Algae killer - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #16 02-11-2006, 10:08 AM

so that it will flow thru the filter.

enzymes are for digesting things. we have them in our gut. they are microorganisms. antibiotics kills them along with the harmful bacteria, so that is why you get gut rumblings, gas and loose stool with antibiotics. then you need to eat yorgut or take probiotics to build your gut culture back up.

tom w

funola · #17 02-11-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

so that it will flow thru the filter.

enzymes are for digesting things. we have them in our gut. they are microorganisms. antibiotics kills them along with the harmful bacteria, so that is why you get gut rumblings, gas and loose stool with antibiotics. then you need to eat yorgut or take probiotics to build your gut culture back up.

tom w

Sounds great! I called West Marine and asked if Startron is the right stuff for black sludgy fungi in the tank and she says no. She says Startron is a preventive that's added to every tank to prevent fugi growth and that once there's fungi, something like Biobor has to be used to kill it first, then add Startron to prevent it. Is she full of it? Is she trying to sell me more stuff than I need?

Should I drain my tank before filling it with Startron? I'd hate to drain the tank unless I really have to. If I have to drain it what is the best way?

t walgamuth · #18 02-11-2006, 11:25 AM

i dont know the brand names but there is a product that you should be able to use without draining the tank. i will look and see what i have in the garage and get back to you.

tom w

diesel friend · #19 02-11-2006, 04:37 PM

Hi, a couple of days ago I had my injectors serviced at a Bosch place.
When I questioned them about algae they mentioned that it is shows up easily in farm equipment not used for some time. They also said your tank can get contaminated through the nozzle at filling station if it has been in contact with a tank which had algae/fungi in it. I think in future I will use Stratron during the summer months. Cheers

funola · #20 02-12-2006, 12:59 PM

Tom W, did you look? Is Startron sufficient by itself?

t walgamuth · #21 02-12-2006, 02:39 PM

been sick so havent been out much.

sorry, but i guess i dont have any fungicide. it is just a general purpose treatment "preventalube" brand name.

it sounds to me like you want the stuff with enzimes though. look at tractor truck or marine stores.

tom w

Ether · #22 02-12-2006, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Sounds great! I called West Marine and asked if Startron is the right stuff for black sludgy fungi in the tank and she says no. She says Startron is a preventive that's added to every tank to prevent fugi growth and that once there's fungi, something like Biobor has to be used to kill it first, then add Startron to prevent it. Is she full of it? Is she trying to sell me more stuff than I need?

Should I drain my tank before filling it with Startron? I'd hate to drain the tank unless I really have to. If I have to drain it what is the best way?

I believe she is full of it or perhaps just misinformed.

Startron will prevent new growth as well as breakdown existing growth so that it can be filtered or burned. No need to drain the tank.

PanzerSD · #23 02-12-2006, 03:50 PM

A Fuel, let alone a lubrican't isn't supposed to be conducive to "life" is it??

Algae (or whatever) is that a Diesel/Biodiesel thing?

didn't bother to read the multiple pages of this thread, so I ask..what problems does it cause??

t walgamuth · #24 02-12-2006, 04:11 PM

yes. diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, and the various oils veggie and such are all subject to being infected with fungi growth. if water is introduced. without water, no, they wont grow anything.

it seems hydrocarbons in addition to being burnable are edible.

as an aside, slate as used in slate roofs, has hydrocarbons between sedimentary layers and as such can be eaten away. when this happens the slate layers come off and eventually threre will be nothing left of the slate.

course, it may take a thousand years or so, but what is a thousand years to a rock?

tom w

didget69 · #25 02-12-2006, 07:50 PM

I'd also recommend purchasing your fuel from truck stops, or high-volume diesel sellers, rather than rural or country fuel stations - the stores that don't move a lot of diesel will tend to have an increased potential for more junk growing in their diesel fuel than stores than pump lots of diesel...

bnc

amccoy · #26 02-17-2006, 01:15 AM

Microbes can, and do, "eat" just about anything they can get energy from breaking down. There may be fewer that can survive on diesel fuel than grow on the leftovers in the back of your fridge, but there are quite a few that do well on Diesel. I personally don't think it is ever possible to completely clear them from your tank, and that most if not all fuel pumps probably have some so you keep adding a few to your tank with every fillup. A few are not a problem though. The problems occur when you get large amounts of growth.
Not only do you then get huge gobs of stuff that clog things up, clumps or biofilms (slimy stuff on surfaces) usually grow better and are harder to kill than stuff floating around. Once it gets out of hand it can create conditions where it can grow even if you are moving fuel through your car. Assuming it hasn't gotten out of hand, then they get sucked out faster than they can grow and there isn't a noticeable problem. They grow faster with warmer temperatures (summer weather) so it is more likely they will grow faster than they are sucked out when the weather is warm. Also, they need water too. They can probably grow slowly without any additional water, but get some water in your tank and you have problems. I suspect they actually grow best in water saturated with hydrocarbons (diesel) rather than on the diesel itself. Anyway, let half a tank of diesel sit during the summer and you have a load of crud in the tank. Buy gas from a station that barely moves its fuel and it probably has more microbes to start with. Not a sure problem, but higher likelyhood than starting with better fuel.
For the record, I am a startron fan myself... and I hope the rest of you never catch on. If everyone starts using it then it is more likely the microbes will develop a resistance and it won't work for me any more.