Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!!! S**t!!!!!-gctid373033

[Johnny_Vintage]

My friend called last night. He filled up his water tank on his 32 with diesel a few weeks ago. He pumped it out and so far has poured 2 bottles of Vodka and a couple of cardboard box fulls of wine in the tank and it's still bad.

I told him that maybe the BOC gang could help out. Any ideas? I've heard of the white wine but not Vodka.

My idea was to switch the supply line from his water tank with the holding tank. At least that water's BLUE

[Guest]

wow that sucks, theres a bad oopsy lol.... Could he use bleach? I use that to clean my tank in the spring time.

[SomeSailor]

Lots of soap and hot water. Then he could switch to dishwasher soap. It cuts the grime well.

[Guest]

Yeah, I'm with Mike. He needs detergent, not alcohol.

In the end, I'll bet he'll never recover by cleaning. Before he's happy, he'll be replacing everything that saw diesel flow through it. But I have no experience with this so it's just a hunch.

[Guest]

I'd replace the tank. The stench of Diesel is next to impossible to get rid of. And if the tank is made of poly, it's even worse because it is porous.

There is a product called Swarfega (yes, it's the correct spelling), which is amazing for getting rid of the smell of Diesel. However, it is going to require a lot of it; and I'm not sure whether it is safe for potable water applications. Your friend might at least want to research it. Just a thought...

[Guest]

I agree with the hot water and either detergent or fill it full of Simple Green. Simple green will help with the diesel as it does as a degreaser. Drain and rinse thoroughly. Then a very very strong mixture or even undiluted vinegar. The problem is he may need gallons of it to slosh around. Then repeat until it's gone.

[capt._ron]

If it was mine I would install a clean out port on the tank use a shop vac to get dry as possible. Then I would put a couple of oil pigs in the tank add a little water, rock the boat & hope the pig soak up all the fuel. Then I'ld flush the system with Dawn & hot water after removing the pigs. May have to repeat a couple more times. Good luck

[Guest]

You could suggest a "Rocar" filter.... You know, opposite of a Racor... THEN DUCK! He'll be swinging at ya for the bad joke! rod

[Guest]

How did he pump the fuel out? If any of the faucets were used, I'm sorry to say that your friend will be replacing (as Mike so perfectly put it below) everything that the diesel touched.

I think you could eventually spend more on snake oil cleaning products to try to get the diesel out than replacing the tank, lines and pump.

whiskywizard wrote:
Yeah, I'm with Mike. He needs detergent, not alcohol.

In the end, I'll bet he'll never recover by cleaning. Before he's happy, he'll be replacing everything that saw diesel flow through it. But I have no experience with this so it's just a hunch.

Yup.

[mmichellich]

Had a friend put gasoline in his water tank. Tried all the wine, soap, and other methods without success. What finally worked was over filling with tons of baking soda and vinegar alternating tankfulls. It took all weekend. Then about ten clear water flushings. He removed the output hose from the tank and drained tankfulls into the bilge. H did not get gasoline into the hoses as he had water in the tank before he started filling and the gasoline floated on top of the water. Biggest issue was cleaning top of tank.

[cosmo777]

With the way a 32' sits in the water (stern heavy) and the outflow of the tank at the forward end (midship), its gonna take a lot of flushing to get it out. You may never get that diesel fully removed. Highly diluted - yes, but totally gone is gonna be tough.

[Guest]

capt. ron wrote:
If it was mine I would install a clean out port on the tank use a shop vac to get dry as possible. Then I would put a couple of oil pigs in the tank add a little water, rock the boat & hope the pig soak up all the fuel. Then I'ld flush the system with Dawn & hot water after removing the pigs. May have to repeat a couple more times. Good luck

That's what I did, but not because I put fuel in the tank.

I cut three ports into the tank to be able to clean and drain it. The tank is about 90" long and has two baffles inside that divide it into thirds.

Because the pickup is at the forward end of the tank, it leaves about 10-12 gallons of water in the tank after the pump runs dry. We would spend all season trying to flush all the antifreeze and stale water out with poor results. The water always smelled bad.

Now I can clean and drain the tank easily and don't need to put antifreeze in anymore. You should be able to get the tank clean if you put in the ports It's a lot easier and cheaper than a new tank. It cost me about $150.00----three ports--$100---1/4" aluminum plate--free from Friend--- Stainless steel nuts, bolts and washers---about $50.00

Good luck.

Here's a couple pictures.

[Guest]

R&Jonthebay wrote:
That's what I did, but not because I put fuel in the tank.

I cut three ports into the tank to be able to clean and drain it. The tank is about 90" long and has two baffles inside that divide it into thirds.

Because the pickup is at the forward end of the tank, it leaves about 10-12 gallons of water in the tank after the pump runs dry. We would spend all season trying to flush all the antifreeze and stale water out with poor results. The water always smelled bad.

Now I can clean and drain the tank easily and don't need to put antifreeze in anymore. You should be able to get the tank clean if you put in the ports It's a lot easier and cheaper than a new tank. It cost me about $150.00----three ports--$100---1/4" aluminum plate--free from Friend--- Stainless steel nuts, bolts and washers---about $50.00

Good luck.

This is the only way you can get the diesel out. When I did it I found that my tank was very pitted and ended up replacing the tank.

http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/forum/showthread.php?40132-Whats-in-your-tank-today&highlight=water+tank

This is an excelent time to put a water pickup in at the rear of the tank.

[Guest]

Great pics of the access holes. Thats the only way to get all the diesel out of the tank. Change the filler line and the vent and he should be golden. As long as he didn't run the water pump...

Your buddy now has a new nick name. Vinnie, after Vin Diesel.

[Guest]

billsguns wrote:
This is the only way you can get the diesel out. When I did it I found that my tank was very pitted and ended up replacing the tank.

http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/forum/showthread.php?40132-Whats-in-your-tank-today&highlight=water+tank

This is an excelent time to put a water pickup in at the rear of the tank.

Bill, it was your project that inspired me to do mine.

My tank had lots of calcium crystals that also pitted the bottom. Luckily, it doesn't leak. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

We are so much happier with the water quality now that the tank has been cleaned. Winterizing is so much easier and no anti freeze needed.

I plan on installing a drain to the bilge, at the back of the tank.