Fungus in Diesel Engines

Does still happen.
Bigger problem on ships and boats with diesels.
Larger tanks, and they can sit unused for longer periods.
Had a friend who bought a yatch in Sydney, and was sailing it up to Brisbane.
Decided to call in at Ballina on the way through and the diesel died coming across the bar. Reckons it was a hairy ride coming in with a following sea just under sail on a reach.
Yep, checked the system and diesel bug had clogged it up. Took a few hours of running to clog up the filters, i.e. getting out of Sydney.

All you need is the bacteria and a little water.

I still use a diesel additive with a bug killer every few tanks just in case.

You need to get yourself some Diesel fuel treatment something along the lines of a Chemtech or similar. Any truck supply place or even some better equipped auto shops may stock it. Diesel bug is not that common in automotive circles, where did you get your fuel? If it comes from a servo you may have some comeback to cover your costs. In my experience Diesel Bug is more common in on-farm storages and smaller holding tanks also fairly common on larger boats. Once you have gotten rid of it, regular treatment of the fuel system will help keep it clean.

Cheers and Beers
Scott

If you have an auxiliary (spare) tank you need to run it as well on a regular basis to prevent the build up in it as well.

I run mine every 3 - 4 refills of the main tank as well as using a fuel additive on a regular basis.

I am also running Bio-diesel and with it's renown ability to clean the fuel lines hopefully getting algea in the tanks won't be too much of a problem.

Karl

Get youself some Chemtech Dieselpower about $22.00 for 1 litre.
But the problem is more fore storage tanks where the fuel doesn't get used on a regular basis.

We have it in stock where I work if you need some I should be able to get it too you. Let me know.

Marty

The two key issues here are fuel quality and type and vehicle use.

Fuel quality. Shopping around for fuel is, I guess, part of life these days. But when you get a problem such as this you have no recourse to the supplier as it is now impossible to pin down the culprit. So if at all possible purchase fuel from the smallest number of suppliers possible. As well try to select from those who have a high turnover of diesel. That way you are fairly well assured that the fuel from the underground tank is fresh. One key issue is to check and see if they have had a tanker drop in the last few hours or so. If they have then the drop creates turbidity in the tank stirring up the bottom solids. Best to avoid that situation and let it settle otherwise you are filling up with some of those particles and water.

Fuel type. If you are using bio diesel as well as normal diesel there is still a chance of problems occurring as the quality controls over bio-diesel remain problematical.

Vehicle use. The fungus normally grows in tanks where there is limited agitation, read use. If you are regularly using the car and that means at least weekly for over 50 kms, then the fungus has a very limited opportunity to grow.

Waxing. What is of some interest to me is if you have a fungus problem or a waxing problem. Both are very different problems. But waxing is more common in winter and particularly in places like Alice Springs. Characteristics are a strong kerosene smell and rough idle until the engine gets to operating temperature. I think in this situation fungus is a higher probability but I am truly amazed.

Fuel additives. Plenty of comment on that and whilst I understand people believe in them the fuel companies put all the necessary additives in their respective fuels to deal with the normal range of problems that can be experienced. Including waxing and fungus as well as a water dispersant.

I hope that rather detailed reply helps in analysing your problem

Regards

RobA

This is a relatively common problem in diesel, AVTUR, AVCAT etc....and for the bug to grow there needs to be water present - indeed it simply cannot survive without water. Check out here for more information on the topic.

I would have to agree with RobA

I have had this problem on a few boats I have worked on.
Most of the time it is lack of use and taking fuel in remote area.
Even if you add additives to your fuel, this will kill the Microbiological bug if that is what it is. These are corrosive.
Just cause their dead doesn't mean they disappear, they stay in the tank and continue to block filters.
If it is Polymerisation or water content, this also causes filter blocking.
This is not as bad unless the water content is very high then they can be like a water jet and can do some bad damage to your fuel pump, injection pump, injectors etc...

The tank and all associated pipes will have to be cleaned out if you want to have a completely clean system.

Doing all this will still mean you will have to change fuel filters a little more regularly to start with.
This could save you some large cost in the future.

As RobA said. I'm not a huge fan of fuel additives, If you read the label on some they have some harmful ingredients in them.
When I have had to does tanks in the past, I always use gloves for at least the next few filter changes. As the additive should not come in contact with your skin.

From my experience I always try and buy fuel from a supplier with a high turn over.

Cheers
Rob

Have a look at this.... www.morison.com.au/clippings.htm

Yes, the fungus does still occur. Try to keep your tank/s filled all the time, especially if you don't use the vehicle every day.

how do they figure you have fungus before spending the dollars i would be treating the tank and fitting new filters most oil companys treat their fuel from the refinery as this protects their own tankers i to live in FNQ and have never had any problems and the vehicle has done over 320,000ks if you live in cairns shell has a servo there that last year had water in their diesal tank and a lot of people got caught out many trucks as well after filling up more than a1000ltrs, try draing the tank yourself. Col

Jutho.
As others have said this bug can not live without water. All you have to do is get rid of the water, the filters will do the rest. I would not be paying $500 for someone to get the water out of a tank, all you have to do is park the vehicle on a slope so that the water is below the filler and then siphon it out,use a flexible hose with a metal pipe inserted in the end to ensure it drops to the lowest point in the tank, take out some of the fuel as well to be safe. Let the fuel settle then poor it back in without the water then siphon again, if there is no water the second time you are done. Carry spare filters just in case there is some residual. Eric.