Fuel tank & water

[richard5933]

I've never had a drop of water in my filter canisters. Lots of dirt and particulate, but no water that I can discern. However, I suspect that after 44 years there is bound to be water sitting at the bottom of the tank.

Question is, what is the best course of action? Do I need to do anything? Should I just let whatever water is in there stay there or make an effort to find out and remove it?

Removing the tank is not an option. Not going there for lots of reasons.

There is a drain plug in the bottom of the tank. Pretty certain what will happen if I pull the plug out. But, with a tank full of fuel that doesn't seem like a good plan either.

Anyone have any luck dropping a tube into the bottom of the tank to pull out some of what's down there to test for water? Seems like if that's possible I'd know if I have anything to worry about before going through more extreme measures. If there is a way to do this, any suggestions on the best way to get a tube all the way down to the bottom? Would a long piece of copper pipe make it all the way or are there baffles?

[bobofthenorth]

There's any number of flavours of weasel piss that will move any water that is in your tank either into your filters or through your injectors.  I'm sure you'll get lots of advice in that regard but that's the way I'd go.  Just tell yourself you're getting better mileage from the snake oil and the water removal will be an added benefit.

[richard5933]

There's any number of flavours of weasel piss that will move any water that is in your tank either into your filters or through your injectors...

That's what got me started thinking about all this. I read about something called Clean Diesel by Power Systems and then did some research. Apparently there is a mix of opinions on the wisdom of using these things due to how they might effect the injectors and/or engine in general.

What I'm hoping for is some first-hand experience either pumping out the water or using one of these chemical methods for water removal, hopefully in a Detroit Diesel.

[dickegler]

If you can reach the bottom of the tank with a stick, hose, or wire, there is a compound called "KolorKut" that will react with the water and turn purple.  available from fuel suppliers, or Amazon.   Just smear some on the bottom 3" and dip.

At least you would then know if you have water in tank.

[richard5933]

If you can reach the bottom of the tank with a stick, hose, or wire, there is a compound called "KolorKut" that will react with the water and turn purple.  available from fuel suppliers, or Amazon.   Just smear some on the bottom 3" and dip.

At least you would then know if you have water in tank.

Sounds like a good plan for starting. I've ordered the KolorKut.

Now I just need to figure out what the best thing to stick into the tank to reach the bottom will be. My fear is sticking something in the filler neck and having it get stuck on something.

Any suggestions? Anyone have a preferred method for manually checking fuel level in a tank on a 4108? I assume it would be similar to a 4905 tank.

[Oonrahnjay]

If you can reach the bottom of the tank with a stick, hose, or wire, there is a compound called "KolorKut" that will react with the water and turn purple.  available from fuel suppliers, or Amazon.   Just smear some on the bottom 3" and dip.

At least you would then know if you have water in tank.

       Frequently used in aviation for checking fuel.  It works.

       There are two kind of "water treatment" additives.  One is a dispersant - these break up water molecules and mix them with fuel so that they'll burn off when you drive and burn the fuel.  (Some components will wear or rust if there's much molecular water content in fuel.)  The other is a coagulant, it makes molecules of water stick together and precipitate out of the fuel and lie on the bottom of the tank.

        I'd check with the water sensitive paste that Dick talks about.  If you find a layer of water, can you get a siphon/pump tube to the bottom of your tank?  If so, you can gently pump the water off the bottom; this has the side effect vacuuming out trash and dirt, although I don't think I'd rely on this much if a tank really needed cleaning.

[TomC]

Just dump a gallon of Diesel Power Service in and the water will be gone. Good Luck, TomC

[chessie4905]

I've pulled and cleaned tanks on both my coaches. The dirt and sludge is layered on bottom of tanks. It will not siphon out. It works loose as you travel and gets pulled into fuel intake over time and into filters. Remove and thoroughly clean tank and be done with frequently filter changes. Every commercial  fuel tank in country several years ago had to be replaced with new with  new tanks with designs to warn of and contain leaks. You don't get near the amount of dirt and water like you got before then.
Except in states where hurricanes hit and flood waters find their way into underground tanks. Now that's a concern, I would think.

[luvrbus]

You are worrying for nothing,the new fuel has a water dispersant,plus the fuel pump returns almost a gpm of heated fuel to the tank if you had water it would be mixed so the filters could take care of it.The pickup tube is 1.5 inches from the bottom of the tank so is the return if you had water it would show up in the filters.If you are that worried drop a 10 dollar phone camera from Amazon in the tank and take a look with the mileage on your coach I bet it's clean       

[DoubleEagle]

I used to loosen up the drain plugs on my Eagles to drain a little bit of fuel to see if there was any water or sludge, but I never did find anything. For all the reasons already stated, you probably should not be concerned, especially with your above average coach.

[pd4501-771]

Richard, does your coach have a fuel gauge? None of mine do so I use a aluminum yard-stick to dip tank. I painted the backside flat black, so fuel level shows easily. Yard stick is precision bent  to fit down filler. no fear of getting stuck. High tech stuff!

[richard5933]

Richard, does your coach have a fuel gauge? None of mine do so I use a aluminum yard-stick to dip tank. I painted the backside flat black, so fuel level shows easily. Yard stick is precision bent  to fit down filler. no fear of getting stuck. High tech stuff!

No gauge.  I thought about using a piece of 3/8 copper tubing, also precision bent. the one thing that has me slightly concerned is the whistle assembly which is inside the filler neck. Not sure how much space is in there around the mechanism, and it would be just my luck to get something down to the bottom of the tank and then have it get stuck on the retrieval.

[lostagain]

If, like you said, you have a drain plug at the bottom of the tank, just remove it. That is why it is there. Simple. Let it flow in a clean container for a few seconds and replace the plug. It will be obvious if there is water or not. It will be a little messy, so wear some gloves and coveralls or old clothes. Nothing "extreme" about it.

JC

[richard5933]

If, like you said, you have a drain plug at the bottom of the tank, just remove it. That is why it is there. Simple. Let it flow in a clean container for a few seconds and replace the plug. It will be obvious if there is water or not. It will be a little messy, so wear some gloves and coveralls or old clothes. Nothing "extreme" about it.

JC

Won't the 150+ gallons sitting in the tank cause it to push out with enough force as to make reinserting the plug difficult? Never done that before, but it seems like more than a little messy.

[Geoff]

Removing the drain plug is what I do.  It is a little messy but maintain your cool and be sure not to put the plug back crooked.