I feel that I am doing a lot to avoid fuel problems.
I add Power Service Diesel Fuel and Tank Cleaner to every 100 gallons I put in my nurse tank.
Clear-Diesel Fuel & Tank Cleaner
I have a 'water block' filter on my nurse tank.
The suction end is about 1-2" off the bottom of the nurse tank
I check the water separator for signs of water almost every time I start the tractor. (there were no signs of water this time)
I buy diesel to fill the nurse tank at different fuel stations. (I look for lower prices).
I really don't know what more I can do. I guess I could add another filter as
@5030 suggests.
I welcome any advice.
Did you add a Racor prefilter on your tractor? If not, I would do it now. They are available in models with clear lower bowls that have a drain and a hookup for a water in fuel sensor.
I think that you need to stop, drain your nurse tank, and have your local radiator shop steam clean it out. I then would be tempted to take it to a welder and get a drain put in, and perhaps two upper access ports, one for a breather, and one to return fuel. (See below)
I would then check all the fuel caps to see what could be replaced / improved. How much time does your tractor / tank spend in the rain? Getting pressure washed?
Then change your diesel buying habits and stick to a major brand (Shell /Chevron) for a while (six months / a couple of years) to see if that eliminates your issues. On your first couple of fills in your shiny newly clean tank, I would be adding biocide to every fueling. I wouldn't be adding water emulsifiers as they shift the water in the fuel farther into your engine which is not very tolerant of water. I would then change the Racor and Kubota filters preemptively and at the same time with fresh filters, with no prefilling the filters.
My nurse tank is a 100 gallon tank on my Ram 3500 flatbed dually. I sure do wish it had a bottom drain, but it does not.
Several years ago, I was having issues with my nurse tank, so I bought a new one. It seems I'm having the same issues with the new tank, which is 5 or 6 years old now.
This suggest to me that either you are buying poor fuel, or that your pump / cap on your nurse tank leaks water into your nurse tank, or that possibly your tractor cap leaks water. I think that you should make sure that your pump doesn't have any leaks either in its threads, or that it might have some air vent (anti-siphon) of its own that is leaking water.
If you have a free port on your nurse tank, I would add a drying vent with indicator. If not, I would also upgrade to a fuel cap that seals, not with a built in lock that leak water.
What brand nurse tank do you have?
Finally, keep your nurse tank and your tractor tanks as full as you can. If you fill a tractor, fill the nurse tank that day, and ASAP. You are fighting Florida humidity, and the heat and humidity is just really hard on diesel. Any empty space in the tank overnight is going to suck water into your diesel.
Have you upgraded your tractor fuel cap?
I have seen Mil-spec fuel tanks that had a golden rod type water block filter and a small recirculating pump that constantly polishes the fuel in the tank. You might consider doing that; any time the truck is running, the fuel in the nurse tank is being polished. Other diesel engine designs do a similar thing of pulling more fuel than is needed across all the filters, and returning the excess to fuel tank. It is a great way to get great quality fuel.
Good luck! I really think that you dodged a bullet this time around, and if it were me, I would be very thankful.
All the best,
Peter
