jme1976
Marine/Ocean
- Jul 18, 2006
- 12
Hello all,
Had some experience with these little lads. But you all have probably!
Unfortunately while we were on the slip the black tank overflowed <before I joined the vessel> the blk tank vent was placed next to the fuel vent and the rest is history. Warm fuel, some water and you have the perfect breeding ground for the bug. 6 months later after many racor filters we had time to get into the tanks and clean them. By now they had become a swamp. When bug gets to this stage the only thing to do is clean the tanks.Adding biological disinfectants and detergents does not get rid of the sludge, ie the dead organisms.
Centrifuging the fuel helps as the bug, I believe lives of the O2 in the water? and lives between the diesel and fuel, this is the mechanical process. Keep your tanks full. Turn
tanks over on a regular basis through the centrifuge. Some engine manufacturers will not tolerate adding disinfectants to the fuel, as it affects combustion. All diesel will have a small percentage of bug, more prevalent in the tropics where humidity plays a big part. Water may be present at refining stage but certainly by the time it gets to your tanks it will. Suffice to say I fitted a gauge and beefed up the alarm, all visable from the crew mess.
Bon voyage.
Motor yacht Engineer
Had some experience with these little lads. But you all have probably!
Unfortunately while we were on the slip the black tank overflowed <before I joined the vessel> the blk tank vent was placed next to the fuel vent and the rest is history. Warm fuel, some water and you have the perfect breeding ground for the bug. 6 months later after many racor filters we had time to get into the tanks and clean them. By now they had become a swamp. When bug gets to this stage the only thing to do is clean the tanks.Adding biological disinfectants and detergents does not get rid of the sludge, ie the dead organisms.
Centrifuging the fuel helps as the bug, I believe lives of the O2 in the water? and lives between the diesel and fuel, this is the mechanical process. Keep your tanks full. Turn
tanks over on a regular basis through the centrifuge. Some engine manufacturers will not tolerate adding disinfectants to the fuel, as it affects combustion. All diesel will have a small percentage of bug, more prevalent in the tropics where humidity plays a big part. Water may be present at refining stage but certainly by the time it gets to your tanks it will. Suffice to say I fitted a gauge and beefed up the alarm, all visable from the crew mess.
Bon voyage.
Motor yacht Engineer
