Cheap Diesel bug killer

leadersail

leadersail

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I was thinking of buying some to keep on board in case of problems and adding a squirt over winter, has anyone tried this

Lucas oils have a diesel bug killer called Bio Medic, it is not aimed at the Marine Industry and has not got the usual Marine loading on.
It is supposed to sterilise the fuel system and is very strong.

1 L shock treats 250 gals.
cost £13.95

active agents

2.5% 2-(thioyanomethyithio)Benzothiazole

2.5% Methylene bis (thioyanate)

85% Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether

Worth keeping a bottle on board ?

http://www.lucasoil.co.uk/store_item.php?product=10177
 
Startron...

Starbrite's Startron Diesel Additive is probably a better bet. About £11 for 8oz bottle which treats about 250 gallons. Contains enzymes which help to get rid of dead bug residue (the stuff which blocks filters).
 
There was a review of these I think in YM a year or two ago. I don't remember which was best, but several were shown not to work at all. It might be worth looking it up.
 
I read a PBO report that said startron didn't make any visible difference.

The enzyme appears to be a plant extract.

This Lucas stuff seams to be strong but if no one has tried it I will keep looking.

Anyone tried M16 ?
 
Sure?

[ QUOTE ]
I read a PBO report that said startron didn't make any visible difference.

[/ QUOTE ]The April 2007 PBO test included Starbrite Bio Diesel, didn't it? This isn't the same as Startron.
 
Re: Sure?

I am sure yes.

Starbrite Bio diesel does work and came out well along side of Grotmar 71 and M16.

Starbrite also market

Startron which is an enzyme product that had no visible effect.


We need VicS, I nearly pm my post for his approval first.
I will pm him to see if he can help with above compounds.
 
Re: Sure?

[ QUOTE ]
I am sure yes. Starbrite Bio diesel does work and came out well along side of Grotmar 71 and M16. Starbrite also market Startron which is an enzyme product that had no visible effect.

[/ QUOTE ]Well, I think you must have been thinking of a different article, maybe even a different magazine, because the April 2007 PBO article which you've just helpfully posted didn't include Startron.
 
Re: Sure?

The product is an enzyme product.
none of the enzyme products had a satisfactory effect.

Enzyme products are little power and contain small amounts of plant extract.

The Bio cides came out top.

What I am trying to establish is if the Lucas Product contains high levels of Bio cides.

It is the only product that openly says what is in it.
 
Re: Sure?

[ QUOTE ]
The product is an enzyme product. none of the enzyme products had a satisfactory effect. Enzyme products are little power and contain small amounts of plant extract.

[/ QUOTE ]Ah right, that's sorted then! Bit like EDTA+ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: Sure?

/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I give up.

What is it about boat owners, no one wants to save money.
No wander the swindlers get away with it.

" This one is twice the price sir, it must be better "

Your response was sharp and funny /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
You got a problem? Maybe a bug killer is for you.

No problem - don't up the anti by dosing your tank. e nice to your engine and feed it just diesel - it's what engine manufacturers say.

Question - how many diesel cars and trucks, buses etc dose their fuel? Ah, there we go again....cuddling our marine engines, when we would never (correctly) do the same with our road vehicles..

For winter - just fill the tank with diesel to exclude water vapour. That's all it needs!


PWG
 
Re: Sure?

[ QUOTE ]
We need VicS, I nearly pm my post for his approval first.
I will pm him to see if he can help with above compounds.


[/ QUOTE ] No sorry Biochemistry is not my field at all.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Question - how many diesel cars and trucks, buses etc dose their fuel? Ah, there we go again....cuddling our marine engines, when we would never (correctly) do the same with our road vehicles..

For winter - just fill the tank with diesel to exclude water vapour. That's all it needs!


[/ QUOTE ]

That is certainly true as far as it goes, but surely there is a major difference between car & truck engines and those in Boats. Road vehicles are used often, refueled frequently from filling stations with a high turn over of fuel, and only rarely left standing for weeks or months.

It is the water in the tank which enables the diesel bug to grow.
No water - no bug.

You say correctly that filling the tank on lay up helps stop condensation during the winter, but that is far from being the only source of water in the tank.

I agree if you don't have a problem don't waste money treating it!

If you do have the bug it is worth making whatever effort to reduce to a minimum water in the tank, and getting rid of it if present.

Tony Brooks - whose advice seems well respected on this forum - recommends Fuel Set to get rid of water, and Marine 16 as a treatment to kill the bug.
 
2-(thioyanomethyithio)Benzothiazole - this is almost certainly bioactive - and the methylene thiocyanate might be a biocide too. No poncy green enzymes here - keep it out of the sea and off your skin.

I haven't been a "proper" chemist for about 20 years tho' ......

Wonder what the last 10 percent is !
 
A few Google searches with spellings corrected where required reveal that:
Methylene bis(thiocyanate) (MBT) is a microbiocidal agent mainly used in industrial water cooling systems and paper mills as an inhibitor of algae, fungi, and bacteria.

2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole (TCMTB) is a biocide used in the leather, pulp and paper, and water-treatment industries

Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether is used as a fuel system icing inhibitor in aviation turbine fuels.
 
This is the cheapest!

I've had bug in one of my tanks for 15 years, and after trying the whole range of cures, now just don't bother.

I've followed LeighB's advice. As bug lives on the water interface, the simple trick is to keep this below the fuel take-up line, which is about 4" above the bottom of my tank. It is only necessary to drain a gallon or two using the cock right at the bottom of the tank, once a season, to prevent bug jelly getting to the fuel line. I have never had a fuel blockage, or even much sign of bug on the filter at its annual renewal.

Incidentally, I suspect diesel bug multiplies quite slowly in cold conditions, so is less of an issue for overwintering. Can anyone confirm this?
 
Re: This is the cheapest!

Dont you believe that diesel bug is just a problem with boats. My research after having had a fuel tank blockage this summer, is that lorries abd coaches and similar also havea major problem, which is why trade suppliers of stuff to lorries and coach markets keep it in stock, at half the price of the "marine equivalent".
Several of our member in the yacht club are ex BA engineers, and this is also a problem with airliners, and for the same reason that it blocks the filters. However airliners have tanks that men ( or women) can squeeze inside. Cleaning of said tanks clearly had to be done immediately, as u/s airliners costs megabucks when out of commission. Everybody hated the job, and it was usually left to those engineers who had big mortgages or debts, because the job paid double time.

In my case the diesel bug mycelium completely blocked the 5/16" outlet from my tank, so much so that to unblock it, was had to break the line and put about 40 psi from a car footpump back down the line to clear the blockage. We subsequently cleaned the tank. I would not buy the cheapest biocide, but the most cost effective, and if that means buying from the supplier of lorry spares - so be it
 
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