Bavaria Yacht Info

Member Forums => Bavaria Yacht Help! => Topic started by: Mary Claire on April 14 2019, 09:10

Title: Convert water tank to diesel tank
Post by: Mary Claire on April 14 2019, 09:10
Hi
I would like to forego my aft water tank and use it as an additional diesel tank. Since we have a water maker, additional diesel storage is more useful to us than water storage. Does any one know if the white plastic for the water tank as opposed to the black plastic for the diesel tank is compatible with diesel and if there is some technical reason why the water tank is not suitable for diesel.
Thanks
Tom Mary Claire
Title: Re: Convert water tank to diesel tank
Post by: sy_Anniina on April 18 2019, 11:34
No first hand knowledge, but I have learnt to trust material suppliers in chemical compatibility.

Assuming water tank is HDPE plastic, there seems to be some conflicting information around

http://www.sdplastics.com/kingplastic/Chemical-Resistants-Chart.pdf (http://www.sdplastics.com/kingplastic/Chemical-Resistants-Chart.pdf) lists Diesel as Resistant @20C, but NotRecommended at 60C., while
http://www.sdplastics.com/kingplastic/Chemical-Resistants-Chart.pdf (http://www.sdplastics.com/kingplastic/Chemical-Resistants-Chart.pdf) states "D = Severe Effect, not recommended for ANY use."

Based on conflicting information and no first hand manufacturer info, I would not like to test this in my boat. If I had small test tank of same material available for garage-lab testing I could consider..

BR,

Tommi
s/y Anniina
Title: Re: Convert water tank to diesel tank
Post by: tiger79 on April 18 2019, 12:57
TekTanks, who offer a range of standard and custom tanks in both HDPE and MDPE, say both are suitable for diesel.
Title: Re: Convert water tank to diesel tank
Post by: Mirror45184 on April 28 2019, 12:13
It is likely that the Diesel (fuel) tanks have a small amount of carbon additive to control or dissipate  static build up in the tank. The water tank would not have this so static (charge) build up and subsequent flash/spark discharge in the diesel fuel may not end well.

Regards

Mark