Possible algae is fuel tank
My diesel motor home has been sitting since October with a full tank of fuel. A month ago, I put around 200 miles on it with no problems. Well after talking to a friend of mine that just had to change...
Forum Discussion
Hedgehog, the brownish/black "snot" in your diesel is a classic description of microbes/bacteria growing in your diesel. "Algae" may not be the technically correct word to use, but to the nonprofessional it makes no difference what word we use to describe it. As the T-shirt says, $hit happens!
Good for you finding it early! It tends to get worse with time, and there have been cases that a lot of damage and expense results from such contamination. It can get to the point that changing filters won't be enough to compensate for the problems in a tank of bad diesel.
I hate to say it, but the use of biodiesel fuel mixes may aggrevate the situation. Such fuels are noted to attract and hold water more than straight diesel, and do not have as long a shelf life. Unfortunately, our Federal tax dollars and in some cases state laws are promoting the use of biodiesel just like ethanol blends in the gasoline world.
Such factors do not affect as much those folks who use up their diesel quickly, like long-haul truckers. We RVers (and boaters) are not so lucky as we tend to use our equipment less frequently, thus prolonging the amount of time we have diesel sitting there spoiling.
Using additives in stored diesel is a good idea. If you suspect you may have some water in the diesel, a biocide such as BioBar JF will keep the microbes/bacteria from growing and is especially advantageous in high humidity climates.
Good for you finding it early! It tends to get worse with time, and there have been cases that a lot of damage and expense results from such contamination. It can get to the point that changing filters won't be enough to compensate for the problems in a tank of bad diesel.
I hate to say it, but the use of biodiesel fuel mixes may aggrevate the situation. Such fuels are noted to attract and hold water more than straight diesel, and do not have as long a shelf life. Unfortunately, our Federal tax dollars and in some cases state laws are promoting the use of biodiesel just like ethanol blends in the gasoline world.
Such factors do not affect as much those folks who use up their diesel quickly, like long-haul truckers. We RVers (and boaters) are not so lucky as we tend to use our equipment less frequently, thus prolonging the amount of time we have diesel sitting there spoiling.
Using additives in stored diesel is a good idea. If you suspect you may have some water in the diesel, a biocide such as BioBar JF will keep the microbes/bacteria from growing and is especially advantageous in high humidity climates.
