Diesel Bug

[chas]

I drained about half a gallon of diesel out of the bottom of my tank and when I put some in a tonic bottle to settle, there was a very small brown layer right at the bottom - it looked a bit like yeast. Is this likely to be the diesel bug? If so, does anyone know whtether you can tell if it is dead or alive? I have been using some additive which claims to kill it.

I then took a sample from the pump feed end and, I am gald to say, there is no evidence of any such deposit in this (my tank feeds from the top, not the bottom). I would be very grateful if anyone who knows about these things could advise if I should be worried or not - or what action to take. I do not particualrly want to have to drain the tank as there are about 45 gallons in there!

 

[david_bagshaw]

Sounds very likely,

only real cure ids to drain & clean I am afraid. Just because it is not in the filters now, a small rough passage will soon get it there.

Good Luck

David
www.yachtman.co.uk

 

[billskip]

lots of posts about diesel buggs on motoboat bb cos they use lots of the stuff ..look at their threads + posts....i think DepSol is the one to talk to...

Bill
www.aegeansailing.co.uk

 

[Chris_Robb]

I had this problem a few years back. Luckily I have inspection lids on my tanks, and I pumped out about 10 titres form the bottom of the tank. I then treated the tank with one filling of a bug eater, and have every year since taken about 1 litre out of each tank. First year showed a little - but now it is abosulutely clean.

The secret is to make sure there is no water in the tank. It won't grow without it. So each year I will go through a 1 hour job of taking a litre from the bottom.

Don't be fooled in using a tap at the bottom of a tank. With the fitting it is usualy at least 1/2 to 1 inch from the bottom, so you think you gat the crao out - but there is still a layer.

Also DO NOT use the water dispersent additive to get rid of water. This basically emulsifies the water and increases the surface area on which the bugs grow so creating the ideal habitat. Shell have issued warnings that this product should NOT be used in the marine leisure environment where consumption is generally very low.

 

[HaraldS]

Has anybody tried out the magnetic bug killers, like Algae-X?
From what they claim they break the cell of the bacteria when it gets moved through a strong magnetic field. Since the diesel gets recycled by the engine, it is supposed to kill the whole population in the tank before it can grow big enough to become a problem.
I have installed one of those, but can't tell how good it is since I have had very clean diesel so far and hardly any water at all in the separators.

 

[DepSol]

Small brown layer doesnt initialy sound like the Bug?! Does it have any slimy tadpole looking creatures? If you rub this brown stuff thru your fingers is it soft and slimy or grainy like soft sand? Best to give me this info first.

You either have diesel sludge or the bug or could be a bit of both but sounds more like sludge to me. Truoble with sludge is it builds up and reduces the fill capacity of your tank and also blocks the filters aswell as ensuring that you are not running clean fuel etc etc ie if you have five gallons of sludge then you only have a fuel capacity of 40 gallons therefore you will run out of fuel before reaching a destination you have planned for. Can also start erosion of your ss tanks from inside.

Solution...I dont know what bug killer you have used but some are just weedkiller and dont do a great deal for your engine or fuel tanks (esp s/steel). Soltron is an enzyme which feeds on bacteria and sludge killing the bug and breaking it down to enable it to be passed thru the filters and be burnt in combustion. Double dose your tank with Soltron and I guarantee that this brown stuff will dissolve.

Depending on how much is in there will depend on how long it takes to dissolve and be passed thru the system.

Get this problem a lot in Guernsey with visiting French yachties as they dont use their engines much. Any oher questions please ask.

Dom

 

[Chris_Stannard]

I had the diesel bug a couple of years ago. If you take a sample of the fuel it will appear cloudy, when compared with normal diesel which, although pink, is clear. If you do have the bug then emptying the tank and steam cleaning is the only answer but you will also need to go through you fuel pump and injectors to make sure they are not damaged.
If you can you should aim to drain a small amount of fuel from the lowest point of the tank at regular intervals, say a month of two, since you can get condensation in the tank. When you take the fuel out you may find a small amount of water and keep going until you get no more water. It also helps to keep your tank full as this helps to prevent condensation. This is most important over the winter.

Chris Stannard

 

[chas]

Thanks for this - I will start doing the same. Small point - what do you use to seal the inspection hatch when you replace it?

Thanks again for the help

 

[chas]

Thank you for your response. I can't see any tadpoles. The brown stuff is oily rather than gritty. The diesel is a bit cloudy - but some has been in the tank for some time!

I have ordered some Soltron. I hope it will solve the problem.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[chas]

Thank you. I have, in the past, tried to keep my tank full but I have a 45 gallon tank and only use about 10 gallons per season (as I prefer to sail). I have been trying to run it down a bit as much of the fuel must be about 4 - 5 years old and therefore probably more susceptible (spelling!) to bugs. I cant see much sign of water in the diesel I have taken from the bottom of the tank - just this brown stuff.

 

[Robin]

Our local engineer reccomends Soltron and says you can see the difference in the cleanliness of the filters after it has been used. We had no problems on our last boat and have just added it to our new one, it apparently is not a biological(?) killer and continuous use does not create a superbug resistant to it. Hope it works for you.

 

[alant]

Why should a magnetic field kill bugs, when they live quite contentedly within the Earths magnetic field?
These 'devices' are similarly used to cure arthritis, scale in water systems, improve petrol (& diesel) consumption on road vehicles, (even claimed to have won the Battle of Britain by improving the Spitfire), etc, etc !!
I'm seriously thinking of strapping a magnet to my wedding tackle to see if any improvement - with all the psuedo-scientific rubbish claimed by these 'device' sales companies, it should rival viagra.