Bacteria/algae in diesel fuel

[JohndeereG]

One of our 98. 5 trucks quit running the other day. The dealership found the fuel was all milky. I guess that an algae can grow inside the tank causing all kinds of problems. Luckily it only clogged up the filter. The pump appears to be OK. They recommended adding a solution to a full tank that would kill the bacteria.

Has anyone experienced this problem?

 

[illflem]

Never had it happen to me, but have seen it many times, the algae looks like brown snot. It takes water in the fuel to grow, it won't grow in straight diesel. Good reason to buy quality fuel from a busy station. Sometimes after killing the algae their dead bodies are still left to clog things up, it may take draining and flushing the tank to eliminate future plugging. If you find water in your fuel filter it gives you an indication that you should add algaecide before their growth starts, then eliminate the source of water.

 

[C Schomer]

My manual say to change fuel filter every 6k miles and that's none too soon if you get some lousy fuel. The last time I had about one tablespoon of light gray liquid in the bottom - water and bugs! Usually there's just a little brown sediment. You can do a little test with the fuel you buy. Catch some(from the pump)in a jar and let it set, undisturbed for a while. Watch for cloudiness, sediment and water on the bottom or a film of parafin and bacteria on the top. If it's in the jar, it's in your truck! Craig

[This message has been edited by C Schomer (edited 03-17-2001). ]

 

[BLACKRAM]

Try Biobor Jf from Hammonds Fuel Additives of Houston, Texas. 1-281-820-5674 or 800-548-9166. US Coast Guard Cert. #907. I have used it in marine applications for years. You may find it at West Marine if there is one near you.

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1999 2500 4x4, auto, 3. 54 LS, HD241, Quad cab SLT, Blk Sport Pkg, 16x8 Eagles, 285 Bridgestone AT, Amsoil, 80/100w lights, Valentine One, DTT TC/vb, DD2's, DD TTPM, Isspro gauges.
1992 SC400
1978 Mooney 201 IFR

 

[Chad Sheets]

About the only other cheap insureance you can do is keep the tank FULL as often as you can. The algie has to have air and a place to grow. If you keep the tank half full all the time, the half empty part is where the algie is going to set up shop.

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[Skunk]

It's not that having a full tank will keep the air out - the algae actually grows at the interface between the water and fuel, and gets its air out of the water similar to the way a fish does. That said, by keeping the tank full you'll lessen the tendency of moisture forming on the top of the tank from condensation and adding to the situation. Biobor works great, however you'll notice that after using it, the algae will suspend itself in the fuel (after it dies) and clog the filter by the end of that tank. I would recommend you treat a tank, change the filter, then go looking somewhere else for fuel. Be sure to remember to clean the filter housing, too.

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[Chad Sheets]

The little monsters will grow about anyplace they can. The best place for them is with water and air. The thin line of water at the bottom of the tank only takes up so much surface area, perhaps 5% on a bad day. On a 3/4 empty tank, the condensation on the side will provide all the water and air needed to grow, and it will grow on a much larger surface area this way. Fill the tank up with these critters clinging to 75% of your tank and you slowly start to injest them into the engine. This is why the full tank idea is a no cost insurance plan, especialy in the winter months when condensation build up is in its prime. Hope you get this fixed.

 

[David Oxland]

It happened to me on a ship in the Arctic. We has a firm suspicion that bacteria were present because of filer plugging. Set up a treatment with Biobor and then all hell broke loose. As the Bacteria died in various fuel tanks all the bodies flowed through to the filters with conquesent plugging. This happened before the purifiers. Hundreds of filters later it all settled down. I expect that a search of Fuel maker's sites Exxon or Texaco with a search would give clues to this. Certainly check of Marine Engineering sites should have articles relating to the problem.
As I understand it air abd or oxygen are not a requirement for this type of bacterial growth. The growth occurs at the interface of water and fuel. Meaning it is anerobic or no oxygen requiring. The byproducts are acids and dead bodies which plug filters. Further damage occurs to fuel equipment in the form of storage tanks pumps and injection equipment in the form of corrosion.
One sure way of convincing your self that an infection has occured is to treat with a material such a "Biorbor" and then a few days later change out a fuel filter and check it's contents. We found that they smelled strongly of dead bacteria, or fish or flesh.

 

[Rock Tumbler]

Redline DFB Diesel Fuel Conditioner... for the treatment of Black Algae.

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99' 2500 4X4 Auto

 

[amsoilman]

JohndeereG,
Yes, I have had this happen to me when I first bought my 94'Ram. Purchased a tank of fuel from a "Flying J" truck stop in Evanston Wyoming, and no less than 10 miles later, the engine started to die. When it finally did stop, I removed the filter element(an add on)and the canaster was half full of water and algae! Flying J bought me a full tank of fuel and gave me some gift certificates for their restaurants too boot.

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Wayne Owen

 

[csutton7]

I wonder if this algae could be part of the dead lift pump problem some of us are having? If it can plug the filter then the pump would have to work a lot harder than needed, thus the cause or part of the cause of their early retirement--just a thought--what do you guys think?? chris

 

[Cheska]

Illflem and others: I called Cummins tech support and asked about the "blackish dirt" that I found in my filter after running only 6,000 miles on a fresh filter. Answer, this particular strain of bacteria (the excrement is what is visable) grows without water. All diesel fuel contains some of these critters; however, they do especially well in fuel 275 gallon and larger tanks that sit in temps. above 55°F. The rep. went on to say that they will clog filters; but that would be the extent of the damage. just treat your storage tanks with Racor or some other biocide, and maybe shock your truck's tank once a year. Keeping your truck tank full is not the answer, but will help with a host of other problems that we are all aware of. Throw some diesel or #2 heating fuel into a clear jar for a few weeks (above 55°)and see the s***--literally.

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2001 driftwood 5spd 4x4 2500 reg. cab