the engine out of the loop). I used alligator clips to connect the pump to the genset batt, and away she pumped.....

I could see fuel flowing through the Racor (this is for the port engine), the vacuum gauge shows that it is working. And I can hear fuel returning to the tanking. I've only run it for 15 mins just to test the concept. All looks good & no leaks. I know I will need to change the Racor filter, but I did not have to buy another Racor housing, hoses, fitting, etc. to polish fuel. Plus, with the fuel valves, I can switch over to the Strb tank and do both tanks.

This is not a permanent arrangement, just if needed.

Attached is a pic. Comments pro/con? Did I miss anything?

 

[tc410]

Sounds like it should work. If your tanks are cruddy, have lots of racor filters on hand!

 

[dtfeld]

Why not just buy some 2 0r 10 micron filter and let the engines do the work while running. Save the $90 and the hassle of plumbing/replumbing. The $90 might be better off put towards some vacuum gauges to let you know when the filters are in need of changing.

 

[tc410]

Why not just buy some 2 0r 10 micron filter and let the engines do the work while running. Save the $90 and the hassle of plumbing/replumbing. The $90 might be better off put towards some vacuum gauges to let you know when the filters are in need of changing.

View attachment 159592

Yeah… cuz nothings more fun than changing racor filters on the water halfway through a 4 hour cruise in a hot engine room and 4’ seas… Definitely beats doing it tied up at the dock with a cold beverage in your hand.

 

[dtfeld]

If its that bad, might want to bring in a pro...its going to take a bunch of racor changes if its that bad with what I would assume would be a hundred or more gallons of diesel.

 

[Skybolt]

Guess I am lucky, my boat has dual turbo MA1000 filters for each engine. I run 10 micron filters with one bypassed on each engine. If there is trouble, instant flip of a valve and back up running.

 

[LMBoat]

As noted, I already have vacuum gauges on the Racors. As for running the boat to do the same, that is true, but the pump moves 4-5 times more fuel. I'm 1/4 full (50 gal.) so I can filter more fuel faster. An hour of running will filter 360 gal of fuel or filter the 50 gal 7x. Then change the filter. I'm just doing some last fuel clean-up.

 

[carterchapman]

Guess I am lucky, my boat has dual turbo MA1000 filters for each engine. I run 10 micron filters with one bypassed on each engine. If there is trouble, instant flip of a valve and back up running.

I'm the same. And my genny returns a TON of fuel to the selected tank, so I run a 10 micron filter there as well...my genny is my fuel polisher.