Diesel problems two

cjunrau · Apr 10, 2022

Not to ad to bottom so I will ask here.
I here a lot about algae in diesel on this forum.
I wonder is it a down south thing?
Here in Manitoba I have drained old combines and tractors and ad it to my tractors I use.
Just emptied a combine the other day that sat here for at least 10 years. Took out about 30 gallons and completely filled my every day tractor.
Have done this all the time and never a problem.
My fuel filter on tractors get changed every 3-4 years just because I think I should. Not because of plugging.

johnofnewhaven · Apr 10, 2022

It's an up north thing too or at least northern Indiana. I can't believe you don't have problems changing fuel filters every 3-4 years. That seems like a long time. I change mine every year. Cheap maintenance.

used red MN · Apr 10, 2022

Well you are plenty far enough North to experience it. I cannot remember why but older fuel blends were less susceptible to the algae formation. The algae forms at the fuel and water interface so keeping the water out or suspended is the key. In cooler climates there is an increased likelihood of water condensing in fuel tanks so that is why it is more of an up North thing. Also biodiesel is more susceptible to it because the plant base of the fuel gives it a more available food source for the algae.

Jim.ME · Apr 10, 2022

It's actually not algae, just a common name used for it. Algae requires sunlight to grow, so it isn't going to grow in a fuel tank. It is microbes like mold, bacteria, and fungus that can find their way into a diesel fuel tank and thrive. The condition can occur most places, regardless of temperature, if the conditions are right.

rlp in Co. · Apr 10, 2022

Anybody know of a homemade biocide to stop the microbes? Acetone or laquer thinner, zinc?
It's simply amazing to me that anything could grow in diesel anyway!

rlp in Co. · Apr 10, 2022

I bet a couple of drops if dish soap would go to the bottom of the tank and mix with any water and kill the microbes!

moresmoke · Apr 10, 2022

The sulfur in the older fuel kept the bugs from growing. When they took the sulfur out is when the problems started. And also biodiesel didnt help any.

Im another one that has never really had any problems with it.

Russ from MN · Apr 10, 2022

Our farm is within 2 miles of the CA border, so it's not a down South thing, although I believe warmer temperatures cause more problems. The fuel that I had problems with was in a clean 5 gallon container, and I had added some biocide to it last fall. Because it was summer fuel it probably had 20% bio in it, according to what I found your fuel in MB only has 2% bio, that might be the difference.

herk · Apr 10, 2022

It happens in central MN too , I have been told it happens more often in plastic tanks , the first one I dealt with was my neighbors IH plastic tank looked like goose crap ,the second was in my combine ( metal tank) it was as green as grass, I was told that biofuel made from animal fat was more likely to have it happen ( I don't know if they still use animal fat ). Bryan

caterpillar guy · Apr 11, 2022

If the water is drained off regularly I don't believe there is much of a chance of it being a problem. We have plugs we drain out any water that collects each spring or fall. I like to do it both times. That helps keep water out for cold weather and spring helps get any that collected during the winter out.

BarnyardEngineering · Apr 11, 2022

(quoted from post at 13:14:26 04/10/22) Anybody know of a homemade biocide to stop the microbes? Acetone or laquer thinner, zinc?
It's simply amazing to me that anything could grow in diesel anyway!

Why mess with home brew magic potions that may or may not work when there are products on the market that are readily available, and inexpensive?

Determined · Apr 11, 2022

(quoted from post at 11:38:28 04/10/22) Not to ad to bottom so I will ask here.
I here a lot about algae in diesel on this forum.
I wonder is it a down south thing?
Here in Manitoba I have drained old combines and tractors and ad it to my tractors I use.
Just emptied a combine the other day that sat here for at least 10 years. Took out about 30 gallons and completely filled my every day tractor.
Have done this all the time and never a problem.
My fuel filter on tractors get changed every 3-4 years just because I think I should. Not because of plugging.

A few reasons we don't have as much problems up here;

Below 50F there is little to no bacterial activity, that describes our weather for over half the year.

When below freezing most of the water that has settled to the bottom of our storage tanks has turned to ice and it is not getting pumped into the tractors tank.

Freezing temperatures will kill some but not all bacteria.

Different humidity levels and temperature fluctuations affect the amount of condensation we get.
Less condensation equals less water.
No water equals nothing for bacteria to grow on.

There are environmental clean up companies that utilize bacteria to cleanse hydrocarbon contaminated soil.
In region's that do not receive sufficient heat (Arctic for example) the method does not work well.

Diesel problems two

cjunrau

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johnofnewhaven

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used red MN

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Jim.ME

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rlp in Co.

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rlp in Co.

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moresmoke

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Russ from MN

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herk

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caterpillar guy

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BarnyardEngineering

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Determined

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