Surveyor Articles @ Bostonboating.com

Ask the Surveyor with Master Marine Surveyor Rob Scanlan

This is a forum for boaters to gain information from a certified surveyor.
Submit your Question

My Diesel Fuel Testing Identifies Contamination in Fuel.

Most marine diesel engine problems I am seeing recently are related to fuel problems on both commercial vessels and yachts. Diesel fuel contamination problems have two different categories, biology and chemistry. Thinking you have a chemical problem when you have a biological problem and treating it with the wrong chemical will not solve your problem but compound it. The approach of the local boat store salesman telling you “this will solve your problem” after you have tried other chemicals may create a bigger problem.

The most prominent problem is chemical and lies in the creation of "asphaltene." Asphaltene or in simpler terms, diesel sludge looks like algae but there is no algae in diesel fuel. Asphaltenes are created by either the natural aging of diesel fuel, by simply adding fuel additives or mixing perfectly good clean fuels from two different suppliers.

The other common problem that affects diesel fuel is a biological problem called fuel bugs. There are many types of fuel bugs which are also bacteria and fungus that can live in diesel fuel. A small amount of water from either condensation or from entering the tank through a vent can start an ideal fuel bug condition. The growth is alarming and creates a filter-clogging situation in just a few days.

To identify these fuel problems so the proper fix can be recommended, I conduct two tests. A simple, low cost fuel test kit for biological contamination and a lab package to identify fuel instability.

The test kit is a simple dip slide. The slide comes in a plastic tube and is attached to the cap. Within 24-36 hours I can detect bacteria or mold in your diesel fuel tanks. If the fuel is contaminated the fuel tanks and related fuel lines will need a biocide treatment.

My Lab Package offers Diesel Fuel Stability Test # HLOO-0021. This program will indicate if the fuel is up to ASTM standards and if there is an unwanted rapid degrading taking place in the fuel. If the fuel indicates chemical instability I will always offer solutions to the problem.

Rob Scanlan, CMS/MMS/ACMS conducts computer engine analysis and compression testing on gasoline and diesel engines as well as engine oil analysis and fuel analysis on yachts, ships, pleasure and commercial vessels.

HOW EXPENSIVE IS BOATING

by Rob Scanlan, U.S. Master Marine Surveyor

Let’s face it; boating isn’t easy or cheap. Boat prices keep rising,

fuel costs keep escalating; slip fees, winter storage and repairs

are at an all-time high. Add to that the time and energy

required for boat maintenance, keeping up with the ever

changing regulations, weather, tide conditions and the new

environmental restrictions; the list goes on and on.

In the end, boat ownership is for those who enjoy boating so much

they are ready, willing and able to put up with the hassles and give up

other forms of entertainment and sports. It leaves behind those

who would enjoy being out on the water if only it did not cost so

much or take so much time to prepare for, to clean up after, etc.

So many of them are former boat owners, who had no idea about

the incredible costs involved in boating.

When I conduct the sea trials on a boat or yacht, I have my

own computers plugged into the engines to do an operational

assessment of the engines and instrumentation read-out

performances; one thing here, my computers and the figures are

accurate and precise – the figures do not lie.

Let’s say you have a 29’ Sea Ray powerboat with (2) small-block,

230 horsepower Mercruiser Fuel-Injected engines. The best fuel-

efficient, most economical speed is called “Cruising Speed”.

This is between half and three-quarter engine throttle; usually at

3200 – 3500 RPM’s. Each engine is burning 17-19 gallons of fuel

per hour times (2) engines; that’s 36-gallons per hour. The average

gallon of gasoline at the marina is $3.25 per gallon.

The math –

36 gallons times $3.25/gallon = $117.00 per hour. If you take a

cruise from Lynn to Boston Harbor; around Boston Harbor

for a little sight-seeing and back to Lynn, this would be a five

and one-half hour trip.

The math –

Five and one-half hours times $117.00 per hour = $643.50

for the trip if you only stay at “Cruising Speed”. Now let’s say you only

do a trip like this twice per month and you only do your boating from

June to October which is the average boating season in New England,

More math –

$643.50 twice per month = $1287.00 per month of boating,

times five months = $6435.00 per boating season in just the fuel

costs; if you keep the engines at the “Cruising Speed”.

