Algae, is it a problem or not?

[JVantreese]

I have looked at various links on algae growth in fuel and can not find any current consensus on the perceived magnitude of the problem or what people are doing regarding additives to prevent algae growth. If you have had any personal experience with algae in you fuel, then please share your problem and solution. If you are using a fuel additive for algae, then please share the name and approximate cost. Thanks for your input.

 

[Andersonville]

Algae comes from water in the fuel. FPPF once a month will take care of it.

If you are treating with Howes or Power Service every time you fuel you shouldn't have a problem with algae. Also if your truck is run every week and buy fuel from high turnover pumps you shouldn't have a problem. If your truck sits then you might have a problem. Petoskey is a nice place. Good luck.

 

[kscheffler]

What i do is treat with Biobor one tank before I change the fuel filters. Make sure it gets mixed well on a full tank at the end of the tank change out your filters. I typically treat once per year. Another source of water is condensation on the tank walls. Algea likes to grow at the interface of fuel and air. So if you experience temperature swings and non-full tank these are conditions for algea growth. If you keep on top of the problem you will not have a problem...

 

[Grey Wolf]

What i do is treat with Biobor one tank before I change the fuel filters. Make sure it gets mixed well on a full tank at the end of the tank change out your filters. I typically treat once per year. Another source of water is condensation on the tank walls. Algea likes to grow at the interface of fuel and air. So if you experience temperature swings and non-full tank these are conditions for algea growth. If you keep on top of the problem you will not have a problem...

I agree except that the microbes grow between the water and fuel interface. The first sign of a problem for me was a black slimy fuel filters, I changed the filters then treated the system with Biobor JF. I also changed the filters again after a week of use, the Biobor worked fast as there was very little contamination on the second filter change. I now use an additive (Stanadyne or Power Service) regularly and haven't had any signs of contamination since BTW this happened about 25 yrs ago so I learned my lesson well

 

[JVantreese]

OK, so no water equals no algae. I do use a cocktail of PS and MM oil with each fill. I live about 4 blocks from my office so my truck does sit outside without being used for days at a time. During winter it is not unusual for it to sit a couple of weeks between use. I use the 80 gal aux tank to buy fuel at nearby towns that are usually 20 to 25 cents a gallon cheaper then our local stations. This fuel can sit in the tank for 2 months before being used. Because of the long storage and cold weather, I feel that I should do everything I can to prevent algae. This Biobor sounds like a good additive to use if there is no downside to it. I have not seen it at any of the MartMarts. There is no large diesel shops in my area so I wonder where it would be available. I guess I can check the web for a source. Thanks for your input and let me know if you have any more ideas regarding being proactive on this potential problem.

 

[Grey Wolf]

If you have any marina's close by they usually have it or some form of biocide. If not you can get it here...

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/176620292.htm



Your right though no water = no bugs, but if your fuel sits for a while I would definitely treat it with some additive. I would treat with with Stanadyne or PS they will keep the fuel fresh longer. I think Biobor is more for a known problem, but I could be wrong...

 

[Troubleshooter]

I reckon that I'm just lucky then. My truck sat in storage (outside gravel lot) in a very hot, humid environment (SE Georgia) during a year's deployment to Iraq and I never experienced any problem with filters being slimy with algae. I did ensure that the fuel tank was full and treated with PowerService prior to placing it into storage. The fuel filter was changed-out within a week of pulling it out of storage, and did not exhibit any signs of contamination.



Spent more time cleaning out mud-dauber nests underneath the hood than with algae.

 

[DSpears]

On my 05 in the bottom of the fuel filter it was full of it, not sure how i got as the place where i get my fuel has a high turn over rate and my dad gets fuel the same place, well i could have dropped the tank and cleaned it etc but there was soo much of it the dealer and i were in question if anything else got damaged, my injector flow rate was within 1 mil or something of them being considered bad, so the dealer had an 07 with 2500 miles and my payment would only got up 30 bucks a month so i bought that. My question is now what can i do so i dont get it again, i am going to start looking at different fuel stations and i will treat my fuel once a week with a biocide, just gotta find a really good additive.

 

[DavidC]

If you cannot find it locally this place has it and Stanadyne at good prices not including shipping. I have not used them.

http://www.mstechinc.com/shopsite_sc/smarthtml/fuelAdditives.asp#algae



Dave

 

[TowPro]

There was a TSB or recall on this. I know my 06 was covered but I think most of the year trucks have this problem.



On top of the fuel tank is 2 vent's that are open to the air. Problem is these vents are in a recesed spot on the top of the tank. If you get water on top of the tank it can fill up this recessed spot to the point that water goes into the tank. The fix is to put a piece of hose on each vent, and just drop it off the side of the tank. This way water can't run into the tank. In the TSB they say they will sample the fuel and clean out your tank if needed.



Search on "vent hose TSB" and you will find tons of text and pictures.