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  #16  
Old 02-16-2007, 01:06 AM
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If in the cars 25 year history it sat for a couple of months then you could have fungus ( algae, Just the non light version. I'll get it for this remark) My daughters car had fungus and we have been fighting it for a year now. Once the "fungus is amungus" it can be a pain to kill. So be dilgent about it and use a good herbicide ( biobor or Biokleen) to kill it.

You look at the pre filter in your engine compartment. You do have a prefilter??? don't you??? I like the Fram clear G12 filter. It's large and the plastic is clear. So it's easy to see any contaminates. You can get the at Walmart. The G2 is the filter with clamps. The G12 is without clamps.

Dave

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  #17  
Old 02-16-2007, 06:46 AM
ImBroke's Avatar
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With a siphon pump, you could empty it from the top. As long as you're taking the sender out to clean anyway.
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  #18  
Old 02-16-2007, 08:32 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pselaphid View Post
Or more likely bacteria, though some yeasts will grow there too. Some of the same ones that help clean up tanker spills clog fuel filters. I had good luck with a moderate case using Biobar from West Marine. Took several tanks to clean it up, but seems to be gone now and for about $25 you will get enough to last a long time as a maintenance treatment.

If this doesn't bring it up, do a search in West Marine for "Biobar." I guess a number of products work, but this was locally available.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SiteSearchView?catalogId=10001&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&keyword=biobar&Ntt=biobar&N=0&y=18&x=8&storeId=10001&Ntk=All_2&ddkey=SiteSearch

Ok, well it didn't post the complete link with that edit. Just go to westmarine.com
If you read the Biobor label it specifically says "NOT FOR AUTOMOBILE USE".
Besides Startron works much better.
I had a problem with fungus/algea/bacteria/yeast, whatever you want to call it clogging my filters. Either one of them could live in your tank but back to the subject. I used a double dose of Startron through one tankful and the problem went away. Never even had to change the filters.

As a side benefit Startron boasts cleaning properties and a boost in power.
Read your labels!

Danny
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  #19  
Old 02-16-2007, 09:29 AM
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OK- so I shouldn't go get Biobor? I should just get the Startron tank cleaner instead?

The Startron stuff sounds like it would do the job...
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  #20  
Old 02-16-2007, 09:40 AM
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The biobore (sp, sorry) has a reputation for killing it all and setting it free in big chunks that block your filters. That is not an issue if you are pulling the tank.

The Startron has enzymes that eat/break the stuff up into pieces small enough to get through the filters and be burnt in the engine. Great for regular treatment to get a tank clean and keep it clean. I used the Startron only, but I did not pull my tank.

-Jim
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  #21  
Old 02-16-2007, 11:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cavaliers16 View Post
OK- so I shouldn't go get Biobor? I should just get the Startron tank cleaner instead?

The Startron stuff sounds like it would do the job...
The tank cleaner and fuel additive are 2 seperate things. You can use the tank cleaner but you definitely want the fuel additive for a full tank or 2.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jadavis
The biobore (sp, sorry) has a reputation for killing it all and setting it free in big chunks that block your filters. That is not an issue if you are pulling the tank.

The Startron has enzymes that eat/break the stuff up into pieces small enough to get through the filters and be burnt in the engine. Great for regular treatment to get a tank clean and keep it clean. I used the Startron only, but I did not pull my tank.
Exactly
I didn't pull my tank, tank strainer or filters. Didn't need to.
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  #22  
Old 02-16-2007, 03:00 PM
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So do I really need to pull the tank? If the Startron tank cleaner will dissolve it can I just put a double dose of the cleaner in the tank, or would it be better to pull it and pressure wash it?

It is still cold and I would not want to drain the tank if I don't have to.
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  #23  
Old 02-16-2007, 04:25 PM
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I woild biobor it and bring a case of spare filters along for the trip
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  #24  
Old 02-17-2007, 01:26 AM
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Considering how bad your case is, I suspect that just using Startron is not going to be as effective as it might be if you had a moderate algae/fungus problem.

