What is a diesel bug?

Diesel bug is a single microorganism or a consortium (group) of microorganisms that grow on fuels. It includes bacteria, filamentous moulds and yeasts. They feed on the hydrocarbons in the fuel and create biomass, biofilms and damaging by-products.

How do you fix a diesel bug?

Ideally, using exocet Anti-Bug to treat the diesel bug is the best option. To 'kill' or 'shock treat' the infestation thetreat rate is 1 litre treats 5,000 litres of fuel and then it is advised to treat using a maintenance protection dose of 1 litre to treat 20,000 litres of fuel.

What Colour is diesel bug?

Once built up, diesel bug often has the appearance of slime. Its colour depends on the type of bug, varying from a dark brown to a blackish shade. It often smells like rotten eggs.

What is Petrolbug?

Water is heavier than the fuel, so it collects at the bottom of the tanks where it creates a perfect environment for bacteria, fungi and algae to grow. Collectively these create the problem known as fuel bug (or diesel bug). These microbes survive at the interface between the fuel and the water.

What causes diesel fuel to jail?

Diesel fuel gelling happens when the paraffin usually present in diesel starts to solidify when the temperature drops. At 32 degrees, the wax in liquid form will crystallize and leave the fuel tank clouded. At 10-15 degrees, it will finally start to gel and clog the tank and fuel filters.

ep 46 We talk about Diesel Bug, and what treatment we use. #dieselbug

What temp does diesel Ungel?

Untreated diesel fuel will start to gel at just 32 degrees and be fully gelled around 15 degrees. The term “gelling” means that the diesel fuel literally turns into a hard, paste like wax. This substance obviously cannot be pumped into fuel lines, pumps or injectors, so the vehicle will not run.

At what temp does diesel freeze?

It's right at the freezing mark, 32 degrees Fahrenheit, that the paraffin in diesel fuel begins to stiffen, leaving the fuel tank clouded. Although this change won't prevent you from driving, it serves as a warning of how colder weather affects fuel.

Does Diesel deteriorate over time?

The more it's exposed to heat, the more quickly it will go off. As for diesel, it can remain usable for between six and 12 months before becoming 'gummy' which, if used, can clog up filters and cause you issues with your engine.

How do I know if I have diesel bug?

The thick concentration of diesel bug can look like slime. Its colour may depend on the type of bug, so you can find it to be a dark brown or blackish colour. The bug lives in the layer between water and fuel and may give off a smell reminiscent of rotten eggs.

How fast does diesel bug grow?

A colony can double in size in 20-30 minutes. One cell can multiply into 2 million in 7 hours. Bacteria will degrade quality fuel over time.

How do I get rid of diesel bugs in my boat?

Perham says there is really only one foolproof way to eradicate diesel bug from your tanks and that is to empty and clean them. On smaller boats it might be possible to remove the tank but on larger ones the diesel tanks are usually inbuilt.

What happens if water gets in diesel fuel?

Just like oil and water, diesel and water don't mix – they separate. So, if there's water in your tank, it settles to the bottom. That water will cause your tank to rust and algae to grow. The rust floats around, clogging and damaging your fuel filters.

Are diesel bugs real?

Diesel bug is a single microorganism or a consortium (group) of microorganisms that grow on fuels. It includes bacteria, filamentous moulds and yeasts. They feed on the hydrocarbons in the fuel and create biomass, biofilms and damaging by-products.

How do you get rid of diesel fuel fungus?

A diesel fuel biocide. This dual-phased (effective in both diesel fuel and water) biocide kills microbes in fuel, including bacteria and fungus. Use this product to rid your fuel system of microbial contamination. Bio Kleen Diesel Fuel Biocide kills microbes in diesel fuel.

What causes sludge in diesel fuel tank?

Tank sludge is caused by rust, dirt and oxidation of hydrocarbons in oil. It is more likely to form when water is in the fuel – and water can cause microorganisms to grow which can badly contaminate fuel. These microbes sink to the bottom of the tank and build up with dirt or rust and form sludge.

Is 10 year old diesel fuel still good?

' In reality, there is no expiration date on diesel per se, but the performance of your diesel fuel is affected the longer you store it. In fact, storing diesel without properly treating it can lead to all kinds of issues, not only for the fuelitself, but for any vehicle you decide to put the fuel in later.

How long can diesel fuel sit?

Under ideal conditions, diesel fuel can be stored between six and twelve months. To extend the life past twelve months, even under the best conditions, it needs to be treated with fuel stabilizers and biocides.

How long can a diesel engine last?

But an amazing fact is that diesel engines can run for 1,000,000-1,500,000 miles before needing any major diesel repairs. If kept well-maintained, a diesel engine can be driven for about 30 years or more.

Do gas stations add anti-gel to diesel fuel?

Diesel fuel anti-gels are simply added to the fuel (just drop it in the fuel tank). Anti-gels drop the freezing point of diesel fuel so that it is less likely to freeze in cold temperatures.

Will kerosene hurt a diesel engine?

Kerosene will burns fine in most diesel engines without harming them. In fact, many newer diesel engines list kerosene as an approved fuel. Kerosene is made from a distilling process that makes it a pure fuel. This means that it has no additives like diesel does.

Can diesel gel while driving?

The fuel tanks can actually gel while driving. Diesel fuel gelling happens when the paraffin usually present in diesel starts to solidify when the temperature drops. To help prevent this from happening, it is important to always treat your fuel system with a reputable anti-gel additive.

Why do diesel truck drivers leave their trucks running?

Truckers, both independent owner-operators and fleet drivers, leave their engines idling for three main reasons: weather conditions, economic pressures, and old habits. In cold weather, a truck's engine and fuel tank need to stay warm.

Does gelled diesel thaw?

Use to liquefy frozen or gelled diesel fuel caused by wax formation or ice crystals in cold weather. Quick-Thaw will completely thaw the entire fuel system in about 20 minutes when used according to directions.