Slightly OT:About diesel fuel, when is it bad?

redtom · May 16, 2016

I had a post or two earlier about my Cummins dodge quitting. Well, actually its my dads that I inherited. Its an 06 with only 40k on it. That tells you how little its driven. He bought it new, I used it for a few long camping trips then just little use per year. Fuel filter plugged one year ago and truck slowed down. New filter and good to go. Now, one year later and maybe 1,000 miles its plugs again. I changed it out and it wont go full speed. I find on the net these models have issues with in tank pumps failing and I am upgrading to an aftermarket pump. I dropped the tank got 5 gals out and its slightly black colored (picture black iced tea) and the screen in the funnel yielded what I think is normal debris. The pickup screen was a solid mat of black. My question is this algae? If so how do I kill it? Bleach the tank? The paper filter was black but the net says this is "asphaltene" a normal coloring from diesel fuel. Any experts?

markct · May 16, 2016

That's algae my friend, treatments are available, if it was so bad it matted up the screen tho I would say drop the tank and rinse it out well with soap and hot water

GordoSD · May 16, 2016

yes, that's bad but curable. Drain the tank and drop it Burn the old diesel fuel.Those diesel treatments may kill the current live algae buy will not remove it. It will settle to the bottom. Don't use it.
With the tank out put 10 gals of water and 1 gallon of chlorine bleach in there. rotate the tank 90 degree every 8 hours. Then rinse WELL with hot water.
When you get it clean just keep what you need for fuel in it, and use the Preventative added to that. Drive it to town or work at least once a week. If you don't use it, sell it. Figure what it is costing you per mile fo fuel, insurance, repairs and depreciation and you will see it is a money pit.

NCWayne · May 16, 2016

I've seen algae grow in both the fuel, as well as in hydraulic oil. I've seen fuel tanks steamed cleaned, with various chemicals used, without any effect. In one case, the algae come back so bad within two weeks it shut the machine down, and that's with a coarse, sock filter that's nearly 3 feet long and 3 inches in diameter. Imagine what it would do with a typical, low micron filter in a modern vehicle.

That said, if you want to guarantee the algae doesn't come back, you have to use a biocide. Fifteen years ago the stuff was nearly unheard of except in the boating community, and finding the additive was nearly impossible. In recent years the algae has become so common place you should be able to get a quality biocide from just about any parts house.

Like another post mentioned, all the biocide does is kill the algae. That being the case, keep several filters handy as the stuff will plug the filters as it dies off.

Beyond that, all I can day is good luck. It's some nasty stuff, but it can be beat.

ASEguy · May 17, 2016

Only you can see the build-up. If I was not absolutely certain it was not off I would change the tank and the fuel line. If it is thick, it will be a constant recurring headache as the filters plug. You can plug a lot of expensive filters trying to stay on top of it. Those filters are somewhere around 5 micron and would plug up very fairly easily given the size of the tank.

Billy Shafer · May 17, 2016

I had that problem in the Army. We ended up dropping the tanks and flushing system with varsol.Removed the filters and flush the system with a pump. System has to be very clean or it will come back.

hd6gtom · May 17, 2016

red tom after you get the tank cleaned out, look around and find premium diesel, It has the algaecide added to it. Most truck stops and convience stores don't sell premium diesel.

mozark · May 17, 2016

I wonder if after you get it cleaned out, putting some bare copper in the tank would help keep the algae at bay. The copper would probably not "leach" into the diesel to kill algae, but if any water was to get in there, it would keep algae from forming in it. Didn't know if anyone had ever tried that and what the results were. If it works, might be good in something not driven often.

2002sliverado · May 17, 2016

I have had that in a diesel car and one farm tractor. Power Service makes a product called "Bio-Clean." Whenever I fill up my bulk fuel tanks at the farm, twice a year, I request this product be dumped in the tank. On the diesel car, I never heard of algae. When I dealt with that problem, it was many years prior to biodiesel blends. I had the "black" crap plugging up the fuel pickup screen in the tank. I flushed and emptied the tank and never had a repeat problem. I also opted to only use premium grade diesel fuel, as well as using some additives, particularly in the winter when I drive my diesel truck less. Hopefully I am doing what is necessary to prevent a re-occurrence. I did remove the bottom plug on my bulk fuel tank this past fall and found no issues with an accumulation of water or that "black crap" in the bottom of my storage tank.

wilson ind · May 17, 2016

Yes your correct, however there may be more to the story. It was his dad's truck he inherited. I have a 97 ford 4x4 3/4 ton just setting in shed. Paid only one thousand dollars 4 years ago. I keep comp. ins only which is very reasonable. If need which is most likely in winter with snow all that necessary is call, even leave message on insurance agents phone to cover on road. I drive around farm occasionally to keep battery up and gasoline full. For the small ins cost , and I figure no depreciation as truck will likely be worth 1000.00 ten years from now. Not to say your wrong just maybe other values are worth the cost.

Slightly OT:About diesel fuel, when is it bad?

redtom

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markct

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GordoSD

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NCWayne

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ASEguy

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Billy Shafer

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hd6gtom

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mozark

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2002sliverado

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wilson ind

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