Diesel slime, big-time!

[GarethM]

Looking at the MSDS it's just 30-60% pure alcohol of some variety.

 

Presumably it takes the alcohol level above that which yeast/bacteria can survive.

But there must be an effective shelf life, before it evaporates or absorbs water exactly like ethanol does if it's sat for any length of time.

 

I would be tempted to test isopropyl alcohol in a test tube and see if sludge forms.

 

Sulphur was for protecting mechanical pumps, similar to why it was in older oil and turned parts slightly yellow.

Edited February 18, 2023 by GarethM

[Whoppa Choppa]

Very lengthy review on PBO.co.uk. practical boat owner

[NJA]

It was happening a lot with red diesel a year or so ago, as they'd sneaked an increase in the amount of bio-diesel they mixed in with regular red.  Obviously being plant based it gave the bug more to feed on.

The fuel additives will only help prevent it happening in future if you add it to fuel, it won't sort the problem if you've already got it.  As someone mentioned you'll need to pump out the fuel and filter it.

[GarethM]

A slightly daft question, the bug definitely caused problems throughout agricultural at harvest with summer diesel.

 

Does the same happen with winter diesel, it has paraffin or similar added to prevent gelling.

 

Veg fat must float on diesel as it must be aerobic for the bacteria to survive, maybe veg fat sinks under paraffin and it can't survive?.

[Will C]

On 18/02/2023 at 11:18, Whoppa Choppa said:

Best we've found. And boy do we get some sludge. It's nothing to do with Sulphur, but biodiesel content

 

On 18/02/2023 at 13:23, NJA said:

 

The fuel additives will only help prevent it happening in future if you add it to fuel, it won't sort the problem if you've already got it.  As someone mentioned you'll need to pump out the fuel and filter it.

 We had a problem with diesel bug at, used the fuel set at double dose in the tank and all machines to start (as recommended by agri dealer) and now add it to the tank at delivery time at normal dose. It solved the problem after having 3 machines down with blocked filters in a week before we used it.