Best Additive Against Diesel Bug!

Zagato

Zagato

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The diesel in my tank will have been their for 16 months over two winters by the time it goes in the water, so for this winter I was thinking about putting in an additive to stave off the dreaded bug. The tank has been filled to the top by the previous owner. He didn't ever use an additive.

If I need it, whats the best stuff to use, any downside to using it? Thanks.
 
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After using biocides when struggling with dirty fuel and clogged filters on a previous boat with water ingress problems, I now believe in enzyme treatment and have used it for the last 12-15 years. Soltron or its leisure marine equivalent, Startron.
However you will find that the biocide lobby will dispute its efficacy and if a problem does not occur it is hard to prove that it is a result of your chosen treatment.
 
Quandary said:
After using biocides when struggling with dirty fuel and clogged filters on a previous boat with water ingress problems, I now believe in enzyme treatment and have used it for the last 12-15 years. Soltron or its leisure marine equivalent, Startron.
However you will find that the biocide lobby will dispute its efficacy and if a problem does not occur it is hard to prove that it is a result of your chosen treatment.
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I used Soltron/Startron religiously for years, and recommended it here. But this summer, I found bug infestation in my tank again, so I've now switched to Marine 16.
 
My understanding is that "the bug" grows at the fuel water interface. Get rid of any free water from the tank and remove any condensation that might accumulate and you should be half way at least to winning the battle.
 
VicS said:
My understanding is that "the bug" grows at the fuel water interface. Get rid of any free water from the tank and remove any condensation that might accumulate and you should be half way at least to winning the battle.
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In that case I would recommend a Mr Funnel fuel filter (from ebay & elsewhere) that doesn't allow water through it, I've used one on both my boats, don't use an additive...
 
pvb said:
I'm not sure that PBO actually recommended Fuel Set. In any case, PBO isn't very consistent, in this PBO report, they concluded that "When used as a one-off treatment, Fuel Set is not an effective decontaminant or preventive treatment at the dose rates tested."
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Not as a one-off treatment but for ongoing use as a dispersant as opposed to a biocide. The biocides act quickly to kill the bug, the dispersants are an ongoing treatment to disperse any water (I think I've got that right...:o). See this PBO article linked to on the Liquid Engineering site...
 
Why won't bleach or Jeyes fluid prevent anything living in the tank? Dilution as reccomended for kitchen floor or whatever. Or is diesel bug hardier than the 99% mentioned on the bleach bottle? Just a thought!
 
jerrytug said:
Why won't bleach or Jeyes fluid prevent anything living in the tank? Dilution as reccomended for kitchen floor or whatever. Or is diesel bug hardier than the 99% mentioned on the bleach bottle? Just a thought!
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Well, I'd imagine that there are several reasons:
  1. It won't mix with diesel, so it won't be very effective
  2. It is chlorine based, so if it gets burnt in the engine, you could end up with chlorine in the exhaust; chlorine is not good stuff to have around.
  3. I'd hate to think what it might do to the injection pump and injectors, and possibly even the cylinder lining. Chlorine based bleaches are very good at degrading rubber or almost any organic substance, and chlorine reacts very easily with most metals. So, using straight bleach would probably degrade a lot of seals, diaphragms and impellers.

Even in domestic use, chlorine based bleaches have to be used with care; it is not hard to provoke a reaction that releases gaseous chlorine. Add an acid (vinegar or whatever) to bleach and you get chlorine.
 
pvb said:
I used Soltron/Startron religiously for years, and recommended it here. But this summer, I found bug infestation in my tank again, so I've now switched to Marine 16.
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+1

Never had bug before but have used mostly diesel from the forecourt this year so I suppose this has been the cause.
 
Thanks for the replies folks, I'll get some in the tank next visit :)

tidclacy said:
+1

Never had bug before but have used mostly diesel from the forecourt this year so I suppose this has been the cause.
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I didn't think you were allowed to use forecourt stuff in boats, thought it also had a higher bio/water content than marine stuff but probably wrong :confused:
 
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