Fungus in fuel?

Anonymous-0 · Dec 6, 2012

I just bought a 2705 Massey, and after running it two weeks it shut down. I primed it and didn't run a couple minutes and shut down again. I put in new filters and took cap off lift pump, the screen in the lift pump was full of a dark red slime. I cleaned it off and got the tractor going again, but then it would run wonderful then pull down some and once in a while sound like it would clear its throat, the governor on it would open up for no reason ever since I bought it. My mechanic told me it sounds like I have a fungus in my tank, I never heard of it before, any of you? Thanks in advance for any thoughts or help.

dpendzic · Dec 6, 2012

yes--common in old diesel fuel--there are additives you can buy to kill the fungus.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 6, 2012

diesel 9-1-1 any car parts store

JerryS · Dec 6, 2012

I used to do some traveling on a company Lear jet. I was amazed when the pilot told me about having to include an additive to kill fungus in the jet fuel. Hoodathunkit. You wouldn't want what you described to happen at 30,000 feet.

RickieBlue · Dec 6, 2012

Not Fungus but algae.............have seen it before many times...some fuels are treated with algaecide or biocide and there is never a problem..
here is a quote "The fuel additives contain biocides that destroy microbes instrumental in the formation of algae sludge"

Mike (WA) · Dec 6, 2012

Isn't jet fuel basically kerosene? Blew me away when I first heard that- thought it would be something really high tech.

casecollectorsc · Dec 6, 2012

911 won't kill bacteria in the fuel. Need to put in a fungicide. Soy diesel and water will cause big problems. Bought a tractor that hasn't run in almost 20 years and full tank of fuel. Smells good and runs great!

55deere70 · Dec 6, 2012

Water in fuel is recipe for algae. Biocide is the only way to kill it. Be careful with that stuff and read the directions on the bottle...nasty stuff

Mike Aylward · Dec 6, 2012

Soydiesel isn't the problem. The problem is the sulfur being gone in the fuel. The formerly high sulfur content wouldn't allow the algae to form. When the sulfur was removed the algae could then grow. The process of removing the sulfur caused the fuel to lack lubricity (the sulfur did not lubricate) so soydiesel was a convenient and effective lubricity replacement. It is not the direct cause of the algae. The lack of sulfur is. However, sulfur is hard on engines so it's good it is gone. Mike

Anonymous-0 · Dec 6, 2012

blow all fuel lines out starting at the pump back to the fuel tank. i worked for massey way back when the 2000 tractor were made and massey was having union troubles and the employes were putting rubber bands in the fuel tank and in the fuel lines. tractors would run fine until it got warmed up and the rubber bands would swell up and stop fuel flow. i chased this problem for about 2 years on some tractors also there was a lot of plastic shavings in the bottom of the tanks that would plug the lines also and if you have algae in the tank it all works to slow the fuel flow

BCnT · Dec 6, 2012

algae is nothing new...had algae in a fuel tank on a crewboat i useta run back in the mid 70's...almost got nailed by a waterspout about 60 miles offshore when filters plugged...we were fixin to abandon ship when the spout turned...there was plenty sulphur in fuel back then.

Larry NEIL · Dec 6, 2012

Jet fuel is the dregs of the fuel chain. Pretty much garbage.

toadady · Dec 6, 2012

it was explained to me that when the fuel level goes down and the tank draws moisture on the inside. then the algi grows, you fill the tank with fuel and then the algae enters the fuel.every time the fuel level drops the algae regrows. power service makes a product called Bio Clean. it's not cheap, but filters and down time are not either....

i witnessed a complete road crew come to a grinding halt . 4 large articulated dump trucks and a huge excavator all stopped in there tracks because the boss wanted to work 12 hours instead of 10, he found a old tank of fuel and put it in the equipment. turns out the fuel had been sitting for 3 years.

