Diesel in clean water tank

[PB1]

Hi, By mistake i put 17pence of diesel into my clean water tank ( which was full of water ). Realising my mistake I then panicked and ran the entire water tank contents through the system. I have since attempted to clean the water tank but it still smells of diesel and am I safe to try and flush through the system ? Thanks in advance

 

[ceejayt]

Oh dear! I think you have a major problem. Yoiu should have just drained the water tank rather than running through the whole system and even then you may be faced with a brand new fresh water tank.

Hopefully others may have a better solution I Weill keep my fingers crossed for you

 

[The Wino]

What are you thinking of flushing through with? If water and you have only flushed with one tap so far I can't see how flushing through again using the same tap will cause it to get any worse but sadly I suspect it won't get a lot better either.

 

[Gromett]

Hi, By mistake i put 17pence of diesel into my clean water tank ( which was full of water ). Realising my mistake I then panicked and ran the entire water tank contents through the system. I have since attempted to clean the water tank but it still smells of diesel and am I safe to try and flush through the system ? Thanks in advance

Oops. If you had just dropped the tank through the drain plug you "might" have stood a chance. But as you have pushed it through the system, I suspect it is going to be an uphill battle to clean it out.

I am not normally one to give up on a problem. But I am not optimistic you will ever get it completely clear.

 

[pappajohn]

My bro used my diesel funnel to fill the fresh tank.
Took 2 or 3 fill and drained before the smell went and that was just off a funnel.
I reckon it'll take a lot more flushing in your case.
I would add liquid detergent as you fill and flush.
It should get rid of the diesel and will be easier to flush out afterwards than diesel.

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[Barti Ddu]

A bit late for to the OP, but if you were to mistakenly stick 17p of diesel (roughly 100ml - less than a glass of wine) into a full tank of water, I suspect you may be able to remedy the issue by slowly filling the water tank with more fresh water to flush it out of the overflow - diesel being less dense than water and therefore floating on the surface, rather than pulling it through the whole system. I'd then continue to keep adding a thousand or two litres of water to keep pushing it through the overflow. Finally drain the tank and fill again with Milton / Chempro or some similar cleanser/ deodoriser and let it sit for a few days before draining it off again. Then fingers crossed time - diesel is pretty pervasive - so tank may still be tainted.

 

[IRHP]

Draining or flushing through will never get rid as Barti said diesel doesn’t mix and will float on the surface. Draining the tank never completely empties it and the last bit has to be removed with a sponge or such like. You can get absorbent pads that will soak up the diesel and not the water. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16108069...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

 

[Suenliam]

No advice I'm afraid, but it reminded me of the fuel strikes years ago when we met a tugger in Belgium who had filled all tanks and every available carrier with diesel to get him to Spain He couldn't see the problem ..........
Sue

 

[PB1]

Draining or flushing through will never get rid as Barti said diesel doesn’t mix and will float on the surface. Draining the tank never completely empties it and the last bit has to be removed with a sponge or such like. You can get absorbent pads that will soak up the diesel and not the water. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16108069...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

Thanks. I have drained/flushed the water tank several times. |Also used washing up detergent and milton in the tank and cleaned the ineer of the tank with paper towel. Because I had initially emptied it through the system/pipes wondered if i should flush them also ??

 

[Reallyretired]

Mylocking water fuller had stopped being lockable so replaced it though it means I have yet another key.
I'm a bit paranoid about locking it after having an attendant at a Spanish filling station attempting to put diesel in my water tank. Luckily the locking cap prevented it. A problem on a lot of motorhomes that the water filler is usually visible but the diesel one is hidden away behind a flap.

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[Terry]

Use a mixture of cheap bleach and washing up liquid ( cup of each ) fill tank and flush through - - 3/4times then same again with clean water Don’t leave it in tank long

 

[Bleau’s]

We did them same but only the tank not pipes and got over it by flushing several times and draining the tank and refilling with a strong measure of water tank cleaning fluid then drying the tank out and leaving the top off for 2 weeks and it was ok afterwards if you have a water filter change the cartridge.

 

[VXman]

Diesel in the Water Tank: What Now?

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[PP Bear]

A couple of threads over this, so may find help reading through these, good luck.

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www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[Riverbankannie]

Thanks. I have drained/flushed the water tank several times. |Also used washing up detergent and milton in the tank and cleaned the ineer of the tank with paper towel. Because I had initially emptied it through the system/pipes wondered if i should flush them also ??

Did you completely empy the contaminated water through the system. If not then you may have got away with it as the outtake to the water pump will be near the bottom. You will just have to find out by taste and smell I think.
I think that I would try flushing through with white vinegar as that is a known descaler and cleaner. Another thing would be a solution of citric acid which would also do the job of cleaning and descaling. I use a citric acid solution every spring anyway just to clean pipes and descale boiler.

Milton is a sterilisation solution rather than cleaner and not recommended for the boiler.
Wishing you good luck, although you are lucky already in that you can get inside your tank as mine is underslung and has no access so I have no idea what is going on in there particularly with the lower bits that will never drain away.