I decided to cycle my 5gal can... I guess I haven't refreshed it in a while because when I went to fill it back up at the fuel station I noticed algae floating in the bottom of the (now empty....) can.

Thoughts?

I've seen algae collect on the DFCM filter in the past so I am not too worried about that, but I also don't know how much was in the can - would it have been distributed throughout? top? bottom?

Someone suggested an algaside additive to be on the safe side, that sounds like a good idea.

FYI I run about 7oz of PM22 every tank (32 or so gal, long bed) so I already have some additive in there, just not a specific algaside.

 

I haven't seen this stuff on the shelf, but you should see about tracking some down:

BIO KLEEN® DIESEL FUEL BIOCIDE: A dual-phase biocide to kill microbes, bacteria and fungus.

 

If it looks like dark brown snot then it's the same stuff diesel tractor owners are so familiar with. It will clog a fuel filter. Any droplet of moisture in the fuel will grow this stuff and it settles to the bottom. Empty containers will condense moisture and then when filled the moisture is already there. Power Service has Bio Kleen. I'm sure there are others.

 

I am looking in to some of that BioKleen stuff. I'll ask at work and see if we can source it tomorrow. I called around town and found a NAPA that has it on the shelf for $32/16oz and $104/80oz. If I can't get it or can't do much better on the price I'll just get from them.

It looks like I'll use up a 16oz bottle in one tank, if I did my math right. Thats expensive stuff but might be worth it if it protects the fuel system.

 

Wow, that is pricey. Substantially less than a new fuel system though. Let us know what you decide.

 

I Highly recommend a fuel treatment to kill algae ! Just worked on an 02 powerstroke with this issue . Modded the fuel pick up , cleaned tank , installed frame mount filter . Sulfer was removed from fuel , now more algae and bacteria grows in it .

 

Just re-reading this - if it settles to the bottom I might not have as much as I think in the tank right now.

Better to throw something in there to combat it regardless, though.

 

Another reason for a good sized drain of the fuel filter separator at least once a month; more frequently if you see any moisture after the drained fluid settles.

What is it that i do on the 15th of each month - drain the separator and take a short spin with the hubs locked.

 

I've learned that it needs moisture + light to grow. It seems to be much worse when diesel is stored in one of those yellow plastic containers and left in the light. Once in the truck's fuel tank I don't think it's such a big problem. I always look in the bottom of the container when fueling my tractor so that I don't get it in the fuel tank. Unfortunately you can't use a galvanized can for diesel.
I buy the Bio Kleen at Tractor Supply. I forget the price since I'm going to get it regardless.

 

Did a quick search. $24 - $26 on Amazon
$40 on eBay. Seems like a better deal could be found somewhere.

Question: How often does this need to be applied? Just wondering. I don't have an algae problem.... yet.

 

It seems that algae wasn't much of a problem until the bio-blends came around. Then as JWC 3 said, could be the removal of sulfur.

 

Growing up in the tropics, we would put 1 part methylated spirits (Denatured alcohol) to 50 parts diesel whenever algae was likely to occur. It kills it, and at that ratio didn't damage any of the engines/fuel systems.

That said - none of the engines we ran that in had a HPFP