ALGE IN DIESAL fuel!

[toolaholic]

Backhoe would quit when grading gravel road,lots of vibration. RE,start after it sat about 10 minutes. Mechanic foung alge in pump and fuel tank. steamed cleaned tank, cleaned pump. Life is good again. I always keep tank toped off for this reason. It's an ex city machine that sat ,i belive 91 M. F. 50 HX with only 1700 hrs ,good shape for that.

 

[art]

Often you can find it in the sourse of the fuel. Don't know why we have it now as I never heard of it or ran across it but for the last 15 years.

 

[BTI]

According to the fuel suppliers, the new ULSD is more prone to Algae than the LSD.

BTI

 

[SkyPup]

According to the fuel suppliers, the new ULSD is more prone to Algae than the LSD.

BTI

Seriously doubt that since all algae grows in water, not diesel fuel. No water, no algae.

 

[toolaholic]

This mechanic is the lead for a huge shop ,services about 80 garbage trucks and ast. heavy equept.. Another old Diesal Mech. warnet Me about the Alge ploblem ,with diesal. Said to keep everything topped off,to avoid condesation.
I also have a large dump truck. This and tractor get diesal ing. cleaner often.

Thank's for Your input Kevin

 

[SkyPup]

LOL sounds like another old diesel mechanic tale?

Like I said, algae ONLY grows in WATER, without water, no algae......

There are, however, many species of oxidative bacteria that will hydrolyze hydrocarbon bonds and reproduce in diesel fuel, which is why they ultimately do biodegrade when spilled onto the ground. Pseudomonads and Aeromonads are the most common species infecting large storage facilities, however the petrochemical microbiologists are well aware of this fact and antibiotics are routinely added to decrease the occurrence of these oxidative degradative fuel contaminating organisms.

 

[AlanB]

Tool, you may consider treating your tanks with a Biocide.

Power Service Products, diesel fuel additives, prevent gelling, clean injectors, disperse water, boost cetane, reduce emissions, improve fuel economy

It is a different product then the normal power service / fuel additive of a persons choice. Although I beleive most fuel additives have "some" of the properties.

Sounds like you have it whipped with the cleaning you did, but sometimes it is coming in from your feed tank.

It can be a real pain to get everything cleaned and back to status quo after you get the algae bloom going.

Hope you have it handled and it sounds like you do. Although it is usually better with high turnover tanks, and less of a problem, One of the tanks I was speaking with a guy about (sounds like an urban legend now) turned over 20,000 gallons a week and was haveing algae problems. Pretty much by any standards that was a high turnover tank. They had to treat it regular for a while to get it back into control.

As Skypup said though, it is really a fight with water (either in your tanks or your suppliers) that you are having.

Good luck, hope you have it whipped.

 

[BTI]

Correct on the water, but I believe they said that sulfur is an algaeside so when you remove it you remove diesels naturally occuring algae defenses.

BTI

 

[SkyPup]

Correct on the water, but I believe they said that sulfur is an algaeside so when you remove it you remove diesels naturally occuring algae defenses.

BTI

That is not true either.....

 

[BTI]

I found the stuff again on Fleetguards website.

What are these microorganisms I am starting to hear about?
Microorganisms such as algae and bugs are constantly present in air and moisture. If
excess moisture enters a fuel storage system, microorganisms can reproduce, feeding
off of the fuel itself. In the past, natural sulfur content was a deterrent to this growth,
but with ULSD and Biodiesel this is not the case. Excessive microorganism growth can
cause premature filter plugging, reducing service intervals. If an odorous, shiny black
substance is found on the filters, contact Cummins Filtration for information about our
Fleetguard chemical products that will treat and maintain the system.