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Most boats and vehicles share constituents to ensure optimal functioning. One of the constituents they have in common is the fuel tank. In manufacturing a fuel tank, numerous material options can work for the component. 

If you’re a boat owner, fuel tank cleaning must be part of regular maintenance. Furthermore, it’s recommended that you clean the boat gas tank bladder before you place it in storage for a prolonged period. 

After all, a tank that’s contaminated with debris or dirt can cause serious damage to the propulsion system. Nonetheless, certain measures can clean your marine fuel bladder and prevent issues from occurring. 

A common material that works in producing a boat gas tank bladder is aluminum, which most boat owners opt for because of the associated benefits.

Importance of Boat Gas Tanks

A boat gas tank is a safe vessel or container that works by storing fuel, which has flammable properties. Therefore, storing it in a gas tank can be safe for those inside the boat. Besides offering safe fuel storage, the tank helps in releasing or propelling the fuel into your boat engine. Fuel refilling occurs through the tiny hole that enables proper sealing with a gas cap. 

The Significance of Cleaning a Boat Gas Tank Regularly

Gasoline and other kinds of boat fuel are typically hydrocarbon mixtures. It might surprise you to know that hydrocarbons can offer a good environment for fungi and bacteria growth in the marine fuel bladder. 

In particular, the storage conditions for boat fuel are favorable for microorganisms because they have carbon access, which is their major food source as well as suitable temperatures, and water access, which they require to grow. 

When significant fungi and bacteria exist in the marine fuel bladder, they usually accumulate beneath and develop gelatinous deposits called sludge. Sludge can easily penetrate into the fuel lines, causing filter blockage and affecting the fuel supply while simultaneously risking power loss. 

Under extreme cases, residue in the boat’s fuel system can cause permanent damage in the injectors and injection pump, causing your engine to shut down. Preventing boat gas tank bladder damage is reason enough to maintain your fuel tank in a good condition. 

What You need for Draining Your Fuel Tank

Gloves

The last thing you want to do is to use your bare hands when handling the equipment. You’ll find it greasy and difficult to scrub off. Furthermore, you’ll want to protect your hands against any damaging materials. Ensure the gloves are fitting and comfortable because the draining process involves connecting hoses. 

You want to make sure you can pick items without dealing with bulky gloves. Remember, the wrong size of gloves will result in spilled liquids and possible fire hazards. Keep in mind that the right glove size can make a big difference in your experience and safety. 

Face Mask

A major benefit of being on a yacht or boat is that you don’t have to worry about a face mask for some hours. However, when it comes to fuel draining, you should consider a mask. After all, you don’t want to smell fuel continuously. Remember, the first time could take somewhat longer, so you want to ensure you’ve protected yourself.

Eye Protection

You want to avoid splashing fuel in your eyes. Beware that if you don’t connect things correctly, you could end up with retina damage. You simply need some protective eyeglasses to accomplish the task. 

Fuel Hose

You require a fuel hose to drain the boat fuel. The best hose comes with 3/8 inch thickness. A 6ft. hose divided into two will permit you to drain both sides with a 3ft. hose each. If you think your boat needs a different hose size, conduct research. 

You want to make sure you use the right size to make things easier. You want to avoid spills as the result of the wrong hose size. Moreover, you wouldn’t want to stop halfway upon realizing that you have the wrong size. 

Hose Clamps

If you just use a hose, you could end up with leaks and possibly a fire hazard. You can prevent this by getting hose clamps. You can join the clamp to the primer bulb or transfer bulb. 

Primer Bulb or Fuel Transfer Pump

Two ways exist through which you can drain fuel. You can do so automatically using a fuel transfer pump or manually using a primer bulb. A transfer pump permits automatic fuel pumping out of the engine. This means joins to a power source, so you won’t need to do anything manually. Just note that this method is more costly. 

You want to ensure you watch the entire process to make sure there’s no spillage or breakage because of improper connection. You can rent a transfer pump if you want to cut costs. Conversely, you could use a primer bulb. This method requires manual bulb squeezing and drawing the tank fuel. Just note that this method could take some time and effort to drain the fuel. 

Why You Need to Drain the Fuel Tank

Various risks are associated with permitting boat fuel to remain stagnant for extended periods. For instance, you want to avoid keeping your boat in storage between seasons on the water. When you allow boat fuel to sit for prolonged periods, bacterial matter and sludge can gather in the boat’s fuel tank, causing negative effects on the environment, passengers, and boat performance. 

As bacteria accrue in the tank, sludge might penetrate the boat’s injection pump. Consequently, the boat might fail, resulting in more costly repairs. 

Preventative Maintenance of Fuel Tanks

To diminish the need for recurrent boat cleanings, you must recognize the fuel source and its constituents. An efficient preventative measure for assessing fuel quality is to maintain a sample in a glass jar. Monitoring the jar will disclose the materials used because fuel components will start separating over time. For instance, diesel fuel has a typical visual degradation within a year based on the tank’s temperature. 

If you’ve recently just invested in a boat and are wondering how the boat gas tank bladder works, this guide offers invaluable information.