Thread: Diesel Snot, Here it is IN person.

So how do you get it and how do you prevent it?

letting water sit in your fuel, leaving your fuel to sit for prolonged periods and getting contaminated fuel.

only treatment is good filtration and the use of the anti fungal treatment as required

Is it more likely in tropical climates or happen anywhere?


Cheers, Mick.

Hi All

Between algae, fungus and paraffin wax build up, it's a wonder that our poor buses run at all.
.

I've heard of it, but not up here at all. Maybe it's like cane toads - it's on the way.

But I run a petrol V8, because I can't afford a diesel!

It may or may not be related to water and condensation. It is a common problem, particularly in marine environments. Often seems to arise from buying fuel from contaminated sources. The only sure way to combat it long term is to dose your fuel tank with each fill. About a capful is all it takes.

Here is some info about it:
Diesel Bug Explained - Bacteria Contamination of Diesel - Freephone 0800 933 939 for more info

and some more:
Advanced Diesel Solutions New Zealand

The magnetic solution in the second link seems to work well on boats. The bug gets zapped before it can reproduce. The fuel is cycled through the system.

Alan

its more common in the tropics. Roughly speaking the bug is bloody hard to kill but only reproduces in certain environments.

If I had to draw a line through australia Id suggest that you start at sydney, follow down the coast on top of the blue mountains and the spear in about half way between melb and adelaide. cut a line in south of busselton and run it about 300KM worth of SE ish and anwhere north or inland of those lines

anywhere inland of those lines is susceptible

Regardless where you live, the presence of water in fuel appears to trigger the ever-present spores into germination, resulting in the breakdown of their food source (fuel). However evidence does show that given a perfect medium of heat, humidity and water will allow an easier breakout of the bug against say - fuel reserves held in Antartica (Yes they treat their fuel as well).

The bug will flourish by congregating at the point at which fuel and water meet which as you may be aware - is at the bottom of the tank. This position allows the spores to attack the fuel-food source while utilising the available oxygen dissolved in water. Specific organisms will attack various fuel components, producing alternate basal compounds that other organisms will absorb. Paradoxically fuel will remain unaffected by microbial attack for long periods when there is no water present.

A few spores of Cladosporium resinae (as pictured in the Attachment 42627 below) will quickly grow into a substantial colony. Although microscopic, the fungal filaments will grow into a dense mat at the point where fuel meets water. Cladosporium resinae usually precedes the organisms that feed off the byproducts that it produces when breaking down the fuel-food source (The black 'grunge'). The fungi breaks down stable compounds such as the benzene ring structures of fuel to simpler linear hydrocarbons that can then be broken up further by Pseudomona (bacteria) species. Collectively, the microbes will over time greatly impair the ignition characteristics of fuel.

The black residue is actually a bi-product of the actual bug during its growth and feeding stage.

Prevention -
1. Always keep your tank as full as you can if you are not using the vehicle for some time (Minimises air spaces which in turn minimises condensation)
2. Buy your fuel from a high usage outlet eg - a truck station or any fuel station that has a high percentage of diesel customers
3. As pointed out - continual use of fuel conditioners. I have a long range tank and use an anti-fungal agent in every 2nd tank regardless where I fill up
4. Try not to run your fuel down to the last few litres which will risk contaminating your fuel system

If you have got a decent dose of the bug - don't panic, change your filters and mega anti-fungal dose your tank. As the bug dies it will clog your fuel filters so be prepared for a few filter changes
It's only the extreme cases that require a tank removal and clean-out.

I'm ex Navy - we never had the luxury of being able to remove a fuel bunker holding 200 Tonne of fuel - we just had to dose, dose and dose
and keep cleaning fuel lines and filters

By the way - the 'sulphur-dependant' bacteria excrete sulphides that, when mixed with water, produce corrosive sulphuric acid. This acid attacks the metal shell of fuel tanks from the inside.
So in a way - we are somewhat shielded from this now-days with the availability of low sulphur containing diesel fuel.

In closing, the bug also attacks jet-fuel which is just higher refined diesel. Airports are always fighting this same problems that affects our 4WD's