----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Rogers" rcrogers6@kennett.net

Hi Ron,

I don't really have any advice in the strictest sense but here are a
few things to think about:

1. You've got 400 gallons of fuel in 600 gallons storage capacity. If,
   for the sake of simple numbers, you use 100 gallons per month and you
   don't top off your tanks, you'll be rid of the dirt in 4 months. OTOH:
   If you do top off then it will take you 6 months to accomplish the
   same thing. That argues in favor of not filling the tanks yet.

2. Winter is coming and for most of us that means the boat isn't going
   to be running much. If that description fits you then filling the tank
   is a good idea since it will reduce any condensation problem.

3. Murphy's law states that if you do top off the tanks, fuel prices
   will immediately drop but if you don't then those same prices will
   rise steadily until you do top off (then they'll drop).

4. Putting in a polishing system is probably the best answer. Keep in
   mind that GCF's 'Jr' series of filters don't provide for water
   separation. Since you've already got a Racor your best bet is to plumb
   the fuel from tank to pump to Racor to GCF Jr. to engine or back to
   tank (The Walbro pump will allow fuel to pass even when it's shut
   off).

5. Since you don't really know how much fuel has gone through the
   Racor you just changed it might be worth considering to just do
   nothing other than monitoring the filters and vacuum gauge until you
   do have some hard data to consider.

Conservatively yours,

Alex

Sounds like the filters are doing their job. You didn't have an estimate of
how many engine hours were run in that time period, but assuming "normal"
use I would expect to find them dirty. If you think you have a dirty fuel
problem, shock it with Soltron or other treatment, then have it polished.
However, from your description, I wouldn't think it was a problem. You could
either run it as is or fuel up... the filters will take care of the normal
level of contamination.

I shocked mine, had the fuel polished, etc. and the filters (2  micron)
still get dirty... I change them every 6 months or so, just to be safe
(single engine!)

Keith
__
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Rogers" rcrogers6@kennett.net

Finding dirt & water in your Racor filters is not necessarily a bad thing.
Finding No dirt or water would suggest to me that your fuel is not properly
filtered. Just another angle.

Judge
(No boat yet, but a lot of trucks)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Rogers" rcrogers6@kennett.net
To: "Trawlers & Trawlering" trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com;
LRZeitlin@aol.com; "Alex Hirsekorn" alexh@olypen.com
Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2004 9:37 PM
Subject: T&T: Mildly Dirty Fuel

trawlers-and-trawlering-request@lists.samurai.com

the message.