Clear plastic fuel viewing tubes? Help!

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Donna

Donna

Guru
Joined
Aug 30, 2016
Messages
1,231
Location
United States
Vessel Name
Southerly
Vessel Make
1986 Marine Trader 36' Sundeck
I have no idea what to call the diesel viewing tubes. I need new ones because I have no idea how much fuel I have. That could be a problem. :facepalm:

Where can I get them and what are they called?
 
Donna said:
I have no idea what to call the diesel viewing tubes. I need new ones because I have no idea how much fuel I have. That could be a problem. :facepalm:

Where can I get them and what are they called?
Click to expand...

Sight glass is what they are called even though almost nobody uses glass. Several different types of tube are used. Post a pic of what you have and maybe we can identify it.

Also, you may be able to remove and clean the inside of the tube.

Ted
 
Also shine a flashlight closely at the tube from the side and you might be able to see the fuel level.
 
Ahh, sight glass! Yes I do remember the surveyor saying that. Jeez, thank you!

Not sure I want to do the cleaning on that. I have been a mess for a week in the engine room trying to find a fresh water leak. Fixed!

Hmm, I think I'll phone a friend to help with this! I work in television and need to have some pampering time or they are going to fire me! LOL!
 
O.C., What should I use to try and clean it?
 
Send a picture of your sight tubes installation showing the on off valves. If it is the usual, it is an easy task to take off the old tubes and replace with new.
 
Here is my port side installation, very easy to replace tubes, yours may be similar.
 

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Still waiting for you to post a pic. :rolleyes:

There should be a valve at the bottom. Make sure it's closed.

Hopefully you can disconnect the tube at the top. If the tube is still flexible, bend it over to let some / most of the fuel drain....into an appropriate container. Next gauge the size of the tube. If above 1/4" ID you may be able to run a gun cleaning rod with a patch down the tube. A 22 caliber gun cleaning rod has a plastic tip on the end with a slot through it like a needle for sewing. The cloth patches slide through the slot and should work well. Measure the inside of the tube by inserting progressively larger drill bits to find the ID. If the ID is larger than 3/8", you may want a larger tip (larger gun caliber) and bigger patches. A Bass Pro Shop or maybe Walmart may have this gun cleaning rod and patches fairly cheap. You want the rod that comes in sections and screws together. The black stuff on the inside of the tube is likely Asphaltene. It should wipe off of the inside of the tube with the gun cleaning patches. DO NOT USE ANY SOLVENT when cleaning the tube, as some will turn the tube from clear to opaque (don't ask me how I know). If you need to wet the patched, use diesel fuel. Some tubes clean easily; some become discolored with age; YMMV.

Ted
 
Sight tubes for fuel? Really? USCG approved? ABYC approved?

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/46/182.440

https://law.resource.org/pub/us/cfr/ibr/001/abyc.H-33.1989.pdf

USCG says the tube has to be fire resistant and that the valve to the tank has to close automatically(!). Also, our small, under 65' - fewer than 12 passenger boats are exempt from some of the restrictions.

ABYC says that the sight tube valves have to be shut top and bottom except when reading the level(!).

Jamestown Distributers' information describes no USCG- or ABYC-approved clear hose for fuel systems. http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/document.do?docId=1133
 
Last edited:
O C Diver said:
Still waiting for you to post a pic. :rolleyes:

There should be a valve at the bottom. Make sure it's closed.

Hopefully you can disconnect the tube at the top. If the tube is still flexible, bend it over to let some / most of the fuel drain....into an appropriate container. Next gauge the size of the tube. If above 1/4" ID you may be able to run a gun cleaning rod with a patch down the tube. A 22 caliber gun cleaning rod has a plastic tip on the end with a slot through it like a needle for sewing. The cloth patches slide through the slot and should work well. Measure the inside of the tube by inserting progressively larger drill bits to find the ID. If the ID is larger than 3/8", you may want a larger tip (larger gun caliber) and bigger patches. A Bass Pro Shop or maybe Walmart may have this gun cleaning rod and patches fairly cheap. You want the rod that comes in sections and screws together. The black stuff on the inside of the tube is likely Asphaltene. It should wipe off of the inside of the tube with the gun cleaning patches. DO NOT USE ANY SOLVENT when cleaning the tube, as some will turn the tube from clear to opaque (don't ask me how I know). If you need to wet the patched, use diesel fuel. Some tubes clean easily; some become discolored with age; YMMV.

