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Algae? in fuel

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Dave from MN

12-22-2006 02:41:49




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Well, at 1 am my power went out. Having an enclosed poultry barn is is critical to get the power up. Soo I took the snowblower off the 544D hooked up the generator and got things safe. Called the power company and they said it will be a while (substation or something) So I grabbed 6 more gallons fuel fromn the barrel to top off the 544D, funnel has a filter screen and she started flowing real slow, shined the flashlight into the funnel and seen what I beleive was Algae floating around. Didnt add more than 4 from can and scrapped the screen, was greenish blackish slime. I have about 200 gallons in the main tank. What do I do, is there anything to add, or will I be changing lots of filters? Do I need to have it dumped and refiltered. I dont have a filter system on the main tank would adding one to the system be sufficeint or will the crap in the fuel mess up anything it is used in? Power is on now at $:30 am, well at least the mornings chores are done

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HENRY E

12-22-2006 10:24:24




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
Deisel fuel will grow algea in it because of small amounts of water dispersed in the fuel. There are many additives called algicides for deisel fuel on the market,. The time to add it is when new fuel is placed in the tank. Adding fuels from a pump truck
usually stirs up the junk in the bottom of the tank and exacerbates the problem I would suggest you add som e right away and install a filter in the line. For less that 100$ you can install a waterball filter and a regular fuel filteer and eliminate any possible dame to you system. Prevention is reasonable, repairs are not.

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Bob

12-22-2006 08:29:11




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
How cold is the fuel?

#1 or #2 fuel?



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Howard H.

12-22-2006 06:34:31




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  

Yep - it doesn't have to be old fuel either - Dad got a semi transport load this past season from the local supplier and we immediately started having problems in several things.

It is so dry and arid out here that you normally don't ever have to worry about water or condensation getting into the diesel (as I understand it, there has to be a little water somewhere in the fuel to get the bacteria started), that it took us a while to figure out what was happening. When we confronted the supplier, they said "yes, we HAVE had some problems" and the guy pulled a case of algae kill treatment out from under the counter and gave it to Dad.

They offered to send a truck out to recycle and filter the fuel, too...


HH

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Kelly Campbell

12-22-2006 06:17:41




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
Wrong Product, this would probbally work better,



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Kelly Campbell

12-22-2006 06:15:59




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
Get some of this...it works!

Link



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Kestrel

12-22-2006 05:50:49




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
I've had algae problems for years in the 30 gallon diesel fuel tank on my boat. After a summer in salt water, she'll sit idle all winter-
perfect breeding grounds for these bugs.

It seemed to go away when I switched to a product called DFT 1500. Marine industry people and US Navy give it high marks. Here is the link. Good luck.

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the Unforgiven

12-22-2006 05:43:18




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
Yeah, kill it now. The KILLUM stuff is real good. I had it and it can be a nightmare if you don't kill it good. Usually shows up in something that sits a lot of the year. I would treat your bulk tank and everything that got fuel from it, and keep some extra fuel filters for a while. One combine had it when we got it, didn't know about the treatment to kill it, and fought it for years. Could not keep my 1086 running one fall after it sat all summer, no fuel through the filters. I removed the line from the tank, and nothing, just an occasional drip. I poked the wire from an orange flag into the line and pulled it out. Soon this thing that looked like a broken o-ring started sliding out, the first chunk was about 18 inches long and had completely blocked the fuel line. Kill it before it grows, it can really punish you at the wrong times!

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VADAVE

12-22-2006 04:10:18




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
Yup you get to change fuel filters. Actually as Allen says most of it will be caught in the screen.
To keep it from continuing you need to add a algae killer to your fuel tank. Howe's is NOT a pestcide. There is a product that I put in with every tank fill up called KILLUM. Made by a chemical company in the mid-west - FPPF I think. You can find it with a net search.
It takes a pretty hefty dose (maybe 8 oz in 250 gal) to kill the algae after that about 2 oz per 250 gal will keep it clear.
Or you could just start using the fuel so the tank get filled every week or two.

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Jim Johnson

12-22-2006 03:29:02




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
Howes Lubricator Diesel Fuel Treatment. I had algea in the tanks on a 1989 Kenworth I used it as they recommened and it worked, used it until they changed they're container. You can get it at most any truck stop.



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Allan In NE

12-22-2006 03:24:00




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
Dave,

The funnel was doing it's job so not much of a worry as far as the tractor goes. Ya might want to dump in a gallon of gasoline just in case the diesel fuel is trying to gel from cold weather.

Yes, I'd sure put a filter on the main tank and you'll likely to be changing it out in 6 months time. Then, with more use, you'll be good to go.

Allan



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T_Bone

12-22-2006 03:23:47




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
Hi Dave,

Drain off the bottom of the tank into a clean container, maybe 2 to 5gal, cover and let sit.

You should see three layers form from your fuel starting on the bottom:
algae (red (rust color) or black scum)
water
fuel

Water is what caused the algae to grow

The new ULSD fuel has a green tint to the fuel in most areas.

Go buy a diesel biocide at any truck stop or heavy truck repair parts house. Power Service and Stanadyne both make a good biocide that will rid the fuel of algae.

You don't have a bottom drain in your tank? You will have next spring won't you? lol Open the drain until all the water is gone before you start the engine. If you have that much of a water problem in your fuel then you need to keep your tank full at all times as this will help keep water out of the fuel.

T_Bone

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Chrisco

12-22-2006 03:23:01




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
My dad had this problem. Just add diesel 911 heavier than what is recommended. It works the best.



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Tx Jim

12-22-2006 03:01:45




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 02:41:49  
There may be a fuel additive such as Power Service sold now with algae killer but 20+ yrs ago I was instructed to put formadahyde(imbalming fluid) in tank for that purpose. Tx Jim



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Dave from MN

12-22-2006 03:30:17




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Tx Jim, 12-22-2006 03:01:45  
Thanks all, I am guessing the H2O is coming from condensation , huh? I do have a bottle or 2 of that Deisel 911, I'll toss it in. I guess I just need a few more tractors so I burn up that fuel a little faster. I really hate strating the day with only 2 hours of sleep, gonna be a long one



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Gary Schafer

12-22-2006 10:42:36




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 Re: Algae? in fuel in reply to Dave from MN, 12-22-2006 03:30:17  
T-bone has it right. You need an algaecide in your tank. It grows at the fuel/water line in the tank. Keeping the tank full limits the amount of condensation and thus alga growth.
Once you kill the stuff then you will get the black stringy gooey stuff coming out of the tank that clogs lines and filters.
You can have the tank cleaned. Look up “fuel polishing” in the phone book. They pump the fuel from your tank thru a large filter system several times and agitate the contents of the tank with the return line so all the junk gets pulled out and into their filters. Once the tank is cleaned you should be good to go.
When I had a boat with diesels I always put in algaecide with every fill up and it kept things working ok.
Being able to drain off the water in the bottom of the tank should help to keep it from growing too.

Regards
Gary

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