Whats the deal with Diesel???

[jrandol]

Ok I am kinda frustrated. I fill up roughly twice per week and 98% of the time it is at the same station which is the Shell station off of I-25 and the Del Camino exit. For those that arent familiar with Colorado or this station it is a truck stop and they pump A LOT of fuel every day.

Regardless, I changed my fuel filter again the other day and it was pretty dark colored like it had algae in it. I dont get it, I use supposedly good diesel from a high volume distributor, I run Power Service almost every tank, change my fuel filter every 7-9k miles, and lastly I burn about 275-300 Gallons a month of Diesel. Any ideas why I am getting crud in my Fuel Filter?



Jeff

 

[illflem]

The black you see is a normal constituent of diesel fuel called asphaltines read about them here http://www.baldwinfilter.com/engineer/94_14.html

I think if you had a fuel pressure gauge on the output side of your filter that you'd find your filter isn't clogged at all and your changes could be extended at least three times longer. Pays for a gauge real fast.

 

[bmoeller]

If it were algae, you'd probably know it. The only way to get rid of it/clean it out is to clean EVERYTHING including the tank and have to maybe put in some biocide to kill the algae. This is what I've been told anyways from someone that had to do it on a big truck, haven't dealt with it personally.



Best to fill up before the tanker fills the storage tanks and stirs up all sorts of crud. That way it'll all be settled down hopefully when you get there.