A boat can create exciting memories and adventures. But I must admit that my vessel got my mind tangled from time to time. After a period of use, the boat ride starts to feel bumpy, and even worse, the engine suddenly stalls. If you are in the same situation, then before paying for professional help, try cleaning the fuel tank. The dirty tank might be causing all these problems.
The good news is you don’t have to detach the gas tank to clean it. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to clean a boat fuel tank without removing it.
Briefly, you will drain the fuel out of the tank, disconnect the fuel lines from the motor, and remove the fuel filter. After that, wash the tank thoroughly using a pressure washer and tank cleaner. When the tank is dry, reattach the fuel lines, filter, and refill it with fresh gas. Finally, check for leaks and start the engine to assure the procedure is carried out accurately.
Dive in for further details!
Table of Contents
What You Will Need
With time, fuel will break down and separate itself. The fuel sediments and residues will sink, gathering at the bottom of the tank. This leads to fuel contamination and clogs. If the tank is not cleaned, your vessel will be operating with contaminated gas, or even worse, gas won’t be able to get into the engine. To proceed, gather the following.
1. A syphon pump
You might have seen somebody put a hose down the tank, then establish a pressure for gas transfer using their mouth. Needless to say, that’s not safe at all. Inhaling gas is toxic and can cause severe symptoms. If not careful, he or she risks swallowing the fuel.
A syphon pump transfers fuel safely and efficiently from the tank to another container. It is here to eliminate the need for risky mouth siphoning. To maintain your boat’s best performance, regular boat fuel tank cleaning is a must. Therefore, a syphon pump is a good investment as you will use it frequently.
2. A container
Prepare a clean container that is large enough to hold all the boat fuel left in the tank.
3. A boat gas tank cleaner
When it comes to cleaning engines, Sea Foam is one of the oldest and most trusted brands. With petroleum ingredients, the treatment is safe and effective to use in both gasoline and diesel engines.
4. A pressure washer
A pressure washer in its high setting will get rid of all stubborn dirt and grime inside and outside the tank.
5. A boat fuel filter
We recommend changing your boat’s fuel filter during scheduled maintenance and boat fuel tank cleaning. It is typically after 200 to 300 hours of the vessel’s running time. Depending on your fuel filter conditions, you might want to replace it or not.
If you plan to change the fuel filter, you can buy a new one on Amazon. To get the right filter for your engine, read the manual for any technical specifications.
6. Safety gear
Since you will be working closely with gas and chemicals, preparing safety gear, such as goggles, rubber gloves, and safety clothing is best.
Steps to Clean a Gas Tank without Removing It
Now that you’ve gathered all you need, you can remove all rust and reveal your brand-new fuel tank. Marine fuel tank cleaning is relatively simple once you are used to it.
Before cleaning, prepare the work area by:
- Taking your boat out of the water and to a dry, ventilated area.
- Making sure there is no open flame or ignition source nearby. A small flame can cause an explosion when met with gas.
Check the manual before cleaning. Some manufacturers have specific instructions to clean the boat gas tank. If that’s the case, please follow the guide in the manual. Otherwise, proceed with the following steps.
Step 1: Drain the fuel tank
First and foremost, you will need to drain the fuel tank. Use the syphon pump to transfer all fuel from the tank to the container. Be careful not to spill gas on the ground.
It should take at least 5 to 10 minutes for every drop of fuel to be removed depending on the tank size.
Step 2: Disconnect the fuel lines from the engines
Every boat has lines for fuel to move to engines. Before cleaning, you must disconnect these lines to prevent water and cleaner from getting into and damaging the motors. The lines’ position varies slightly among boats. You should check the manual for specific instructions.
While you are here, clean the fuel lines by removing all dirt accumulated using clean water. If they are clogged inside, you might need an Aerosol injected cleaner. It is a detergent but comes with an injector for fuel line deep cleaning.
Step 3: Remove the old fuel filter
Follow the instructions on your manual to remove the filter. After a time of use, the fuel filter will collect sediments, forming layers of scum and grime. If you don’t want to replace it with a new fuel filter, give it a thorough wash with clean water.
Step 4: Wash the tank
Now wash the tank using the following steps:
- Pressure wash: Use the hot water on the pressure washer to wash off bulky dirt, dust, and scum inside and outside the tank. Again, remember to isolate the fuel lines before putting water in.
- Wash with Sea Foam cleaner: Pour in a decent amount of Sea Foam cleaner and let it sit for a while. The cleaner will dissolve all sticky dirt left in the tank.
Afterward, use the syphon to pump out the Sea Foam cleaner and any fluids left. Keep going until the syphon is no longer catching tiny particles.
- Repeat: If you feel like the tank is not clean enough, go ahead and repeat the steps one more time.
- Dry: The tank is now clean. Let it air dry. You should wait until all the water evaporates.
Step 5: Plugin the fuel lines
Make sure the tank is free from all kinds of moisture before reattaching the fuel lines. Follow the user manual carefully, as you must attach the lines in the instructed way.
Step 6: Attach new fuel filter
Attach the new fuel filter following the manual instructions. If you don’t want to replace it yet, reattach your previous fuel filter.
Step 7: Refill the tank with clean gas
Fill the tank with fresh fuel. It’s essential to learn the fuel type that works best with your boat. Remember that all current outboard and inboard gasoline motors can operate safely with less than 10% ethanol fuel (also known as E10).
You can use fuel additives to prevent fuel breakdown and eliminate fuel sediments, keeping the tank clean for a prolonged period. Check this guide to find the most popular additives in the market.
Once you are done, do one final check for leaks and if you properly attached the fuel lines or filter.
Step 8: Start-up engine
Now, it’s all done. Start the engine and leave it idle for a couple of minutes. This ensures the procedure is carried out correctly without issues in the engine.
Build a Habit
We recommend cleaning your fuel tank every six months and replacing the fuel filter after 200 to 300 hours of the boat’s running time. Make an effort to build the habit as it prevents:
- Poor vessel performance: The gas tank is what keeps the vessel operating. If gas tank issues are not solved, it can cause bumpy rides and slow your boat. Also, you might fail to start up the engine.
- Expensive boat repairs: As a result, your boat must undergo expensive repairs and replacements.
- Un-safe journeys: Aside from bumpy and choppy rides, your vessel might stall while running. It is highly dangerous if you are in the open sea or in the middle of a large lake.
A clean tank will keep these problems away. Plus, it helps your boat perform better and last longer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, regular tank cleaning is required for your boat to function at its best. Learn about the procedure carefully to optimize your engine potential. When done the correct way, cleaning the boat gas tank is relatively quick and straightforward.
We hope you enjoy the tutorial on how to clean a boat fuel tank without removing it. Feel free to leave a comment should you have further questions. We will get to them as soon as we can. See you then!
I am Dave, Marine Talk’s content creator. Boating experiences matter when planning a boat trip for your family or going by yourself. Therefore, I am here to tackle all things relevant to boating so even the inexperienced ones can start their boating safely.