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Fuel Algae

C

cosmaar1

Senior Member
Joined
May 14, 2020
Messages
515
Location
Ohio
Boy do I hate fuel algae. Never had a problem the first 2 years I owned the machine, but I let it sit for about 5 months this winter and I’m paying for it now.

I’ve got an inline filter in prior to the fuel bowl and fuel filter. I cleaned the filter out 4 times last week all within a few hours of one another and decided to drain / strain the tank today.

Used the machine for about 4 hrs tonight and cleaned out the filter 2 more times. This sucks!!!!!!!
 
NH575E

NH575E

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
1,188
Location
North, FL
Occupation
Retired Machinist
I put algacide and lubricity additives in my fuel when it's delivered. My little tractor had a bunch of algae in it when I bought it. I had to siphon out the tank and suck all the crud out with the shop vac. My shop vac STILL smells like diesel. Haven't had any more problems since I cleaned it out.
 
jimr

jimr

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Messages
93
Location
Wisconsin
You have to kill the algae in the fuel, it just keeps growing until you do.
I had an algae problem in the late 80's in my semi. I would have to change fuel filters every 1000 miles or so because they would plug up. I tried everything the truck stops carried. The only thing that worked was a product from Amsoil. I don't remember the name of the stuff. We had a guy back then that sold Amsoil from his house and he was able to get it for me.
Good luck

Jim
 
CM1995

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,385
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
cosmaar1 said:
No I did not. I’m not too familiar with Diesel fuel so I was hoping someone would post some tips.
Click to expand...

In addition to the other very good suggestions on fixing your algae problem - Never put biodiesel in anything that is not ran hard everyday.

FWIW I will never put B10 in any tank that I own again if I can help it. I know now a days pretty much all diesel has some bio in it but try to stay away if you can.
 
NH575E

NH575E

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
1,188
Location
North, FL
Occupation
Retired Machinist
On the bio-diesel subject my supplier in FL told me 5% was as low as was available. No source for pure diesel.

The nearest drive up pump to me is 15%. At 5% they don't have to have a warning on the pump but 15% does.
 
C

cosmaar1

Senior Member
Joined
May 14, 2020
Messages
515
Location
Ohio
CM1995 said:
In addition to the other very good suggestions on fixing your algae problem - Never put biodiesel in anything that is not ran hard everyday.

FWIW I will never put B10 in any tank that I own again if I can help it. I know now a days pretty much all diesel has some bio in it but try to stay away if you can.
Click to expand...
Does off road have it? Never looked to be honest.
 
emmett518

emmett518

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2021
Messages
812
Location
USA
Thanks for the kick in the butt to add biocide every fillup. I did skip the antigel since it’s warm.
 
D

Delmer

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
8,891
Location
WI
Supposedly, the new bio diesel is nothing at all like the old bio diesel, so this might be going away if we get rid of the old bio diesel completely.
 
F

franklin2

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2016
Messages
309
Location
Virginia
Delmer said:
Supposedly, the new bio diesel is nothing at all like the old bio diesel, so this might be going away if we get rid of the old bio diesel completely.
Click to expand...
Haven't heard about this. I work for the Fed government, bio is the only thing they will let us run in our engines except we put our foot down about the standby generators. We still have the same problems with the bio sitting in the tanks and turning into a sticky goo in the equipment that sits around.

But whoever mentioned it in a previous post they are correct, if you run it everyday it seems to work fine, I use it everyday in my 2009 powerstroke service truck and have no problems except in the winter. You MUST use a additive when it gets cold or it clogs up the fuel system. I have been stranded 3 different times over the years till I started using Howe's at every fill-up during the winter.
 
C

cosmaar1

Senior Member
Joined
May 14, 2020
Messages
515
Location
Ohio
1466IH said:
I swear by both of these products
https://powerservice.com/psp_product/clear-diesel-fuel-tank-cleaner/
https://powerservice.com/psp_product/bio-kleen-diesel-fuel-biocide/
Click to expand...
Update: I put both of these products as directed into my tank on Saturday. I let it run for about 10 minutes to cycle through.

I used the machine for about 4 hours today and boy what a difference. I only had to clean out my inline filter 1 time today and I noticed that the algae was not as sticky as it was before. Now it’s more floaty and seems to break up easier.

I’m gonna run most of the fuel out and probably drain the rest with a fresh set of treatments. Hopefully this fixes the issue entirely.
 
1

1466IH

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2014
Messages
613
Location
prairie du rocher, il
cosmaar1 said:
Update: I put both of these products as directed into my tank on Saturday. I let it run for about 10 minutes to cycle through.

I used the machine for about 4 hours today and boy what a difference. I only had to clean out my inline filter 1 time today and I noticed that the algae was not as sticky as it was before. Now it’s more floaty and seems to break up easier.

I’m gonna run most of the fuel out and probably drain the rest with a fresh set of treatments. Hopefully this fixes the issue entirely.
Click to expand...
Glad it worked for you. Currently have a big generator in the shop that had 4" of algae in the bottom of the tank. Cut the top off because it needed a new one made and steam cleaned the tank and found rust holes in the bottom. Guess the algae was so thick it was plugging the holes shut lol. Now have to make a new bottom for the tank as well.
 
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