Down here in Central Texas we dont have that problem, but some may remember back in February my 4020 caught fire and burned up the wiring in the dash. I still have it and am trying to repair it when I can but needed a tractor. I bought a new 5090E John Deere just 3 weeks ago it started giving me a warning JD finally figured it out was algae I the tank. Warranty covers repair but since these guys never deal with this what do I need to check or with all yalls wisdom gently tell them what or how they need to clean the tank so I can get back up and taking care of my customers. Thanks
- Thread starter JamesJTX
- Start date
Russ from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
I would think you would have algae problems in a warmer climate, but never gelling like we do up north. I use a Power Service product called Bio Kleene occasionally, and have never had a problem.
shaun wallace
Well-known Member
Diesel jells in Texas too. No very often, Valentines 2021 it did. I seen several times last 30 years. I have had more problems with parafin in units not used very much than anything.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Doesn't algae need light to grow?
Unless the tractor tank or your storage tank is translucent plastic, I doubt it's algae.
I've seen a gooey white residue gum up the fuel system, but that was on an engine that had been stored with the fuel system open. Nasty stuff, had to be scraped out, never found anything that would cut it. I suspect it was bio fuel.
Unless the tractor tank or your storage tank is translucent plastic, I doubt it's algae.
I've seen a gooey white residue gum up the fuel system, but that was on an engine that had been stored with the fuel system open. Nasty stuff, had to be scraped out, never found anything that would cut it. I suspect it was bio fuel.
I've seen it quite a few times over the years. Most auto parts places can get an algecide that will kill it, and that's the only thing that will kill it. I've seen larger fuel tanks opened up and steamed out, and within a week or two the stuff was back. That being said, I've had good luck with Biobore's algecide.
For those that don't know, the algie gets into the tank through water. It actually lives at the junction of the fuel and the water, living in the water and feeding off the hydrocarbons in the fuel. Believe it or not, the same stuff that grows in the fuel tanks can also grow in a hydraulic tank. Talk about something that makes a mess.......
Depending on tank size, and how bad it is, I'd recommend buying several filters because the stuff will clog filters as it's killed and then drawn into the system.
Good luck.
Biobore
For those that don't know, the algie gets into the tank through water. It actually lives at the junction of the fuel and the water, living in the water and feeding off the hydrocarbons in the fuel. Believe it or not, the same stuff that grows in the fuel tanks can also grow in a hydraulic tank. Talk about something that makes a mess.......
Depending on tank size, and how bad it is, I'd recommend buying several filters because the stuff will clog filters as it's killed and then drawn into the system.
Good luck.
Biobore
Tx Jim
Well-known Member
- Location
- Coyote Flats, Texas
The way I understand it the black gunk that can sometimes be located in diesel fuel is a fungus & requires moisture to grow. I've dealt with it a few times in the last 50 yrs. I agree with others to add fuel conditioner that contains Bio-cide to fuel tanks.
My neighbors tractor with commo-rail fuel system got fungus in fuel tank & required new common-rail pump & injectors
caterpillar guy
Well-known Member
Have a plug in the bottom of the tank and drain out any water that forms each year and it will not be able to develop in the tank. We have tanks in use over 50 years old and one must be close to 70-75 years old. Still no problems with it. I have never had to deal with it in any of the tractors.
Drain tractor fuel tank, change fuel filter, add some additive that kills the algae to the tank when refilling and CHECK YOUR FUEL STORAGE !! If you have your own tank - get the paste and check for water in your tank, if you just use cans keep them under cover, and if you buy fuel in the gas station and haul it in cans you might have to try a different supplier if that is where the problem started. You may be changing tractor fuel filter more than once. If you have a storage tank you may want to add a filter at your pump and you can get a filter element that will block water from going thru it.
You need a bio-cide... you also need to figure out where it came from...
so.. change all the filters, treat,, change all the filters a week or month later retreat,,, then treat again later... to make sure it did not regrow. nasty stuff...
You may have to treat your storage tanks and change filters there as well.
The fungus or what ever it is, will grow in hydraulic fluid as well. Just requires a bit of moisture and an introduction.
Will stopped up filters fast.
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