“Can you hear me now” throttle-jockeys ?

What must also be factored into boating is that monthly payment; let’s

say $400.00 times twelve months = $4,800.00. I do not know of one

boat owner in New England with a low boat payment any where near

this but work with me. Now there is insurance, and God help you if you

are above a step-10 on your Massachusetts driving record; have no

boating education, or have a loss or insurance claim. But ideally, with

proven boating experience; and proof of boating education and a very good

driving record, you may pay $900.00 per year to insure that “Water Toy”

if and if and if ---.

Now comes the storage, winterizing, covering and spring commissioning.

Figures and facts can’t be altered here; that 29’ boat will cost another

$5,250.00 - $6900.00 per year; lets say $6 grand to make the figures easy.

More math for the boat owner based on a conservative boating season-

Fuel = $6,435.00

Boat payment = $4,800.00

Insurance = $900.00

Storage, winterizing, spring commissioning = $6,000.00

Slip-fee or mooring fee = $2,000.00

Food, beverages; swimwear, etc = $525.00

Bottom painting, engine tune-up waxing/cleaning = $2,125.00

Total boating expenses for the year = $22,785.00

Now you know what BOAT means : Break Out Another Thousand

FEULISH & COSTLY

By Rob Scanlan, CMS/MMS/ACMS

United States Master Marine Surveyor

Today’s crude oils have increased viscosity and density, along with a higher concentration of impurities and water, which are not removed during the refining process. Higher levels of asphaltene and carbon residue are also present. These factors contribute to a wide range of storage, handling and combustion problems, often creating undesirable combustion byproducts. This combustion byproduct can be carbon build up on marine engine parts and exhaust pollution (NOx).

These refining issues translate into two types of diesel fuel problems that I find on pleasure yachts and commercial vessels, those that are here now, that you can see and those that are waiting to happen. You can be proactive and treat the problem or just accept it as a cost of doing business. Fix the fuel problem and increase the bottom line or ignore it and replace equipment when you think it is time.

Time after time diesel engine owners have encountered fuel problems and repeatedly these problems have been diagnosed as “Algae in the tank.” Anyone that has encountered this “diagnosis” by a marine engine surveyor or mechanic should be aware that the “expert” that made the diagnosis is NO EXPERT

Diesel sludge aka “algae” is in fact asphaltene. Asphaltene is naturally occurring impurities found in all diesel fuel. Asphaltenes are insoluble in diesel fuel. This means they will not magically dissolve in your fuel.

Bacteria and mold are also problems that may occur. For these problems you must have water in the fuel. These biological type problems ONLY grow at the point where the fuel and water meet.

Some crude oils have higher levels of asphaltene than others. The end product, the diesel you buy varies in asphaltene content. Unless you know the chemistry of the crude oil you have no clue as to the amount of solids in your fuel from day to day.

The higher the concentration of asphaltene in the crude oil, the longer the molecular chain of asphaltene. Longer chains are bigger. They all stick together. Once stuck together they do not burn efficiently. They cause engine smoke and they clog filters. This is usually found in fuel tanks on sailboats I have surveyed.

There are two options to deal with asphaltene, chemically or mechanically. Chemicals must be the correct chemical to break up the molecular chains. Read the label on your chemical treatment and see if it mentions “asphaltene” or diesel sludge. Then ask your marina what the know about it and how the marina treats it. You may be surprised by the answer. Mechanically does not mean filtering out the large particles though, it is part of the equation.

Asphaltene particles reduced to 3-to-5 microns in size and evenly blended will burn more evenly producing more power, less smoke and will make your sludge problem go away over time.

Smaller fuel droplets are injected. Improved combustion is achieved resulting in fewer carbon deposits, lower equipment maintenance costs and can lead to a significant reduction in nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions.

Dieselcraft of Auburn, CA has developed a proven two-stage fuel purification system to deal with the asphaltene. The system “homogenizes diesel fuel. It removes large solids and water plus reduces the asphaltene particle size as shown in the following lab test results. All particles from 100 micron to 6 micron were reduced where particles smaller than 6 micron were increased, indicating the effectiveness of the system process.

One of the many tests I do in my computer engine analysis and compression testing surveys, is testing the fuel.

Rob Scanlan is an Accredited & Certified Master Marine Surveyor covering Maine to Long Island, NY.