YUCK!! Algae!!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
YUCK!! Algae!!
Well I changed the fuel filter in my truck since its been 13k since I last did it. and was covered in Diesel fuel algae!! thick, nasty, black as soot, greasey, algae!
Hopefully that explains the 2 MPG drop I have seen over the last 6 weeks or so. I will try to get pics later tomorrow. I had this problem in my 95 also and its easily taken care of with some biocide. I use Bio-Con from napa. 3 bucks a bottle. Treats 50 gallons. So one bottle in the front tank, one in the rear tank and one to run the correct level the next fill up. Also some Diesel Kleen since I have been slacking lately on it.
Hopefully that explains the 2 MPG drop I have seen over the last 6 weeks or so. I will try to get pics later tomorrow. I had this problem in my 95 also and its easily taken care of with some biocide. I use Bio-Con from napa. 3 bucks a bottle. Treats 50 gallons. So one bottle in the front tank, one in the rear tank and one to run the correct level the next fill up. Also some Diesel Kleen since I have been slacking lately on it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,010
Likes: 5
From: Johnson City, TN.
That sucks dude. I have been slacking on the diesel kleen also. You got me thinking about my FF now. If you get the algae don't you need to clean the screen again?
Also why do you concentrate the biocide in the first 2 tanks? Is the biocide intended for PM and not a cleanup? I guess that would be why. ???????
Also why do you concentrate the biocide in the first 2 tanks? Is the biocide intended for PM and not a cleanup? I guess that would be why. ???????
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
Originally Posted by Neal 97 250
That sucks dude. I have been slacking on the diesel kleen also. You got me thinking about my FF now. If you get the algae don't you need to clean the screen again?
Also why do you concentrate the biocide in the first 2 tanks? Is the biocide intended for PM and not a cleanup? I guess that would be why. ???????
Also why do you concentrate the biocide in the first 2 tanks? Is the biocide intended for PM and not a cleanup? I guess that would be why. ???????
The algae may or may not get caught in the screen. I did clean it but it didn't seem dirty. The biocide is both a clean up and a PM. I only use it as a cleanup and maybe that is my problem. The bottle recommends ever 3 or 4 tank fulls. So maybe I will look at adding that to my additives. Either way it works well.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
Tim, Might be where you're getting the fuel?? I've had diesels since 82 and never had algae...well at least not that I know of. Local farmer had off road diesel that was getting algae all the time. Maybe the off road stuff is worse than the on-road stuff?? OR maybe it just sits in his storage tanks too long. JUst thinking out loud.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
Yeah it definately comes from the fuel supply. i get fuel at 2 or 3 stations or who know where when I am traveling so who knows where it came from. My dad was telling me when he worked at the farm they had problems with it in the bulk tank. But this was before Biocides came out and they had to remove the tractor tanks and steam clean them then it start all over the next year.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,791
Likes: 99
From: Ashland City, TN
Hmm, this is the first time i've ever heard of diesel algee.
I would honestly trace it to high moisture content in the fuel.
Any sort of fluid if it sits i can see algee growing, but its harder for it to when aggitated, or in a flow of some sort.
Especially when the source of growth, fluid, is constantly changeing. AKA refillign at the pump.
I would honestly trace it to high moisture content in the fuel.
Any sort of fluid if it sits i can see algee growing, but its harder for it to when aggitated, or in a flow of some sort.
Especially when the source of growth, fluid, is constantly changeing. AKA refillign at the pump.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 0
From: East Tn
Originally Posted by Cuda_jim
. Maybe the off road stuff is worse than the on-road stuff?? OR maybe it just sits in his storage tanks too long. JUst thinking out loud.
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Playing in the Dirt
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,302
Likes: 1
From: Southwest Georgia
I have had algae problems in on and off road diesel over the years. I use Power Service Bio-Kleen Diesel Fuel Biocide. It has a rating for Shock Treatment (cleanup) and Maintenance Treatment (prevention). I use it every 3rd tank in all of my diesel equipment, including my truck. A couple of years ago we had one 2000 gal. tank that the guy that was supposed to be incharge of did not do the biocide treatment and it developed a bad algae problem. The guys on the tractors did not notice the problem and keep filling up out of this tank. Then tractors started breaking down. Well to make a long story short, it cost us a complete set of injectors on three tractors, and two injector pumps, and alot of steam cleaning and flushing of fuel systems. Not only does the algae gum up the works, it also creates an acid in the fuel that is very harmful to injectors and pumps.
Just my $.02 but I run Diesel Kleen in every tank and Bio-Kleen in every third tank and have never had a problem in my trucks.
For some light reading and info: http://www.powerservice.com/bk/ Enjoy.
Just my $.02 but I run Diesel Kleen in every tank and Bio-Kleen in every third tank and have never had a problem in my trucks.
For some light reading and info: http://www.powerservice.com/bk/ Enjoy.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
There isn't any around here or I would. The bio-con does a good job so we'll see what happens. The stuff doesn't seem to cling to the fuel bowl or anything just in the filter.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
well here are the pics finally of the fuel filter and the algae I can scrape off.
http://community.webshots.com/album/561193520wivTBB
http://community.webshots.com/album/561193520wivTBB