Bio-Fuel problems.. anyone got an idea??

Brad Gyde · Mar 12, 2010

Ok, so if the title don't give it all away.. Roughly 2 seasons ago, I bought some fuel (Not paying attention that it was the all great bio-fuel).. fueled up my tractor and went to the field. At the end of the season, I decided not to continue farming and put my tractor away.

I ran it a time or 2 last year.. Last August, I couldn't get it to run.. found out I wasn't getting fuel.. started checking lines.. no fuel from tank. Opened cap on the still nearly full tank to a horrible smell. I got the fuel from the tank, now there is anywhere from 2-3 inches of nasty slime/grease/crap in it.. And it was PERFECTLY CLEAN when I had the pump and injectors rebuilt about 5 years ago now.

I nearly have the tank off the tractor.. Just wondering if anyone has a miracle cure on how to clean out the tank. I figured a pressure washer might be the best bet, but I'm sure someone out there has experienced something similar and might have a better solution.

And for the record.. NO MORE BIO-FUEL will be bought over here.

Brad

GNP Fatboy · Mar 12, 2010

You have bacteria growing in your tank. Best thing to do is steam clean the tank. They sell a addative to kill it you will proubly need it to kill the bactieria in your lines and pump.
Kevin

RayP(MI) · Mar 12, 2010

and replace all filters.

Brad Gyde · Mar 12, 2010

Ah, yea, NAPA already took my money for the new filters... got them last fall, Just have not had time to play with it till now (seeing our load laws are on here in MI, work will be slow another couple weeks)

Would Bio-Kleen (I think it's called) from Cen-Pe-Co be the stuff for the bacteria and such? If so, I'll borrow a bit from Uncle, as I know he keeps it in the farm shop (just in case.. I found out since my problems started that they too have stopped using bio)

Jon Hagen · Mar 12, 2010

The black slime growing in ULSD diesel fuel is not just a bio diesel problem, It grows nearly as bad in pure ULSD diesel fuel.
The sulfur in the old fuel killed this stuff, now sulfer is almost eliminated from diesel or bio diesel, thanks to the EPA.
You need to treat all ULSD fuel with a biocide to prevent this stuff if you store it for more than a few weeks. Most any auto or truck parts store will stock the stuff.

olgentdc · Mar 12, 2010

b-12 may help, but clean out the tank 1st ... you will have trouble with bio-fuels if you do not run the engine often ,, it actually cleans the entire fuel system , however the shelf life is not the best .., BIO -FUELS ARE FINE , but they should be used in daily runners ,, i put some home distilled and grown corn fuel ethanol in a 350 chevy and a slant 6 massey Combine ,, no problems with the combine , during harvest season , but that 350 fuel filters picked up so much rust out of the tank , ,, used b-12 and it made a difference

Brad Gyde · Mar 12, 2010

Well.. that's the thing.. I don't run the old girl much now.. not that I ran it much even when farming. I already got some off road fuel.. Last drop they got at the farm, I had my 100 gal transfer tank filled up.

I'm not saying bio fuel is good or bad, I just know I'm going to avoid it from now on (I have been known to run it in my pickup with no major complaint) Just as I said, the tractor might see 10 to 20 hours a year now, Probably be farther ahead to let it go, but then next year I'd decide I want to try to farm again and have to buy another tractor over.. So, I'll just keep it around.

Brad

CLTX · Mar 12, 2010

I had a shrimp boat for 28 years. I had to fight the black slime the entire time. A good biocide helped keep it down, but it thrived on the water, from condensation, in the bottom of the fuel tanks. Every so often, we would drain/pump out the bottom crud. You talk about nasty. We didn"t pull off the bottom of the tanks, but in rough weather, we would go through a lot of fuel filters.

paul · Mar 13, 2010

Think it is an algea actually, but it's not that uncommon in regular diesel, bio- in low numbers really won't make muchg difference.

Frankly, you run a lot of risk of damaging a pump or engine without bio- added, with the low sulfur we need the bio- for lubricity.

You just had a bit of water & the slime got started & filled your tank, it wasn't really ther bio- part of it that was the problem.

--->Paul

Eric Cartman · Mar 13, 2010

Did you know Forrest Gump, he owned the Bubba-Gump shrimping company?

Freezer Dan · Mar 13, 2010

I just bought a Dodge pick-up and I am going to leave set through the summer months. I bought some Lucas Diesel Treatment to keep the mold out of the fuel. The quart was $10.00.

dhermesc · Mar 13, 2010

A lot happens in five years. Five years ago my wife wore a size 1, now 2 kids later she wears an 8.

Dan67 · Mar 13, 2010

Try power services"s 911. I ve had good luck with all power services products

brian brooks · Mar 14, 2010

After we got the tank and lines cleaned we used biocide? made by raycore triangle deisel told us to treat the rest of the fuel with it worked great.

Brad Gyde · Mar 14, 2010

Thanks.. I'll have to look around and see where I can get some. I imagine if all else fails, I can get uncle or grandad to get some through the fuel man next time he brings em a drop.

This fuel that I thought I was getting a great deal on ($.20/gal cheaper than you could get farm fuel for at the time) has ended up costing me WAY more than it saved..

Brad

Bio-Fuel problems.. anyone got an idea??

Brad Gyde

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