This picture is of boogers I got out of my fuel. They are the consistency of jelly. I am not sure I understand what is going on here. I purchased a new fuel can and new fuel and put STP diesel treatment in the fuel. I had the fuel in the can about a month. I used some of it and then found this in the remaining fuel in the can.
Diesel Fuel Boogers
- Thread starter Dirt Mover
- Start date
North Idaho Wolfman
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L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
That looks like algae to me!
You need to treat all of your cans and tanks with an algae killer.
You can get it at most automotive stores.
You need to treat all of your cans and tanks with an algae killer.
You can get it at most automotive stores.
Could be ALGAE
Try an additive with a biocide to kill the bacteria and fungus
i am told that it grows on the side of the tank in the fuel
when the fuel gets low it dies and falls off plugging filters and pumps
Buddy just had this problem, treated all of
His fuel, but still had to buy a bunch of filters.
I guess periodic checks need to be done.
His fuel, but still had to buy a bunch of filters.
I guess periodic checks need to be done.
It's good that you're using Stanadyne. It's intent is to provide increased lubricity and additionally increase cetane rating of the diesel (analogous to octane rating of gasoline).
Stanadyne in and of itself is not a biocide.
You will need to obtain a separate and different supplemental biocide admixture material to add to your fuel tank.
Be prepared for plugged fuel filter(s) when the biologic material starts breaking down.
Keep tank full and therefore limit water by reducing condensation.
Please post back your experiences so we may all learn.
Stanadyne in and of itself is not a biocide.
You will need to obtain a separate and different supplemental biocide admixture material to add to your fuel tank.
Be prepared for plugged fuel filter(s) when the biologic material starts breaking down.
Keep tank full and therefore limit water by reducing condensation.
Please post back your experiences so we may all learn.
I've just started having the same trouble lately. Stored fuel & tractors not running right. Treated all fuel and just bought new filters today. This is the first time in over 35 years I've had to do this...What's up with the new fuel?
What is so puzzling about this is that the fuel was only about a month to 6 weeks old. The things in the picture were The size of a medium to large peanut. At that rate I think you could almost see it grow.
DM
DM
One poster asks here, "What's happened to...fuel?".
I noticed from their locations that problems are in Missouri and Delaware.
In the last couple months some components of some refineries in those areas have been down for maintenance and, in the midcontinent, the switch-over to summer blend gasoline. Since the different pieces-parts of a refinery interact, a bobble in one unit of the plant may affect another.
My suspicion is that diesel is traveling further into your areas from some other-that-usual source, perhaps by truck instead of pipeline, and for that reason experiencing a higher likelihood of biologic contamination.
I've never had to use a biocide and haven't heard of a need in my area; can't even find the stuff in some places. But in some areas of the country as I travel around I see displays in parts houses promoting four to six brands. Which leads me to think the problem may be historically regional or even highly localized. Maybe a local low-volume wholesaler hasn't cleaned his tanks in the last twenty years or so.
I'd be curious about reports from users just to see if problems are indeed localized.
I noticed from their locations that problems are in Missouri and Delaware.
In the last couple months some components of some refineries in those areas have been down for maintenance and, in the midcontinent, the switch-over to summer blend gasoline. Since the different pieces-parts of a refinery interact, a bobble in one unit of the plant may affect another.
My suspicion is that diesel is traveling further into your areas from some other-that-usual source, perhaps by truck instead of pipeline, and for that reason experiencing a higher likelihood of biologic contamination.
I've never had to use a biocide and haven't heard of a need in my area; can't even find the stuff in some places. But in some areas of the country as I travel around I see displays in parts houses promoting four to six brands. Which leads me to think the problem may be historically regional or even highly localized. Maybe a local low-volume wholesaler hasn't cleaned his tanks in the last twenty years or so.
I'd be curious about reports from users just to see if problems are indeed localized.
Another option is to add a bit of Denatured Alcohol to the fuel, not much. It will absorb the water moisture in the tank and oddly, allow it to burn off in running the tractor. That is the 'old timers' solution I've been given for water in the tank. I know you can't add too much because it makes the engine run hotter.
BenRich
New member
Equipment
BX1870D w/FEL, Land Pride FDR1648 Mower, Land Pride RBO560 Scrape Blade
Good and timely responses. I recently had to change the filter situated before the pump on my BX1870; this tractor is barely a year old. I also found a few of these boogers in that filter when I cut it open.
When I topped up my fuel tank, out of curiosity, I poured the diesel through a coffee filter (which took a while). I had just purchased this diesel at a gas station that sells both on-road and off-road diesel and has, by all appearances, a large turnover in both on and off-road diesel. This is where I've been buying diesel fuel since I obtained the BX1870.
In the coffee filter were these same boogers, so the very fuel I had purchased was apparently contaminated with algae.
I've decided I'm going to live with it and so I purchased fifty automotive paint filters. I'll look for an algaecide to add to what's in the tank. For what it's worth, I always top the tank up to the brim when I park the tractor. However, that does no good if the fuel is already contaminated.
And yes, next time I top up the tank, if I find boogers in the paint filter, I intend to take the filter to the gas station and inform them that there is algae in their diesel fuel.
