Water & some type of growth in Fuel filter. R21-EC

[Newf]

Just replaced the fuel filters on my 2014 R21-EC and found a bit of water and what appears to be some type of growth in the bottom of the bowl. I bought the boat new and have been replacing filters at the scheduled 400hr mark. On my last filter changeout I noticed a small amount of water in the bowl for the first time but none on prior change outs. This one had a little more water plus the dirt/growth.

Do I need to have the tank cleaned professionally? Will the growth continue to get worse? The filters seem to be doing it's jobs as I have had no change in engine performance.

Is the fuel tank easily removable? The hatch opening on the starboard side is wider than the port side so I'm thinking it was made that way for tank removal. Has anyone done this?

Thanks

 

[bob daily]

Newf, no need to remove your fuel tank! Lots of good info on the web for cleaning/polishing your fuel and tank. Basically when algie begins to grow in the fuel tank, you drain the excess water from the bottom of the tank and treat the fuel with a regulated biocide. Lots of good products on the market to combat this problem. This is a common problem for us that spend our time at the fish cleaning table vice the fuel dock. Bob

 

[Cutwater28GG]

you can make your own fuel polisher but probably just easier to get someone in to do it for you.

keep your fuel tanks full during the winter helps with the condensation source of water in tanks. doesn't help if the fuel at the pump has water in it!

 

[Newf]

Thanks Guys for the replies. I will be checking a few online videos on polishing and additives.

Newf

 

[Messenger]

I change ALL my filters yearly. It's less than $100 for me to change the engine oil, oil filter, and the two fuel filters. It's really cheap to maintain these little boats so skimping is unnecessary.
You stated you change filters at 400 hours. How many hours do you accumulate each year?

 

[Newf]

I change ALL my filters yearly. It's less than $100 for me to change the engine oil, oil filter, and the two fuel filters. It's really cheap to maintain these little boats so skimping is unnecessary.

I agree, no need to skip on Maintenance. More than $100 for me, especially with the Cdn dollar, but it is still cheap Preventive Maintenance. I looked online and saw some videos with "real issues". Some ugly looking filters. I have nothing like that and as a "preventive measure" because I hadn't seen anything like that in my filter bowl before, I just wanted to jump on it before anything got out of hand.

With the boat on the trailer I dropped the front and jacked one side so any water would drain to one corner of the tank. Today I syphoned the tank as I had it down to about 4 gallons. There was about a tablespoon or two in what was syphoned off and no crap. Inside of the tank looked clean so I think the growth may have occurred over the winter in the filter bowl with the bit of water that was in there. I normally run the boat all winter but this year I didn't so it sat there for a while and the tank was only half full. (Won't do that again)

In any case I was happy with what I saw today. Put fresh fuel in and will put a bit of Biocide additive in there. Will do that for a couple of fill-ups and pull the filter to have a look.

"You stated you change filters at 400 hours. How many hours do you accumulate each year?"
I bought the boat new in May/2014. As of today I have 2813 hrs. Only a couple hundred last year but back to normal this year. Back out in a couple of days. The fish are waiting.

 

[Newf]

Forgot to mention. Out of curiosity I cut open both old filters and removed and open the filter element (Paper??) The one at the tank had discolouration on the bottom 1" of the filter paper but no slime and the one on the engine looked really good.
I take that as nothing to get excited about.

Thanks again for the replies.
Newf.