Bertram33 User Forum

What do you mean-polishing your fuel?

Mike, "fuel polishing" is a very fine filtering process performed on fuel thats been in a tank for a while or is known to be contaminated. They basically pump the fuel out of the tank, through a multi step filter and water seperator(some also do a magnetic treatment) and then back to the tank. They run this filter for hours so that the entire fuel tank contents are filtered numerous times to a very fine degree (such that they call it polishing).

Tim.. I also save old flares.. but keeping some that are 21 years after their expiration date is a little risky I think. A couple of the 12 gauge pistol cartridges, which expired in 1985, are showing signs of degradation.. the sides are starting to split. I would not want to carry them around.. who knows what might happen if they were dropped or otherwise mishandled? The hand held flares are even more of a concern.. who knows what might happen if someone was using one and it ruptured in their hand? I feel better with reasonably new flares.. cheap insurance! Mike.. When the engine tech'n surveyed the engines he noted some growth and stuff in the fuel.. from what the owner said the tank had about 220 gal in it for almost two years, and he does not recall if they added any treatment... he only ran the engines 20 hours in that time, after filling the tank in 2004. I am going to have the yard bring in a service that pumps the old fuel out, filters it, cleans the tank, and returns the fuel. I would prefer to get rid of the existing fuel, but don't know how to. Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com New owner.. 1983 FBC! Finally!!

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It is diesel fuel only, fancy name for filtering to remove the contamination that causes bacteria growth. It is usually used on old or contaminated fuel. Diesel fuel in the presence of water and other contaminants provides the conditions for high bacterial growth. The key to good running diesel engines is clean fuel and air. Capt Rich Catch 22 1989 33 FBC

quote:Originally posted by IRGuy The hand held flares are even more of a concern.. who knows what might happen if someone was using one and it ruptured in their hand? I feel better with reasonably new flares.. cheap insurance! A while back I tried to fire some old handheld flares, maybe 2 years old. Nothing happened! I had about 9 or 10 of them and not a single one fired. I had three different kinds of handheld ones too, all crap. I wouldn't woryy about them blowing up in someone's hand, more likely they'll do nothing at all. In contrast, every one of my old 12 gauge flares fired, and some of those were much older. I'll never buy the handheld ones again. Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com

Sean, That's good info. Maybe it's time to restock the 12 gauge & not expect much from the handheld ones I just purchased last August. Of course I'm hoping none of us ever need ANY flares. Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF