Bad fuel

Discussion in 'Truck Stops' started by Peanut Butter, May 8, 2016.

  1. Espressolane

    Espressolane Road Train Member

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    It is in fact an Algae growth going on in the fuel system.
    Look in the tanks, bet they are a black-blue color. The filter probably feels gritty and slick. Stinks too.

    Sounds like you may have caught this early, that's good. The problem is it gets into your fuel system from tank to injectors. The filters do not stop it, they just collect the big chunks.

    Check around and see if you have any marine supply stores, they are going to have the best price on the treatment your going to need. they should have a few brands of algaecides available. Also your going to need several of all your filters.

    you will need several bottles of the algaecide, and it's going to take a few weeks to fully kill off the algae and clean the system. Start with a shock treatment, usually a dose at 2X strength, then regular dose at each fill up. Run your tanks down as far as possible between fills.
    Change out all your fuel filters at the same time. usually will take 3 or 4 changes to clean up the system.


    It sure will kill MPG and power.

    Please don't ask how I have first hand experience with this.
     
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  3. Skate-Board

    Skate-Board Road Train Member

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    Lol...It's no algae. Algae needs water and sunlight, not dark and diesel fuel. It's tar and it's called Asphaltene
     
  4. Skate-Board

    Skate-Board Road Train Member

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  5. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Memphis, TX has had numerous heavy downpours lately. Sometime minor "flooding" can breach the storage tank. But certainly might be a load of fuel with too high blend of bio-diesel garbage. I've heard Loves pushes the limits with bio-diesel blends. I wish bio-diesel would go away altogether.
     
  6. Peanut Butter

    Peanut Butter Road Train Member

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    I never had any problems fueling other places with filter problems only after fueling at loves. Fueled other truck stops without loves and didn't have black gunk in filters. Wonder why after fueling at loves unless bio diesel and crappy cheep fuel.
     
  7. Junkyarddog5958

    Junkyarddog5958 Light Load Member

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    Sounds like algae to me. Get you biocide but better carry 2-3 extra filters at all times, that stuff start dying it'll really plug you up. Back in day algae rarely shown up in OTR applications because sulphur content made nearly impossible to survive and grow but now we have very little sulphur. All it takes is little water in tank. Water will "pool up" in bottom like little bubbles. If you don't run tanks low frequently raise risks of retaining the water. When I had my truck I treated every now and again for preventative maintenance on algae. This is after I got algae once. I wasn't having that crap back!
     
  8. Skate-Board

    Skate-Board Road Train Member

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    It's not alive and does not grow!!! It's tar.
     
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  9. PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

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    Biodiesel is fine if it's made by a good supplier
     
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  10. Sipesh

    Sipesh Medium Load Member

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    Some of the black slime is precipitates dropped out of the fuel caused by microbial growth. It's called algae, colloquially, but it is, indeed a situation caused by microbes-bacteria and sometimes even fungi. /BiologyMajor
     
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  11. Skate-Board

    Skate-Board Road Train Member

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    Funny
     
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