Water in fuel

I stress that I am not accusing anyone BUT since my boat is permanently parked at CPBA for convenience I only fill the tank from the Blue Shed and only ever use premium from that location.  Just had my boat serviced by Chivers and they reported excessive amount of water in the filter and commented that they have seen at least 5 other boats who all launch at Woodies with similar issues over the last month or so.......I intend mentioning it to the owner when down there on Thursday but just a heads up as the facts seem to speak for themselves. Have now fitted a glass water separator bowl so I can monitor the issue 


hezzy's picture

Posts: 1521

Date Joined: 27/11/09

sunshine , id also go into

Tue, 2018-12-18 14:02

sunshine , id also go into repco or similar store and ask for the product they sell , specifically to remove /deal with water in fuel , cant recall its exact name but 1066 rings abell

they will know anyway ...it works a treat

you drain your fuel filter,/water seprator , clean it and add this to the main tank as well

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OFW 11

evil flourishes when good men do nothing

 

Dhunitough's picture

Posts: 6

Date Joined: 31/01/18

 Hi sunshine grab yourself a

Tue, 2018-12-18 14:33

 Hi sunshine grab yourself a bottle of fuel treatment/stabiliser, best by a long shot is f-10 by ICT. 

Posts: 695

Date Joined: 16/08/09

That’s interesting. I had the

Tue, 2018-12-18 15:01

That’s interesting. I had the same problem with my boat that I used to fill with premium at the same spot. Water in the fuel, killed my engine. When they drained the tank about 15L of fresh water came out. I ended up having to repower my boat. I don’t fill up there anymore. I would make sure you drain your tank completely. I was still getting water in fuel alarms after the fuel had been drained becasue anything left below the pick up remained - and that was all water. I ended up removing the sender unit and draining the tank through there to get everything out. New fuel, different supplier and no problems since. I also keep my boat at cpba our of interest. 

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 18023

Date Joined: 11/03/08

 not good at all . especially

Tue, 2018-12-18 15:53

 not good at all . especially when your paying for the good stuff. def would think twice about using the same supplier. thankfully i have a glass bowl filter in mine , found water in there once so now keep a good eye on it and drain a bit every time we go out to make sure

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Posts: 450

Date Joined: 29/04/18

 Definitely  not  the first

Tue, 2018-12-18 19:10

 Definitely  not  the first  time  that  i have  heard of water in the  fuel coming from this place , the ladies there are great and make a great burger  but i sure don't  get fuel from there 

 

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 Happy dayz 

little johnny's picture

Posts: 5355

Date Joined: 04/12/11

I thought a cup of

Tue, 2018-12-18 20:24

Metho was the go. In a big tank . Evaps all the water .See through separaters 100 percent way to go.

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Date Joined: 17/06/10

Has anybody taken

Tue, 2018-12-18 21:27

Has anybody taken the problem up to the fuel supplier and made him/her aware that there appears to be a water contamination problem with the fuel they are suppling.
They may not have a clue that there is a problem with fuel that they dispense.

sunshine's picture

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Date Joined: 03/03/09

Which is why I am dropping in there on Thursday

Tue, 2018-12-18 21:20

Manning sea rescue in the morning but yes I will certainly be informing them straight after 

Posts: 450

Date Joined: 29/04/18

 I'm sure that they are aware

Wed, 2018-12-19 03:40

 I'm sure that they are aware , the most recent  time i have heard of this was maybe 2 years ago seems like an ongoing  issue  there,  as i said before  its not a risk im willing  to  take  but i always  pop in and buy something  else  there great little  shop 

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 Happy dayz 

johno's picture

Posts: 468

Date Joined: 20/07/08

Thanks for sharing, makes me

Wed, 2018-12-19 06:58

Thanks for sharing, makes me think twice now about buying my fuel there, I am heading back to Perth now.. and haven't been buying few there for a number of years but will think twice, I like the shop and the convivence knowing you can get fuel.

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Cockburn Power Boat Member (CPBA)

PGFC

Posts: 202

Date Joined: 31/12/11

Humid conditions can also create water issues

Wed, 2018-12-19 11:05

In your case Sunshine unfortunately a tank drain is essential to be sure. Large amounts obviously can't be removed with additives.
I live in the Kimberley where humidity is a huge factor when boats aren't being used for extended periods.
Like Little Johnny said, i put about 250ml of Metho in every tank, and have done so for 15 years. Never a problem. I was told buy a fuel truck driver originally, but i have since asked a fuel chemist who agreed, and said keep doing it.
My motor has just clocked up 1000hrs and i have been using Metho since day 1.