Apparently many of us tend to treat our tanks to try to prevent problems, using maintenance doses of various biocides.
In my old car, I would use a light dose of Biobor with every other tank, and if it was going to be parked for very long it would get a heavy dose with the last fill up before I stored it. That way, it was well mixed in, toxic to growing stuff, and there was little to no air space to have condensation problems with.

This all having been said, your intent of draining your tank and cleaning it is likely the best route, considering the severity of the problem in your tank.

On the fuel that you are going to have sitting from this.. If you just added it, and really can't bear the thought of wasting it, you might try treating the buckets with a heavy dose of the biocide and letting them sit.
Once the dead organisms hopefully die and settle out, you could possibly siphon or pump the 'clean' fuel off the top to use in some manner.
Unless you are sure that you'd killed off the nasties, you would be risking restarting the culture in your tank.

If the fuel is old, from when it was stored, it's likely not in all that great of condition in the first place, and not much of a loss to be disposing of.
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  #25  
Old 03-19-2007, 04:31 PM
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I've got to revive this thread. I've got some more problems.

I bought the Startron tank cleaner. It took three filter changes before the filters stopped clogging. The car ran well from then until last weekend. After about a month of driving, the filter had a few little particles in it, so I took it out and put in a new one. The filter was not a Bosch one (as my previous ones have been) but I bought it from FastLane. It is a HEB or something along those lines. Anyway, the car has been running poorly ever since the change (or at least near the change (the two events may be totally coincidental, but I figured I'd mention it anyway). I figured that it must be the tank again. Last weekend, I pulled the tank, brought it to a car wash, and pressure washed the he!! out of it. I dried the tank and moved it around until there was no water left (I felt around to be sure). Pretty much nothing came out of the tank when I pressure washed it, so that is not the problem. The tank screen was fine too. I filled it up with diesel and it won't run. It will run on veggie just fine, but as soon as I move the valves back to diesel it sputters and dies. This suggests that the lift pump and IP are fine. The rubber fuel lines must be fine too because they are used for veggie and that works. The clear prefilter won't even fill up with diesel. It just sits there empty. The primer pump won't pump diesel (it will pump veggie if I switch to veggie) into the filter.

The problem must be between the tank strainer and the rubber lines in the engine bay. This would suggest to me that something (metal fuel line) is clogged. Has this ever happened to anyone? I am really sick of this thing doing this, but I can't see those fuel lines clogging up, especially a month after I fixed the fungus problem. If the line is clogged I'll need to shoot compressed air through the lines, right?

Bah- I'm going outside to fix some other stuff.
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  #26  
Old 03-19-2007, 04:40 PM
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you may have a crimped fuel line....
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  #27  
Old 03-19-2007, 04:59 PM
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Well there's yer problem...

Quote:
Originally Posted by benzforlife View Post
you may have a crimped fuel line....
Yep. Bingo.

I went outside to do a differential fluid change and guess what?

Pic tells all.



That's about a 9.0 on my stupid mistake-o-meter. I just can't believe I've driven all over the place with the Vise-Grips on the fuel line. I used them to keep the fuel from spilling everywhere when I filled it back up and connected the rubber hose to the steel lines and I must have forgotten to remove them.

At least they didn't fall off.
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Last edited by cavaliers16; 05-21-2007 at 09:20 PM. Reason: spelling
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  #28  
Old 03-19-2007, 06:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cavaliers16 View Post



That's about a 9.0 on my stupid mistake-o-meter.
At least they didn't fall off.
I'm thinking 9.5 Thanks for the lol
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  #29  
Old 03-20-2007, 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by tarbe View Post
I'm thinking 9.5 Thanks for the lol
9.5 could do it. If those things had fallen off I never would have heard the end of it- those are my dad's tools.
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  #30  
Old 03-20-2007, 03:13 PM
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mmmmmm Diesel...
 
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Losing someone else's tools rates a 12 on the 1-10 scale...

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