Brown stuff in diesel

Mike_Kanzer · May 1, 2012

I noticed that when I fill the tractor from a 5 gallon diesel can there is fine flecks of brown material on the funnel filter screen. The diesel has powerservice white bottle additive in it and sometimes is probably 1-2 months old. Is this algae? I am going to try to reduce the time the fuel sits at home. Wonder if I need to add some time of product to treat algae build up in the fuel? Any ideas? - Mike

ToadHill · May 1, 2012

I had some similar globs in my tank when I cleaned it, and it looked like algae to me.

Texasmark · May 1, 2012

I use a diesel enzyme treatment Starbrite from Starlight (I think) company out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. They make it for gas and diesel. Looking up the MSDS it has some petroleum products but does not list the enzymes. I buy diesel 150 gallons at a time in 55 gallon drums and treat each fill up per their directions. Have been using it for about 5 years and the last time I changed over my pump to a full drum, I looked down into the almost empty drum I was vacating and the contents were red tinted (farm diesel) but otherwise crystal clear. Have had zero fuel problems.

HTH,

Mark

phiferpharm · May 1, 2012

It could be some type of jelling. It plays havoc with your tractor- I've had to drain and clean my fuel tank several times and I use both Diesel additive and a straining funnel. Now I'm so fed up with injector issues, I am waiting for delivery of a new tractor tomorrow. It seems like once it gets into the tank, it is a real bear to get it all out or desolved.

Foxtrot08 · May 1, 2012

It's called 'mother' - a mixture of Bacteria, Dirt and Water that globs up in diesel fuel, typically on the bottom of a tank.

Do you have a home tank, or just get a 5 gallon can from a local store?

If you only get 5 gallons at a time, I would change where you buy your fuel from.

If you have a personal tank you use, it can be treated easily.

radioman · May 1, 2012

phiferpharm said:
It could be some type of jelling. It plays havoc with your tractor- I've had to drain and clean my fuel tank several times and I use both Diesel additive and a straining funnel. Now I'm so fed up with injector issues, I am waiting for delivery of a new tractor tomorrow. It seems like once it gets into the tank, it is a real bear to get it all out or desolved.

gelling? in PA this time of the year? I dont think so. I think it most likely rust falling off metal tanks. I'd replace the filter and cut it open and inspect.

a good look will tell you if you got a bug in tank or just rust/water.

5030 · May 1, 2012

Reddish brown particles are algae. Treat the fuel with a bio-cide in your storage container and the tractor according to bottle directions for the add amount.

I use Powerservice Bio-Kleen myself.

Change the tractor fuel filter AFTER treatment and AFTER the engine has run for a bit. Dead microorganism's killed from the biocide will clog the works inside the engine. The dead algae will become little hard bits in the fuel.

pre-treat your fuel to keep the alage from growing in the first place.

Foxtrot08 · May 1, 2012

Power Service has developed something to use in conjunction with Bio-Kleen so that you don't have change the filters as much.

CLEAR-DIESEL® Fuel & Tank Cleaner: Fuel Polishing Formula ? use to clean and maintain a fuel system.

Clear Diesel, from what their reps told me, is supposed to break down the bacteria so it can just be burned off.

phiferpharm · May 1, 2012

radioman said:
gelling? in PA this time of the year? I dont think so. I think it most likely rust falling off metal tanks. I'd replace the filter and cut it open and inspect.

a good look will tell you if you got a bug in tank or just rust/water.

Gotcha- probably using the wrong term. The stuff that was in my tank looked like brown gummy bears.

Mike_Kanzer · May 2, 2012

Thanks for the input guys. The clear diesel additive sounds like a good thing to try and I am going to switch where I buy my diesel fuel from. I use 5 gallon cans to fill up with so maybe it is coming from the gas station. So far I haven't had any engine probelms ( knock on wood) but I think I will change out the fuel filter after I use the algicide/ additive for a while. - Mike