Switchflicker · Dec 6, 2012

Jets add a product called 'Prist" which is an anti-icing agent as well as a funguside. Most of the time the additive is either premixed in the truck, or added at the hose from a little tank of Prist in the back of the big fuel tank. On occasion neither is available, then the fueller adds it via an aerosol can with tubing so that the additive is injected into the stream of jet fuel. Messy job at best. In a Lear, likely a can for each wing tank. Very expensive too. If it doesn't get added midstream, it can bung up all the seals and fuel control units in the engine. Bad things happen then.

scott mcintosh · Dec 7, 2012

Been through that myself with my oliver 1850 injection pump twisted of pump head.When pump was torn down insides had a black film on it.All the seals were like jelly.Pump repaired and primary filter housing had to replaced when put back in service as small pin hole in filter housing causing air leak.I use a biocide and lubricity additive quite often now.Keep water out as fungus grows where water and fuel meet.Google fungus in fuel to learn more.Scott

55deere70 · Dec 7, 2012

Scott is correct as I understand it...the bacteria grows not in the fuel or the water, but at the line where the fuel and water meet.

TGP · Dec 7, 2012

(quoted from post at 19:29:00 12/06/12) I just bought a 2705 Massey, and after running it two weeks it shut down. I primed it and didn't run a couple minutes and shut down again. I put in new filters and took cap off lift pump, the screen in the lift pump was full of a dark red slime. I cleaned it off and got the tractor going again, but then it would run wonderful then pull down some and once in a while sound like it would clear its throat, the governor on it would open up for no reason ever since I bought it. My mechanic told me it sounds like I have a fungus in my tank, I never heard of it before, any of you? Thanks in advance for any thoughts or help.

"Killem"
Best out there.
Any good fuel supplier will have it.
Also a problem in Hyd. systems.
Tom

[/list]

jm. · Dec 7, 2012

Marlow What area did you work. Knew all the Massey Service reps around that time. Names like Whithead or McEarl come up . Both worked out of Memphis. I worked a summer out in Phonix on the proving grounds.

dej(Jed) · Dec 7, 2012

(quoted from post at 17:29:00 12/06/12) I just bought a 2705 Massey, and after running it two weeks it shut down. I primed it and didn't run a couple minutes and shut down again. I put in new filters and took cap off lift pump, the screen in the lift pump was full of a dark red slime. I cleaned it off and got the tractor going again, but then it would run wonderful then pull down some and once in a while sound like it would clear its throat, the governor on it would open up for no reason ever since I bought it. My mechanic told me it sounds like I have a fungus in my tank, I never heard of it before, any of you? Thanks in advance for any thoughts or help.

We do a lot of fuel testing work here in Pa. and both anerobic and aerobic bacteria are common in fuels. One lives in the fuel and feeds on the fuel , while the other also feeds on the fuel, but requires a water level to in.
The bacterial byproduct is then deposited in the fuel and if bad enough causes pump and injector problems. It is always present to some degree.

(fuelsandlubestechnologies.org)

Ken Macfarlane · Dec 7, 2012

Sulfur makes no difference. Storing fuel dry and cool or cold helps though.

LJD · Dec 7, 2012

A good biocide made for diesel will kill the bugs in it. It will not remove the little dead bodies though (that plug filters). It just stops them from raising new families.

I've had the problem in tractors and cars/trucks. Last year the pickup fuel sock in my Ford diesel plugged up from it. Water in diesel is the issue that lets the stuff grow.

HenryO · Dec 7, 2012

I worked with diesel for lots of years and here is what i learned about fungus in fuel: Diesel gets water in it from condensation in the tanks and is suspendeed in the fuel. The fungus grows in the tiny water droplets and when presented to a filter clog it. It also creaters a gel that can cling to tank walls and in lines. The longer deisel sits in the tanks the more the fungus grows. Adding Biocide or other such products disolves the gel kills the spores and will permit them to pass thru filters

Fungus in fuel?

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