Wallas Fuel

Last outing on the boat I had problems with the Wallas stove/heater shutting down several times. :cry: What always preceded the shutdown routine was the unit producing lots of white smoke out the exhaust. Called Scan Marine down in Seattle and spoke with Karl. After explaining to him what happened, he asked me about my fuel. I told him I use K1 kerosene and had been doing so for the past couple of seasons. He asked if I emptied out the fuel every fall when winterizing. I said no, I was not aware of that requirement. He said I should every year dump the old fuel out, clean the filter and tank, and then refill with fresh kerosene.

After doing some research on storage of kerosene, I was surprised to learn that kerosene only stores for 3 or 4 months before starting to degrade. :shock: When I pulled my tank out and empty it into several containers, low and behold, I had about a cup of water in the bottom of the tank and some dark sludge looking stuff. Wow, no wonder I had problems with my Wallas stove/heater!

I also discovered the source of the large amount of water in my tank. The vent tube for the tank was simply dropped in the bilge by the installers. My tank is the 10-liter model and is strapped down next to the bilge in the cabinet. When the stove/heater sucked fuel out of the tank, the vent tube had been sucking water out of the bilge!!! :cry So, I redid the vent tube by running it up the inside of the cabinet so the top was about an inch below the countertop, securing it with those black plastic cable clamps.

Tested the unit last night and it is working fine now with fresh kerosene. :) :thup I did add about 4% isopropyl alcohol to the kerosene to bind any condensed water in the tank.

Lessons learned: 1) Make sure your fuel tank vent tube is not sitting in water. 2) Empty out the tank every year, clean it and the filter. 3) Use fresh kerosene at the beginning of every season.

Sure would be nice if the owner’s manual that came with the Wallas said something about kerosene not lasting over a winter and the tank and filter needing cleaning once a year. :disgust Oh well, you live and learn.

Hope this helps someone out with their Wallas stove/heater before they have trouble.

Jim
 
A little isopropyl alcohol (like from the drugstore)

so, how much does this stuff cost....and how much is a little to add to the fuel tank? an ounce or two or about a quart??? or...are the mixing directions on the product? Have never used this stuff...but do use the klean heat... Thanks
Byrdman
 
Dan,
You are right on. I will not become complacent about watching for water in my Wallas fuel tank. Wish it had a bottom drain to draw off any of the water that will accumulate. Will certainly be emptying the tank for winter and not let it sit.

Byrdman,
I added a little over 3% isopropyl to a gallon of kerosene in my tank. Actually, I simply measured 4 oz. of 99% isopropyl to add to each gallon of kerosene. The Wallas manual recommended adding between 3% and 5%. Had the boat out this weekend and I am happy to report that the Wallas worked without a hitch and ran perfectly all weekend. :D The silver salmon fishing was excellent too! :thup :thup
 
Hey, Patrick,

The instructions that came with my Wallas (Model 95 DU) state that you should use 3 - 5 % isopropyl alcohol (about 6 ounces per gallon).

Most of the stuff available at drug stores is either rubbing alcohol, which you definitely don't want to use because it's 30% water, or 90% isopropyl, which has 10% water.

What you should use is pure isopropyl, and it's available at electronics parts stores, and is sold as a cleaning solvent. It's about $6 a pint.

You could ask your pharmacist if they carry pure isopropyl, but so far, the ones I've asked say they have to special order it. Hope this helps.

Ken
 
AnchortownJim":joilrtst said:
After doing some research on storage of kerosene, I was surprised to learn that kerosene only stores for 3 or 4 months before starting to degrade.
Click to expand...

I've been wondering about this with Klean Heat, as I've got tons of the stuff - enough to last me several years, and the jugs I have are now over a year old.

So, I called the manufacturer today. I was told Klean Heat has virtually unlimited shelf life. I didn't think to ask, but I'm assuming this applies to the original, sealed container - not the contents of the Wallas tank.

Yet another reason to go with the stuff...
 
I'm in my second gallon of klean heat and find it really good...and it seems to last forever...

I have not added alcohol to the mix. I have found "denatured" alcohol which says it is used as a solvent...would that be the correct additive?

terraplane tom
 
terraplane tom-

Denatured alcohol is about 82% grain or ethyl alcohol, like in alcoholic beverages, but with about 16 % wood alcohol, which is poisonous, thrown in, and it additionally contains two other bad guys, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and ethyl acetate. This makes the mixture poisonous so it can't be consumed, and the federal government doesn't have to worry about collecting liquor taxes on it, which are about about $15/ gallon. Denatured alcohol is used as a solvent in many industrial and commercial applications.

All alcohols show an affinity for water and will help absorb water and help it pass through a system like the fuel system in your boat or diesel heater. While this mixture might work from the standpoint of absorbing water, the MEK and the ethyl acetate are "hot solvents" that could be very harmful to hoses, gaskets, and the like through which they would pass.

Isoprophyl alcohol has apparently been chosen to be the water absorbing agent because it is relatively harmless to the fuel systems. It is my understanding that the gas additive Stabil contains isoprophyl alcohol among its many ingredients.

Bottom line, pass on the denatured alcohol for your fuel system and drinking, put the 100% isoprophyl in your fuel system, and save the ethyl alcohol for the Sundowners!!!. Cheers! Joe.
 
OK, thanks for the nix on the denatured stuff.
So, can i use regular drug store isopropyl, which is , i think, 70%?
I don't find any with a hight rating than that.
Would some Stabil work?

terraplane
 
terraplane-

DON'T USE THE 70% ISOPROPHYL ALCOHOL!!!

It is commonly commonly labeled "Rubbing Alcohol".

The rest of the mixture that is not isoprophyl alcohol is WATER!

PLEASE READ KEN McC'S FIRST POST ABOVE ON THIS TOPIC (He has two posts above.)

Ask the pharmacist if they have or can order isoprophyl at almost 100%.

Someone else on this site who has dealt with this may be able to give you a source.

You could also check with a local chemical supply company.

There may be restrictions on shipping isoprophyl alcohol through the mails, UPS, Fed Ex. etc.

Joe.
 
If you are in canada their alcohol is much better. Probably about 90% less moisture coming out of it. Really good stuff. Boat US brand the worst. West Marine not much better.
 
I bought a can of "Clean Strip" Heater Fuel Kerosene after picking up the boat from the factory. It worked great! Bought it at the Lowes in Federal Way for ~$7.50
 
Greetings and thanks for all the info on the Wallas. We were out last weekend and found ourselves at the "bottom of the barrel" with out extra fuel :oops: . So the cooking was done on the barby on the poop deck and the cabin got cool :cry: and the walk to the island general store produce a really cool CD :wink but no fuel. Now that I did the search here and found what to burn, are there any tricks to refilling the tank, after the annual cleaning, and refueling, that will keep the Wallas working and hot. Seems the wife likes it that way, and like we know, if she's happy, I'm happy and the food continues to be great. Thanks again to all for being such a great resource :rainbow .

Harvey & Deena
 
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