Diesel Tank Draw Pipe

Every second story you hear about engine problems on a boat ends up being dirty fuel. Why is it all these guys (& or Gals) carry the sludge around in the first place. For years I hear people say that you should never draw diesel from the bottom of the tank. They say that the draw pipe should be about 50mm above the bottom of the tank so you don’t get the dirty fuel from the bottom of the tank. This works well in smooth water but when you most need your engine to work you can guarantee there will be no smooth water and your tank has turned into a cocktail shaker. The last thing I want is 50mm of sludge in the bottom of the tank so my draw point is about 3mm from the bottom. Dirty fuel goes in, dirty fuel comes out. Sludge grows in the tank sludge comes out of the tank. I want to know my tank is clean all the time especially when I most need it. Might as well make use of all those filters. I suppose it would be different if I had a drain in the bottom of my tanks but it’s built into the keel.

not practical to do this without a gravety tank and electric fuel pump .i have owned and operated several mini excavators for many years and i run the fuel tank dry just about every day .i simpley refill crank for 5 seconds and engine starts every time without exeption.i also use jerry cans to refill. moral of the story ,dirty fuel goes in dirty fuel comes out and no sludge left in the tank.

I don't think you can run diesels dry because of the fuel injection system. That is the case with our CAT 3196s on our boat anyway. You have to Bleed them if that happens (expensive procedure) unlike petrol motors which can be run right down. Have you considered one of the products floating around the place, there are alot of them these days that claim they will clean out your fuel tank or even filter it in the main fuel line (Don't know if they are genuine).