T&T: fuel prices vs. quality

[Dave Cooper]

In our recent run down to Venezuela from the BVI we used the fuel in the
tanks as one would expect. The last time Swan Song was fueled was in 1996
and then only 300 odd gals were added of the 800 gals aboard. It has never
had any additive in it only been run through our gulf coast filter (F1) a
couple of times. We did add 250 gals of bad fuel taken out of another boat
last year ( it to had been sitting for a while). We ran this thru the gulf
coast filter a few times also to dry it out. Neither the main engine (1974
Detroit Diesel 6-71N) or the Genset (2004 Yanmar 3TNE Tier 2 something)
smoke, have any trouble starting or running.

I doubt if the Cetane of this fuel is very "high" after 10 years of sitting.
In my opinion if the engine is tight and in good shape it will run on almost
anything as long as it's clean and water free.

Here in Venezuela the diesel looks like water as does the gasoline. It also
costs about the same as water, $.07/gal for diesel and $.11/gal for gas.

Cheers

Dave
Swan Song