Is this ALGAE ? Pic of my dad's fuel filter.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kamil · #1 08-21-2004, 01:36 PM

Hey,

We didn't bother changing the fuel filter on my fathers new acquisition because I thought that the filter was just this dark originally. I read somewhere about ALGAE so I decided to change the filter to a nice clean fresh see through filter. I decided to open this one up and sure enough it had some type of mildew that was black in color. It actually reminded me of oil somewhat.... Here are the pics..

If that is algae then that means I need to get some type of algae "be gone"... where would I go about getting this ?

Thanks and here are the pics

CLICK ON PICS FOR LARGER VERSIONS

oldnavy · #2 08-21-2004, 03:43 PM

If that's is algae it's been killed, because living algae will be a whitesh color. If the car is like 123 cars you will need to pull the fuel strainer out of the bottom of the tank as it may need cleaning also.

Hatterasguy · #3 08-21-2004, 06:13 PM

Get some Biobor, any marine store should have it. But before you put anything in your tank get 1/2 a dozen spare fuel filters, because if their is a lot of algea you will go threw filters like crazy!

kmaysob · #4 08-21-2004, 06:22 PM

mine was just like that. i always wondered why

P.E.Haiges · #5 08-21-2004, 07:17 PM

Kamil,

No its not algae, its fungus. Autozen informed me that it is a fungus not algae. I did some research and found that he is correct. So we should start calling it by the correct name: Fungus.

A biocide is the only additive that will kill the fungus. Biobor is a brand name of a biocide you can use. Diesel Doctor is no longer available and was made from Biobor. Biobor is not approved for on road use by the EPA so its hard to find but you can find it at some marinas. You also can find where it is available by doing an online search.

If you don't kill the fungus and just clean it out of your tank and replace the filters, It will eventually reappear.

P E H

oldnavy · #6 08-21-2004, 08:33 PM

Try Bio Kleen by Power Service, works great. One once to 20 gallons for shock treatment and 1/2 after that for maintance. A 16 oz bottle has lasted me two years and I've shocked several cars and use it about every 3 rd fill up. Follow the link.Power Service

autozen · #7 08-21-2004, 09:19 PM

PEH,
You are a true gentleman. I enjoy playing chess with you. Any time you put me in a check position as I have with you, you will here me say" I stand corrected:.

OLD NAVY,
What was your rating?

Kamil,
Do a search, but the thread is so new it may still be open. PEH explained it perfectly.

Peter

virtualdoc07 · #8 08-21-2004, 09:42 PM

Well gentlemen you are almost correct in fact you need to add pseudomonas Aeruginosa as an a dditional problem in diesel fule systems. It seems this aneorbic bug can live on almost any carbon source and is found in the wing tanks of F-14s, B52s, storage tanks in oil fields and in your disel fuel tank.

It is estimated that eight out of every ten diesel engine failures have been directly related to contaminated fuel. The build up of contaminates in the fuel storage tanks can quickly clog filters resulting in engine shut down, fuel pump wear and diesel engine damage. These situations are both time consuming and costly.

So the Biocide, Diesel Doctor and others do multiple duties but from my understaning its the psudomonsa that does the most harm by forming acids that corrode the system including injectors. This is mostly a problem in temperate climants south of the Mason Dixon line and with with vehicles that stand for long periods or you can get a "dose of the clap" from old tanks and cheap fuel stops that have lots' of water in the fuel.

The fuel-eating bacteria, known as Pseudomonas, have evolved a taste for hydrocarbons, the major component of fossil fuels. The molecular structure of a hydrocarbon can be visualized as a backbone-like string of carbon atoms bonded to a rib cage of hydrogen atoms.

Shaped like Tic-Tac breath mints, Pseudomonas are so tiny that 50 of them could line up bumper-to-bumper across the sharp edge of a piece of paper. A shovel-full of soil dug almost anywhere on Earth contains millions of them.

.

oldnavy · #9 08-21-2004, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autozen

PEH,
OLD NAVY,
What was your rating?

Peter

OM1 (SW) USN
12B30 USA (shore duty)

Demolitions

kamil · #10 08-22-2004, 12:17 AM

thanks guys.... where would I be able to purchase this stuff online ?

bill murrow · #11 08-22-2004, 07:48 AM

The power service biocide that old navy mentioned is available here at Walmart.

Cheers,

Bill

Hatterasguy · #12 08-22-2004, 09:53 AM

I'm sure West Marine or Defender would ship you some.

P.E.Haiges · #13 08-22-2004, 11:42 AM

Beware of the shipping cost of Biobor. It cost me ~$38 for UPS to ship a quart less than 500 miles because it is classified as a hazarduos substance.

What a ripoff. It didn't cost UPS a penny more to ship it. It was packed in a regular cardboard box.

So try to find it locally if you can. A quart of Biobor costs ~$40 plus shipping, but it will treat 2000 gallons of fuel.

P E H

dabenz · #14 08-22-2004, 12:23 PM

Walmart, farm supply store, marine supply store, major part stores (you may have to order it but not pay the shipping), farm tractor dealer, RV dealer (iffy), truck stop (iffy), fuel wholesaler (ask your station who they buy from). The generic name is biocide. You want just biocide, not a jug of fix-it-all with a little biocide in it. Buy a quart and it will last a long time, especially if you do this: shock the tank, drain the tank into fuel jugs, filter that fuel so it's clean again, clean the fuel tank strainer, put fuel back into tank, prime at least a quart before changing the filters. Keep the tank full and treat the fuel (I use grey bottle PowerService). And keep a few spare filters in the trunk. A few hours of work at home is a lot cheaper than a few on the road.

lrg · #15 08-23-2004, 02:00 PM

Since most people do the shock dose treatment with a close to empty tank (so as to have less fuel to drain) don't forget that the bugs can still cling to the side of the tank. The best bet is to add the shock dose then drive the car a bit over bumps and swerves to slosh the treated fuel around as much as possible. When you are done drain out the old fuel and add a second high dose as you fill the tank full. With any luck you'll have gotten most of it the first time so the filter casualties on the second treatment won't be too bad.