OT: Algae in Diesel tanks.?

CLTX · Mar 7, 2011

I'm curious about algae in diesel. This was a constant problem in shrimp boats as well as towboats. The algae lived in and fed off the water that accumulated in the bottom of fuel tanks. I fought this problem for years. The fish house sold us fuel for a nickel/gal above their cost. A biocide could be added by the supplier for three cents/gal, but most fishermen complained about the additional cost. I always added a small quanity of biocide each time I took on fuel. Otherwise, I would go through a pair of filters a week. When I was on the farm, I don't remember any problem with algae, and I haven't seen any posts regarding the algae in fuel. Is this just a marine problem, where many tanks don't have a drain at the very botton of the tank, or are there instances of similar problems with farm and road equipment? I'm just curious. Thanks for your replies.
C. L.

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Mar 7, 2011

It mostly happens to people that don"t take care of their fuel storage. Keeping the water drained off helps a bunch. It was a rare occurance before the sulfur was removed form diesel.

Tx Jim · Mar 7, 2011

Back in the mid '60's through the late '80's when I worked for a JD dealer I witnessed algae in customers fuel only two times.

Bob · Mar 7, 2011

It's NOT uncommon up here in wheatland country in farm fuel tanks, nor is it a new thing after the removal of sulfur.

I do some oil furnace repair and have seen some REALLY nasty stuff in the fuel filters from time to time.

Power Kleen used according to directions has worked well for me.
KILL those nasty little buggers

Jon Hagen · Mar 7, 2011

It's a problem on the farm now that ULSD is pretty much all we get for fuel. They tell me that sulfur was a natural biocide, now that is gone.
We started finding some black ink crud when we changed fuel filters, so we knew an alge / bacteria problem was starting. We now treat every gallon with biocide in the bulk tanks and the black crud problem seems to be gone.
A neighbor found that biodiesel was worse for the alge / bacteria problem than regular ULSD .

Ken Macfarlane · Mar 7, 2011

Doesn't have anything to do with low sulfur other than lots of people love to hate the ULSD. Diesel in above freezing tanks with any moisture that sit stagnant and get fuel from an algae contaminated source are the most common victims.

Russ from MN · Mar 7, 2011

I would think bio-diesel would be worse, and I think that is all we have now.

Brian Schmidt · Mar 7, 2011

This is what I deal with every day with our customers of ag and construction equipment. I have found one product that is very effective 100% of the time to combat it. Kathon FP 1.5. It is the best. This is what the pros use to treat large quantities of fuel. Look it up on-line. You will find where to buy it. Only one source I know of.

Mark - IN. · Mar 7, 2011

Thanks.

Mark

bhkansascity · Mar 7, 2011

my dad has a 1950 Jet Star 2 that runs, has a blade and a front loader and is wondering what the value is on this tractor...anyone know???

Mark - IN. · Mar 7, 2011

Sorry, not me.

Somehow your post got attached to mine, but I don't know how.

Might want to repost as its own post.

Mark

dej(Jed) · Mar 8, 2011

There are 2 types of growths that can occur. One is aerobic and the other is anaerobic. Aerobic requires oxygen and gets it from the water phase. The anaerobic lives in the fuel. You need to get the water out of the tank bottoms and you should add a biocide on a regular basis. We find these bacterias in a lot of distributors tanks.

www.fuelsandlubestechnologies.org

OT: Algae in Diesel tanks.?

CLTX

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

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Tx Jim

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Bob

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Jon Hagen

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Ken Macfarlane

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Russ from MN

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Brian Schmidt

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Mark - IN.

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bhkansascity

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Mark - IN.

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dej(Jed)

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