man in 15 years ownership of my 2004 with 90g of fuel I NEVER used an additive or had a problem w/ contamination - and the truck sat for months fairly often....it even sat for over a year w/out starting or moving and I never had any issue.

 

 

The Motorcraft PM-22a also contains some form of biocide as I recall.

 

I have a 60 gallon RDS tank in my truck bed...no issues so far even with leaving a half-tank of diesel for a few months before using it. But it might not be a bad idea, so long as it won't hurt the Powerstroke's injection pump.

 

The answer is "yes, diesel fuel has the potential to grow algae." However, some environments are more conducive to this growth than others. If the company you are dealing with is local, and if they included a statement along the lines of: "many customers in this area have experienced algal growth in their fuel, so we recommend blah, blah, blah.", I'd be more likely to use some kind of biocide (probably PM-22a).

 

Same type of stuff is added to jet fuel to prevent algae growth in tanks, we used to have to addid th i in maually from a spray can, now most is premixed.

 

I have a little over 350 gals in a tank for a genset that sits in a shed here in the Springs. Have never had an issue, and have only treated it with the Power Service anti gel additive. I do use some for a tractor, occasionally the truck, and add to it every now and then. Neighbor has the same set up and no issues. .

 

If you are going to use the fuel in the auxiliary tank in less than 90 days I wouldn't worry about any biocide or stabilizer. If you are planning on storing the fuel for months then I would look into stabilizer, biocide, and running it through at least a 10 micron water absorbing filter before putting it in any modern high pressure diesel engine.

 

I didn't know the motorcraft PM -22a had a biocide included in it (even though I can't find it stated in a websearch). I use the PM22-a with every fill up and the PM23 in the winter so I guess I'll use the Killem biocide in my tractor and stored diesel fuel that I keep, which both can sit for 6 to 8 months without using.
I do remember taking apart a gas carberator in a snow thrower at work that was sitting for a couple of years and the internals were coated with a green slimy algea.
I believe in taking preemtive measures for anything that can go wrong within reason and using an additive every now and then is pretty darn easy.

 

PRIST, though I recall it was both a deicer and a biocide that was added. Yeah they take that **** seriously. The first thing "they" do whenever the VIP very special folks show up is commandeer the fuel trucks. "Get out".

 

Yuo that's the stuff, forgot the name been out of ground/fuel service for a few years moved over to the maintenance side of things about 25 years ago, now retired from Corporate jet maintenance.