Ted
Click to expand...

Have to take a pic tomorrow!
 
You can get new sight tubes from McMaster-Carr if yours need replacement.
McMaster-Carr
 
Donna, does your fuel sight glass (plastic tubes) have a valve at the top and at the bottom?

If so, these should be closed at all times so that if there is a fire in your ER they will not allow more fuel to be added to the fire when the sight glasses melt.

When reading the fuel level you open both the top and bottom valve and it levels out at the fuel content. Then close them again.

You will need to measure the length of the sight glasses (plastic tubes) to order new ones.

Replacing them is relatively easy as they are flexible and can easily be bent to fit over the top and bottom valves.
 
Donna said:
I have no idea what to call the diesel viewing tubes. I need new ones because I have no idea how much fuel I have. That could be a problem. :facepalm:

Where can I get them and what are they called?
Click to expand...

Clear vinyl hose works just fine.

Use either the reenforced kind like in the picture, sometimes called "red tracer" hose or the non-reenforced type that is totally clear.
 
When you replace the sight tubing, close the valves, remove the tubing from the top and blow into the tube slightly, keeping pressure. Unless your tank was full, you won't get diesel in your mouth. Open the bottom valve and blow the fuel into the tank, close the valve. The small amount of remaining diesel can be caught with a rag when the bottom is released.
Cleaning, as others have said, can be done with a gun cleaning rod. You lefties can buy a small rod at the hardware. A small, brightly colored, floating object can be placed in the tube to more easily see the level.
 
Can't see a risk in using inexpensive 1/2" transparent tubing. I use the same tubing as for the fresh water systems. The valves are only open when viewing. Have replaced mine twice in 18 years. The fuel does not appear to weaken them.
 
This is a VERY useful thread! Thanks Donna.
 
OreWa said:
You can get new sight tubes from McMaster-Carr if yours need replacement.
McMaster-Carr
Click to expand...

Ditto
Replaced mine, got it from McMaster
Just a side note mine were hard to read because of the discoloration,
But mainly because one "shrunk" and came off fitting. It was too short to reconnect.
Many people say you can use regular clear hose from a big box store, but I don't trust it, this is after all "fuel"
Always keep your valves closed when not reading tank level!
Fortunately when mine popped off the valves were closed and th only fuel in the bilge was what was in the hose. (Found on a routine check while underway in Bahamas.)
 
Lepke said:
When you replace the sight tubing, close the valves, remove the tubing from the top and blow into the tube slightly, keeping pressure. Unless your tank was full, you won't get diesel in your mouth. Open the bottom valve and blow the fuel into the tank, close the valve. The small amount of remaining diesel can be caught with a rag when the bottom is released.
Cleaning, as others have said, can be done with a gun cleaning rod. You lefties can buy a small rod at the hardware. A small, brightly colored, floating object can be placed in the tube to more easily see the level.
Click to expand...

Never thought of the brightly colored floater Good Idea!
 
Panacea123 said:
Never thought of the brightly colored floater Good Idea!
Click to expand...
reflective or glow in the dark after being hit by light might be super too....just has to survive diesel 24/7.....
 
psneeld said:
reflective or glow in the dark after being hit by light might be super too....just has to survive diesel 24/7.....
Click to expand...

Or you could put a strip of LED lights behind the clear tubes. :D
 

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Or have translucent poly tanks like me and sight tube are obsolete..:D
 
Capt.Bill11 said:
You could put lights behind the tanks.

With the right lights you'd get a nice warm glow effect in the engine space. :D
Click to expand...
nah...plenty of light in the tanks.... I added lava lamps to the corners of the engine room for atmosphere along with shag carpeting and astrological signs painted on the overhead.

The mate wears a red plastic mini skirt and white, thigh high vinyl boots with a tall blonde beehive hairdoo...


Oh sorry, I was thinking of that martini bar on the stretch in Daytona Beach if it's still there....:D
 
I'll be there next week, will check it out for you.
 
Steve said:
Here is my port side installation, very easy to replace tubes, yours may be similar.
Click to expand...

I am having such a difficult time posting trying to post pics. Yours are exactly like mine. Can you please tell me what you used and where to find them?

I am worried about everything being coast guard rated because of insurance. I guess I am exempt from some rules because of my size?
 
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