Algae & Microbal growth in diesel

[5030]

We sort of discussed this elswehere but I've had first hand (expensive) experience with algae growth in diesel fuel, something I don't want to ever experience again. Had it in my diesel pickup which stays parked in the garage all winter. I keep the fuel tanks topped off in storage and I always add Power Kleen biocide to them, in fact I put it in my 500 gallon farm tank as well. In my view, if any additive claims to prevent algae growth but don't come with the Federally required MSDS labelling, it's phooey. With my truck, I did all the grunt work myself and it still cost over a grand in parts and that was 10 years ago. Probably 2 times that at today's prices. I'm pretty sure the Racor's will catch any algae, problem is, the stuff has a penchant for clogging up filters no matter what and it's nasty too.

One thing I learned and that was to stay away from any bio-diesel. That stuff is really good at growing algae.

 

[nyone]

We sort of discussed this elswehere but I've had first hand (expensive) experience with algae growth in diesel fuel, something I don't want to ever experience again. Had it in my diesel pickup which stays parked in the garage all winter. I keep the fuel tanks topped off in storage and I always add Power Kleen biocide to them, in fact I put it in my 500 gallon farm tank as well. In my view, if any additive claims to prevent algae growth but don't come with the Federally required MSDS labelling, it's phooey. With my truck, I did all the grunt work myself and it still cost over a grand in parts and that was 10 years ago. Probably 2 times that at today's prices. I'm pretty sure the Racor's will catch any algae, problem is, the stuff has a penchant for clogging up filters no matter what and it's nasty too.

One thing I learned and that was to stay away from any bio-diesel. That stuff is really good at growing algae.

Do you think the growth came from your local fuel station in your pickup trucks case?

I think they call them SDS now but il look into what power service puts in there additive.

 

[alexpops]

Biobore for algae & I like optilube with some synthetic 2 stroke oil for lubricity & cetane boost. No problems in my 2011 cp 4 yet. My sailboat had a problem due to damp marine air & condensation in the diesel tank, the algae & microbes grew in the water/diesel interface layer. Biobore killed the algae, but filters kept clogging (especially when rough water bounced me around & stirred up the tank) until i went through a few tanks and a bunch of filters. I could have had the fuel polished, but didn't want to pay someone the 300 buck rate at the time to do 80 gallons & figured that since the motor only really was used for docking/departing dock, that i could polish it myself with enough filtration and extra running of engine while underway. I sucked out the water in the bottom of the tank with a diaphram pump, but the dead critters were in the fuel once the water was gone. Always kept spare racor filters on board and used vacuum gauges on the filter housings to gauge level of plugging. 2 racor 500s in series 10 then 2 micron kept the perkins on engine filters clean which was good as the secondary on engine was a royal pain to change & bleed. Changed filter elements at the rate of 2 or 3 10 mic for every 2 mic for about a year, and always had a full 2 gal jug of fresh diesel to minimize bleeding when filters got changed.

 

[5030]

Do you think the growth came from your local fuel station in your pickup trucks case?

I think they call them SDS now but il look into what power service puts in there additive.

Powerservice does not contain a biocide, I can tell you that. It's merely a cetane improver and has some lubricity additives that ULSD lacks. Any 'snake oil' additive that don't come with the required MSDS labelling don't. Why I use Powerservice Bio-Kleen. It comes with the required MSDS labelling attached to the bottle and it's not cheap either. Far as where I 'got it', I suspect it was the B20 I was using at the time from the station up town. I quit using B20 after that incident and I've never had an issue since. I buy my ULSD off road (not B20) at the same station and they do sell volume, all the farmers around here use them for fuel as they deliver too. I'm done with the 'green' stuff, remediation was very expensive.

Smells like french fries and destroys your injection system. Not for me. In fact (though I didn't knw it at the time), Kubota discourages the use of B20 in their tractors, never did however, just the truck and that was plenty enough. In fact, not sure if they even offer B20 anymore.

I believe my big mistake was I topped off the truck and parked it for the winter and come spring it was loaded up with the stuff. Had to drop the fuel tank, dispose of the fuel, new tank pickup and sending unit, new lift pump, new fuel bowl, new fuel lines, numerous filters and a lot of labor and grief. Just lucky it didn't get past the filters and into the injectors. I've heard it destroys them.

 

[nyone]

I treated 230gal with the PS "clear diesel" in 2020. No issues so far but I'm going to get the bio clean and treat the tank. The SDS on the "clear diesel" only shows "trade secrets" so that's not great.

 

[5030]

I treated 230gal with the PS "clear diesel" in 2020. No issues so far but I'm going to get the bio clean and treat the tank. The SDS on the "clear diesel" only shows "trade secrets" so that's not great.

Good idea. Biobore also markets a biocide. Same deal, attached MSDS warning label. Trade secrets mean nothing. It has to list the ingredients and the cautions for use. Not familiar with 'Clear Diesel' Sounds like phooey to me.

 

[5030]

The issue as posted above is, you can kill the microbial algae but the 'dead bodies remain' and you have to remove them one way or another as the corpses are what clogs the filters and if they get past the filters, will destroy the injection pump and injectors. At leas when you terminate them they aren't reproducing and making more.

 

[nyone]

The issue as posted above is, you can kill the microbial algae but the 'dead bodies remain' and you have to remove them one way or another as the corpses are what clogs the filters and if they get past the filters, will destroy the injection pump and injectors. At leas when you terminate them they aren't reproducing and making more.

If you treat when the fuel is new does this become an issue?

 

[Hay Dude]

If you treat when the fuel is new does this become an issue?

It depends where you store your fuel between the seller and your tractor. Put clean, clear fuel in any contaminated tank and you could have problems.

I avoid big farm storage tanks and have truck mounted tanks for quick in/out storage. I keep those tanks treated, clean and screw on new filters often.

I run a lot of different farms, so I fuel “on the go“ from 80 gallon truck tank. The downside is I have to run for fuel 2 even 3 times a week during heavy farming, but the fuel depot is close so not a big deal.

Having 80 gallons on hand will usually get us through one day of intense farming, but I sleep better knowing its gone quickly and not laying around in a tank.

If you have a truck, I highly suggest a truck mounted tank. You bring your fuel to the tractor rather than the tractor to the fuel. It’s easier and you can go anywhere.

 

[alexpops]

How long are your 5 gal jugs sitting? If you empty/refill them regularly & burn the fuel through your engine, keep the tractor tank topped off when it sits, are using good clean fuel from a high volume (turnover) source, & don't go through a lot of dewpoint cycles, you should be fine. If the jugs or tank are sitting around for a long time, if they aren't sealed tight, if you have high humidity and temp fluctuation that cause condensation to happen in tractor tank or jugs, you could keep having problems. All depends on what you are doing.