Posts: 202

Date Joined: 31/12/11

An explanation why Metho works

Wed, 2018-12-19 12:06

Try this link, explains well how metho helps dissolve water.
https://autoexpert.com.au/posts/qa/how-do-i-fix-water-in-the-fuel-tank

sunshine's picture

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Date Joined: 03/03/09

Despite now identifying 5 effected boats

Thu, 2018-12-20 17:00

Dropped in at lunch time and quietly spoke to the owner who reckoned they checked after other reports two weeks ago and found no water......wife used to work at a servo and doubts they can actually check unless they decant into a large clear container but to their credit they have promised to check again and will ring me with the results 

Posts: 2080

Date Joined: 16/05/09

Unless they check the bottom

Fri, 2018-12-21 06:28

Unless they check the bottom 200mm of the tank it won't show anything. We have a new servo up here that has tanks that let water in during our wet season. Most of those in the know steer clear of it for fuel. They have been spoken to but always deny its their fuel.

Posts: 875

Date Joined: 30/12/09

Is that in Broome in the

Fri, 2018-12-21 10:22

Is that in Broome in the lia? 

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 Get busy living, or get busy dying!

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Date Joined: 16/05/09

yep you know the one as you

Fri, 2018-12-21 11:39

yep you know the one as you come into town

Darren253's picture

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Date Joined: 23/07/16

I don't use that location for

Thu, 2018-12-20 17:19

I don't use that location for anything other than bait, ice, tackle and a cracking bacon roll... But i too had water in fuel alarm come up on the boat yesterday. My tank is only 18months old and almost always stored 90% full so i don't believe in can be condensation.

I will be adding a glass bowl over the weekend.

Posts: 695

Date Joined: 16/08/09

After the ongoing problems I

Fri, 2018-12-21 06:55

After the ongoing problems I had I got one of these, works a treat.

 

https://www.chsmith.com.au/Products/Fuel-Filter-Bowl-Alloy-and-Alarm-Inc-Harness.html

 

Darren253's picture

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Date Joined: 23/07/16

On special at Whitworths

Fri, 2018-12-21 09:50
carnarvonite's picture

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Date Joined: 24/07/07

Checking for water

Fri, 2018-12-21 07:05

 The supplier should check for water in their tanks weekly, it is done by putting a special paste on the bottom section of their tank dipstick. Any moisture in the bottom of the tank changes the colour of the paste when the tank is dipped, then comes the hard part for them is getting rid of the water and if they can be bothered is another question.

Posts: 51

Date Joined: 25/11/15

 I allways thougth in this

Fri, 2018-12-21 10:28

 I allways thougth in this country you innocent untill proven guilty but not on this forum , condensation maybe and where is the filler cap is it exsposed the the rain as the seal could be the problem . Ask the question as they might have the tanks checked regularly ?

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Date Joined: 25/11/15

 thats on the boat i mean

Fri, 2018-12-21 12:20

 thats on the boat i mean

sunshine's picture

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Date Joined: 03/03/09

Not only is the fuel seal perfect

Fri, 2018-12-21 12:41

But the boat has a full waterproof cover.  As a courtesy I spoke to the manager off to the side as other customers were present.  This I s the sole location I fill the tank so the source of the water bluntly speaks for itself.  Further to avoid condensation issues the tank is filled to the top on every trip.  Sorry but unless you can come up with a logical explanation guilty as charged!  They still make the BEST bacon and egg toasties in the West and their home made sausage rolls are equally delicious but I will be driving further for fuel from now on 

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 18023

Date Joined: 11/03/08

 Certainly makes sence to

Fri, 2018-12-21 13:48

 Certainly makes sence to me. 

Not worth risking getting stuck out there and having to rely on sea rescue fo something that could be avoided even if its only suspission. 

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Doc's picture

Posts: 691

Date Joined: 29/05/16

Water in fuel is a huge risk

Fri, 2018-12-21 18:06

Water in fuel is a huge risk for us, even filling up at places you wouldn’t expect it, but more so in the tropics. I drain my inline filter system every time I pull up, have it set up on the discharge of the fuel tank before it goes through the fuel counter and on to the motor and genny