Sludge in the oil tanks.

[jerryjerry05]

I posted something about this a few years ago, then ran into the same problem last week.

The design of the tank allows moisture to settle in the bottom of the tanks.
This then forms into a fungus that can clog the hoses and pump causing engine failure.
Fungus can grow in diesel and oil tanks.

The tanks need to be cleaned out at least once every 1-2 years.

When I first found the problem, I ended being almost 16oz of sludge in a twin motor setup.

 

[Scott Danforth]

i know on a diesel tank you need to run a biocide to keep the algae at bay. wonder if you could use the same stuff on an oil injection tank?

 

[dingbat]

I’ve heard of the issue yet never experienced it.

I drained my tank 3 times in 15 years. Never had an issue.

Wonder if the problem is related to lack of use.

Type of oil perhaps. I run nothing but semi-synthetic

 

[99yam40]

oil tanks should not be getting water in them.
what little air they suck in when pulling oil out of them may have moisture in it and that can condense to form water but that is very small amount

 

[Mohawkmtrs]

jerryjerry:

I live in Canada and heat my house with furnace oil, similar to diesel and/or kerosene with a 200 gal. metal tank outside the house.

Condensation builds up and at the beginning of each heating season, I bleed the oil (it gets emulsified just like a gear case with bad seals). Once clear furnace oil starts to flow, the furnace will fire up. I will then put a quart of methyl hydrate in the tank and I good for the season.

I'm wondering if the methyl hydrate might help?

 

[jerryjerry05]

The longer a tank sets, the worse the condensation will get.
If you use the boat and avoid long periods of inactivity the problem shouldn't happen.

Like an empty fuel tank the longer it's empty the worse the condensation.

Additives?? Not sure I'd add anything that might cut/dilute what's there??

Like the empty fuel tank, if it's kept full the problem shouldn't happen.

The first time I ran across this, I had no idea how long the boat had set before my customer had bought it.
It had extra jugs of Yam oil so I think he used the factory oil.
I know this time it had set for 2 years and had long periods of inactivity before then.

When I drove truck we added something to compensate for the moisture in the fuel.
But the oil would get hot enough that no condensation would form.

 

[Doh]

First off. Don't add Any Additives to the Oil Injection Tank! 16oz of Sludge is most likely due to Additives, or Cheap Oil.

I watched a "Snake Oil Seller" came around and sold the Benefit of his product on Internal Combustion Engines. It was a powerful display, and I would use it on 4 Stroke Crank Cases, if need be. But he displayed it to many Snowmobilers in our area. A cap full was all it took to make little gel balls in the oil lines, clogging the injectors. I rebuilt ever Ski Doo that ran the stuff that year.

As far as Condensation in a plastic tank, well 20 years in the North Central US, and I have no such issues. Maybe Humid Coastal area would be different, but I will say that anything much thicker than Water, will get trapped by the filter. The Remote Tank, has a Filter, to supply the Underhood Tank. If the filter is plugged, the Engine tank would run low, causing an alarm before any damage.

If you only have the Underhood tank, replace the filter regularly and you will be fine.