Ben Rich
When I topped up my fuel tank, out of curiosity, I poured the diesel through a coffee filter (which took a while). I had just purchased this diesel at a gas station that sells both on-road and off-road diesel and has, by all appearances, a large turnover in both on and off-road diesel. This is where I've been buying diesel fuel since I obtained the BX1870.
In the coffee filter were these same boogers, so the very fuel I had purchased was apparently contaminated with algae.
I've decided I'm going to live with it and so I purchased fifty automotive paint filters. I'll look for an algaecide to add to what's in the tank. For what it's worth, I always top the tank up to the brim when I park the tractor. However, that does no good if the fuel is already contaminated.
And yes, next time I top up the tank, if I find boogers in the paint filter, I intend to take the filter to the gas station and inform them that there is algae in their diesel fuel.
Ben Rich
BAP
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2012 Kubota 2920, 60MMM, FEL, BH65 48" Bush Hog, 60"Backblade, B2782B Snowblower
Are you using a plastic can or steel? I have been told this is more of a problem in plastic cans and plastic fuel tanks than steel ones. This is because the plastic has a rough surface allow the algae to cling to it to grow. Also, diesel that has any biodiesel in it is much more susceptible to problems. I believe that most of the major diesel additive companies make a biocide including Stanadyne. Just read the label carefully. Sometimes, it will show up as a black layer on the filter.
I've run four different makes tractors in the last 30 years. The non-orange ones that are still used by relatives happened to be blue, and the longest use by me. None that were (are) in my possession, except the BX have ever had a change of fuel filter. Of the BX filters changed and opened, none show any crud to amount to. However, my record now with 170 hours on the BX has shown a filter change has had to be made every 30-40 hours. I blame it on the fine openings in the BX filters. Isn't it about time Kubota has come out with a kit to use larger filters and those that are not so darn fine filtering. Yes the boogers may be at fault for some, but not in my case. Matter of fact the last 30 hours of use all fuel was filtered through a screen of 149 microns, about 5 thousandths. The test for continuity of the screen is fill the funnel with water. That funnel then does not pass water. That filtering didn't seem to make any difference in length of use before problems again surfaced.
I have a friend with a B series and he has never had to change fuel filters in 20 years. We use the same source for fuel.
In summary, I think this is a basic fault of filter manufacture for the BX. How coarse a filtering size is needed to cause injector problems????
I have a friend with a B series and he has never had to change fuel filters in 20 years. We use the same source for fuel.
In summary, I think this is a basic fault of filter manufacture for the BX. How coarse a filtering size is needed to cause injector problems????
The newer the tractor the smaller the injector tips. A late model diesel is a completely different animal when compairing them to older machines. If filters need changed at 30 to 40 hrs I would think you must have a fuel problem.
Might want to think about installing a pre-filter such as a Dahl. I have one on my L3000 and it works great. I use 2 micron filter elements and it doesn't give me any trouble at all.
Might want to think about installing a pre-filter such as a Dahl. I have one on my L3000 and it works great. I use 2 micron filter elements and it doesn't give me any trouble at all.
No. You have to buy a different product. Please do not get it on you. Its really toxic. I see this with the TDI's from time to time when customers buy questionable fuel and or make Biodiesel and don't store it correctly. As was mentioned get a spare filter or a few. You're fuel tank likely has a lot more in it as well.
I'll agree with Bulldog here.
There is a HUGE difference between modern injectors and the old stuff. Even the IDI stuff. Not even mentioning the new direct injectors or Piezo injectors.
A 149 micron screen just keeps big dirt out and nothing else, hence never changing the filter. I'm a master VW TDI guy and shop owner so we've done a lot of testing fuel. Your average gallon of diesel has several million particles from 2-10 microns in it. While they may be small they car do significant damage over time. Look at a river and the carving it'll do. Same thing happens to the pressurized side of an injection system. Tough starts are often related to lousy spray patterns in any diesel. Without proper hole size you get dripping, poor atomization, slow, smoky starts.
There is a HUGE difference between modern injectors and the old stuff. Even the IDI stuff. Not even mentioning the new direct injectors or Piezo injectors.
A 149 micron screen just keeps big dirt out and nothing else, hence never changing the filter. I'm a master VW TDI guy and shop owner so we've done a lot of testing fuel. Your average gallon of diesel has several million particles from 2-10 microns in it. While they may be small they car do significant damage over time. Look at a river and the carving it'll do. Same thing happens to the pressurized side of an injection system. Tough starts are often related to lousy spray patterns in any diesel. Without proper hole size you get dripping, poor atomization, slow, smoky starts.
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http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=262613
A good product for VW Diesels. Could be retrofitted if there is room. Haven't looked into it.
A good product for VW Diesels. Could be retrofitted if there is room. Haven't looked into it.
Howdy folks. I can't start a new thread, can't figure it out. Dumb, old, confusing(on purpose) I don't have the answers just the questions. I have many orange tools but one in particular is giving me fits. zd331, one tank(left I beleive, not sure it even matters) works just fine. The other one works sometimes, sometimes not so good, works for a while then starves then comes back and works fine again for a little while. Took the tank off, cleaned it out, everything looks fine, cock looks fine, works fine, but it still works intermitent.Any answers? Thanks.
Larry
Larry