OT: Sugar in Diesel Tank
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
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OT: Sugar in Diesel Tank
My dad has been having some trouble with one of the JD 4020s he has for sale. He sent the injection pump in to be redone and the shop called to inform him that sugar was in the diesel. He went to drain the fuel tank and the drain quickly plugged. He took the tank off and has been trying to get it cleaned out. The stuff is stuck all over the place like a thick molasses. He looked in the tanks of the other two 4020s and they are the same. Tomorrow he will check the other equipment in the yard. This is obvious sabotage, and we have a good idea who is to blame, but no proof.
Anyway, we need some help from anyone who has dealt with something like this. What would be the best way to clean the tanks? Acetone, bleach, and gasoline have done nothing. We are thinking of trying lye or muriatic acid next.
We are dealing with this one first to find the best way to handle it. The lines have been taken out and cleaned. Hopefully the injectors are ok.
Any help you can give is GREATLY appreciated! Thanks guys!!!!
Anyway, we need some help from anyone who has dealt with something like this. What would be the best way to clean the tanks? Acetone, bleach, and gasoline have done nothing. We are thinking of trying lye or muriatic acid next.
We are dealing with this one first to find the best way to handle it. The lines have been taken out and cleaned. Hopefully the injectors are ok.
Any help you can give is GREATLY appreciated! Thanks guys!!!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
Has he considered filing an insurance claim for vandalism? I'd suggest a police report too. Let them know your suspicions and maybe you'll at least make someone nervous.
If the deductible isn't too high, the insurance will cover having the shop change the injector pump (s), clean the tanks, and deal with any injector issues.
If the deductible isn't too high, the insurance will cover having the shop change the injector pump (s), clean the tanks, and deal with any injector issues.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 407
Likes: 2
From: Mobile, AL
Sugar won't dissolve in diesel or gasoline. Drop the tank, defuel and then clean it out. Hot water dissolves sugar. The lines to the filter will need to be flushed, obviously, and the filter should have caught the rest.
Flush the tank a few times, then put it back up and fill it. Remove the fuel filter, open the fuel bowl drain valve and flush (turn the key to run the fuel pump with out starting the motor). Flush them good till all sugar is out. Change the filter.....
How does the filter look now?
BTW- that is just wrong! Get an IR web cam and catch them *******s!
Flush the tank a few times, then put it back up and fill it. Remove the fuel filter, open the fuel bowl drain valve and flush (turn the key to run the fuel pump with out starting the motor). Flush them good till all sugar is out. Change the filter.....
How does the filter look now?
BTW- that is just wrong! Get an IR web cam and catch them *******s!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 407
Likes: 2
From: Mobile, AL
Not sure on the technicals, but sugar and lye make soap. Or, lye into sugar. Can't remember which but those, plus water, are basic soap ingredients. Try an internet search to see about that...
I would stick with water, one less contaminant. The trick is to get the water out of the diesel, so when you fill the tank make sure to flush it real well. You're going to have some water in your diesel for a bit but sure beats sugar.
I don't know how bio diesel and sugar react, but I imagine it is similar to dino diesel.
Like Chris said, file the police and insurance report. They may want to handle the decon for you. But, then again, someone else is going to be doing it and how well will they do your truck?
I would stick with water, one less contaminant. The trick is to get the water out of the diesel, so when you fill the tank make sure to flush it real well. You're going to have some water in your diesel for a bit but sure beats sugar.
I don't know how bio diesel and sugar react, but I imagine it is similar to dino diesel.
Like Chris said, file the police and insurance report. They may want to handle the decon for you. But, then again, someone else is going to be doing it and how well will they do your truck?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
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it's not on the truck. it's from a 4020 and the tank is off and sitting on the bench.
We have accidentally make soap when we were first getting into making bio. We have not made any in a while now, and these tractors all have farm diesel in them.
We have accidentally make soap when we were first getting into making bio. We have not made any in a while now, and these tractors all have farm diesel in them.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 407
Likes: 2
From: Mobile, AL
Ok, but I still say lye isn't the best as soap may be what you get. I think sugar water is better than soap and easier to clean out of a tank. I'd recommend sticking with water to flush the sugar. Then flush the fuel lines.
BTW- "Soylent Green is people!" Great movie.
BTW- "Soylent Green is people!" Great movie.
Molon Labe
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,272
Likes: 1
From: Alaska
Put a camera on the equipment, when your back up and running "they" may think It never worked and come back with intent to do more destruction.
At least thats how I would lure them. I would keep quit, and see if you can catch them when they come back.
Sorry for your troubles, I wish I could help more with a solution.
At least thats how I would lure them. I would keep quit, and see if you can catch them when they come back.
Sorry for your troubles, I wish I could help more with a solution.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 823
Likes: 5
From: Dallas, Oregon
See if any of your sportsman friends have trail cameras that you can borrow. I have used some that have an infrared flash so the perps don't know that they have been photographed! The infrared flash cameras are not that expensive. You can hide them in something as innocent as a trash can, with a hole for the lens and flash. Point them toward the tractors or a choke point that they have to pass by and try to use a shooting angle to get a shot of their face.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
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thanks for the input. big dogs running the yard at night are a coming thing.
we will try the hot water. you guys should see this stuff, i'll try to snap some pics. It looks like the tank is layered in hardened molasses.
that sounds good for the tank, but what about the system? I don't think my pops would want to cycle water through the injection pump and injectors.
I think this information will be imperative if anything like this would happen to one of our trucks.
we will try the hot water. you guys should see this stuff, i'll try to snap some pics. It looks like the tank is layered in hardened molasses.
that sounds good for the tank, but what about the system? I don't think my pops would want to cycle water through the injection pump and injectors.
I think this information will be imperative if anything like this would happen to one of our trucks.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,771
Likes: 3
From: Louisiana
Hopefully the filter caught it and it has not made it to the pump. If you have a steam cleaner wash it with that! Undo the lines and blow through them with the steam. When we have to clean tanks to weld on them that's how we do it with soap and steam!