Old Fuel

Some of the issues with old fuel are: reduced cetane (combustibilty), water intrusion, which means microbes, and asphatates (the spelling is all wrong, but somebody will correct it) which is clustering of some of the diesel fuel molecules. I'd either pump the tanks and have them cleaned, or have the fuel "polished" and add cetane booster. Good luck with your purchase.

Hi,

Alsphaltites I think you are referring to. asphaltite (mineral) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

Ships running on heavy fuel relish this type of fuel as what you are normally supplied these days resembles a warm tennis court - a clay one at that.

I own a diesel vehicle that I left full of fuel for 3 yrs in a dry garage always above 0 degs C it has been started and runs like the fuel was new according to the guy who is now driving it to being tested/registered/insured and ready to go.

The condition of fuel depends very much on what it was to start with and how it has been stored.

AsphaltENES Asphaltene - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It would take more than 2 years to turn to coal.

Guys, I dunno! It's those large particles that the magnet guys claim they break up so they can pass thru the racors.

Just knowing the low tolerances on fuel pumps etc, I'd ask the seller to get it out of there. One man's opinion.

Hi,

I am actually curious as to what a CAT 1673 is anyway?

If it's old enough it might burn anything it can pump.

Agree with that assessment if its an old timer - know nothing about cats myself. Seems like an odd number though 1673?

If it gets through the filters it will probably burn. Drain the water off and go for it.

the 1673 was the predacessor to the 3306 they used them in trucks mostly cement mixers because they were light , they also made a 1693 wich is the same as a d343 it will burn just about any thing that it will pump they were very forgiving engines

good luck travler

Ohhhhh those algae X's, they're F@@@ing wonderful. The algae passes right through the racor's and plugs up the secondaries......which are much more expensive and a bigger pain in the butt to change......

As to the origional poster, make sure there's no water in it, make sure you have plenty of fuel filters, add Diesel Kleen- Clear Tank Diesel to the fuel, and run the engine and check racors.

I don't worry about "Old Fuel" anymore.......I have discovered a new way to propel my craft.

I spoke with Power Service today.......regarding another boat with Algae problems......they recommended filling the tank completely and adding 20 ounces of the Bio Kleen concentrate (per 400 gallons of fuel) to kill the algae and adding 100 ounces of the Clear Tank additive concentrate to eat the dead algae. They said if I do that the tank will be completely algae free. I've used only the Clear Tank version by itself before with excellent results.

CaptJ

This prospective purchaser has not indicated any problems with the fuel. He is just asking what he should be looking for - micobes is only one. I still say , get the darn old fuel out of there. This is your recreational boat?

one problem of many i have just encountered was water in the diesel, the engine blew thick white smoke, I beleive you should drain and replace the fuel and filters upon buying any boat- nomatter what the last owner says, it can save a lot of trouble and you know the fuel is right and if there is a problem u can eliminate that as a cause.

It may have been water but it didn't come from the fuel tank.

Either you have a coolant leak, low compression, bad timing, or some other problem but if it does that all the time then you have other things to do than throw away fuel.

the machanic told me to replace the fuel, it stopped the white smoke, but the engine is totally stuffed anyway. So much for being told it was just reconditioned.
we are replacing it with a D20.

just a thought you might want to pull the head off ,as the early 1693's had rubber o-rings between the block and head and they could be bad after setting for a long time , also be cautious of the coolent that you run in there and make sure it is compatable with the older o -rings and gaskets , also the liners could be sinking in the block as well

good luck travler