Running low on fuel

Broompilot · Mar 29, 2007

Bryan brought up an intresting comment regarding Algea in the tanks.

Is not reccommended to run the tanks down to one eight or less for two tanks in a row once in while just to rid them of something like this? Or is using fuel additives better or (both)?

I have been told that in automobiles it is the main cause for fuel pumps running the tanks below a quarter of a tank. The soot, and pressure unaviable causes the pumps to work to hard causing a shortened life.

Ever since I heard that I never let my cars get below a quarter and have never expierenced another fuel pump problem.

I believe it was Rocket who posted after Bryan, great sense of humor....

greg334 · Mar 29, 2007

Algae?

Algae does not grow in Diesel fuel, PERIOD.

What happens is that there is a small list of microbes that can get into the tank and grow on the layer of water below the diesel fuel (remember that oil is lighter than water). When you suck it up through the intake line, it plugs up the filter. I have never heard of it getting past the filter but hey things happen.

There are two other problems; bacteria/fungus and Asphaltenes. The latter is part of the diesel fuel refining process.

The easiest way to prevent problems is to get rid of the water that sits in the bottom of the tank and periodically use a biocide, like every 75 to 150K miles - especially if you buy fuel at a very high volume truckstop that does not fill thier tanks daily and mom and pop small quiet truckstops. The former because they will hit the bottom of the tank often and the latter because they don;t have the turn over to keep clean diesel in the tanks or add the biocides.

I find it funny that no one ever drains and cleans their tanks like at 250K.

I know it is almost impossible to do so with a van, got to drop the tank but doesn't most of the trucks have a drain plug on the bottom of the tank?

simon says · Mar 29, 2007

Greg seems like he has done his homework, but there are some rule of thumb issues here. If one is leaving his vehicle in hot weather for a week or so, it would be best to fill the tanks, to keep condensation to a minimum.
Draining tanks does not seem to be an option to me, but whatever suits your fancy. We should all have air dryers that do the job, but again, never hurts to pull the water purge cable when stepping out.

Now, Biodiesel is another issue. Algae, or bacteria will grow in those tanks. And first use of BD will probably plug filters, so you need some spares. Perhaps this is what Bryan was talking about. You can do a Google search and get all the info you need on using this fuel and its maintenance. I know that Cummins has a download on Biodiesel...I would have to be a regional running truck and re-fueling consistently to use BD in mine!

greg334 · Mar 29, 2007

Condensation is part of the problem but it is always a good idea to keep them full.

Condensation happens in all weather, especially when it has been cold and warms up then cools down again.

The draining of the tanks gets rid of the stuff that settles on the bottom of the tank and water. Water is the biggest problem we all have with diesel.

With Bio-diesel, Algae will sort of grow but only with tanks that have access to sunlight. The bacteria/fungus I mentioned may use some of the proteins in improperly processed or home made bio-diesel to grow but truthfully the amount of water that can be introduced in a homemade bio-diesel is amazing if someone has no clue on how to polish the fuel with a water wash or similar polishing system or even has no clue how to properly transfer the fuel.

Yes Bio-deisel will pull all kinds of stuff into our fuel lines, that is why you change filters a couple times if you use it straight and drain the tanks once in a while.

jeffman164 · Mar 29, 2007

Heard that Bio - diesel has more lubrication than just regular diesel. Any truth to that ?

greg334 · Mar 29, 2007

yep true.

Broompilot · Mar 30, 2007

I used BD once and yes the pinging and associated problems dissipeared. Reoccured and now its Lucas.

gandrew · Apr 8, 2007

I had algae/slime last summer in the tanks on my Volvo 770. It blackened the filter inside the clear dome within days of installing a fresh one. I did a string dip into my tanks and the string came out covered with slime. The solution: drove home with tanks as empty as I dared. Pumped out fuel into as many containers as I had, then simply pumped the remaining fuel out of one tank into the other. Pulled the drain plug and sprayed the inside with my high pressure washer outfit, then rinsed it with the garden hose hooked to the hot water heater drain from the house. When that water drained out I put the plug in, pumped the fuel in from the other tank and repeated the process on the passenger side tank. The fuel being pumped in was run through a cheesecloth filter. When I did re fill the tanks I put in a whole red bottle of 911 additive. Then I had an oil change done with all new filters. Happy to report that there has been no reoccurrence of slime in our fuel.

davekc · Apr 8, 2007

We had water in the fuel issues twice this year, and drained the tanks on two different trucks. Both times were Pilot fuel.
Needless to say, we don't buy fuel at Pilot unless there are no options.

Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

unorthodoxneon · Apr 9, 2007

Alot of Gasoline vehicles don't really have good drain plugs to empty out the tanks. Usually just enough to make sure that the fuel pump doesn't have fuel around it when you have to replace it. Its a good idea in your personal vehicle and any gasoline vehicle to not go below 1/4 tank cause you want to keep the fuel pump covered with gas as it aids in the cooling of the fuel pump.