Black Material in fuel filters....

[Eric]

Ok getting ready to roll again and today put some new fuel filters on. Much to my amazement after nearly 3 sets of filters in less then 10k the darn things are filled with the black gunk again nearly 1/4! I'm thinking this is algea right? it appears to be a "biomass" of some sort . I nearly always seek out biodsl is this the cause? or the bus sitting in a field for a few years prior to us "waking" it up the issue? I've posted time and time again about power loss on here and everyone kept saying filters....so i keep changing them out! I've added some dslclean to the tank several times but i've never actually south out anti alge would i find this in a truck stop?

[Lin]

Among the other possibilities is that the bio diesel you are using is loosening up many years of crud that has accumulated inside the tank.  Bio diesel is supposedly known to do that.  I was told that if you keep changing the filters, eventually it will all be gone.

[JackConrad]

     If it looks and feels like black snot, that is algae.  Look for an algaecide to kill the algae or better yet have your fuel tank cleaned. Sounds like you still have live algae in your fuel tank.  Remember that once you kill the algae with algaecide, you will still need to filter out all the dead algae.
   Algae grows in the interface between water (in the bottom of your fuel tank) and the diesel  fuel.  Eliminate the water/diesel interface and you eliminate the algae. One simple way is to keep your fuel tank full. This helps prevent condensation from forming.  Jack

[buswarrior]

These products are more popularly found at a marine oriented supply.

Truckers don't often get these problems, they don't leave them sit long enough.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[wal1809]

Describe the black substance a little better.  If it is slimy then I would say your grwoing the funk in the tank.  If it is a hard pebble like material then I would suspect the fuel lines.  Here is why.  Be it you are putting bio D in a bus with rubber fuel lines.  If they are not designed to carry the bio D they could very easily be breaking down from the inside first and will later diplay signs on the outside of the lines.  That black material could be the inner lining of the fuel line.

Not a problem with one little bitty exception that is major.  If the lines pre-filter are breaking down then so are the lines post filter.  If it is you could have that same black crap going straight to the fuel injectors from the post filter line.

Propsed fix.  First off get some of the black substance and post a pic here and describe its texture a little better.  If it is the fuel lines and the bus is running good then you can easily replace the post filter fuel line with viton for not a lot of money and then do the others at your earliest convenience.

[bevans6]

Two questions.

How does one stay away from biodiesel?  i thought it was only available to those operating a backyard still, or equivalent, but this sounds like it was from a commercial fuel station?

Why does one run biodiesel, is there a purpose or benefit other than it's free and your bus smells like french fries?      

Brian

[belfert]

I'm wondering where Ekhedge is even finding biodiesel on a regular basis.  I have never seen a B100 pump or even a B20 pump here in the midwest.  I do see plenty of E85 pumps around.

Minnesota does require 2% biodiesel in all diesel fuel and supposedly ratcheting up to 20% over the next few years.

[brando4905]

Could be the fuel lines. I run Biodiesel also, but I replaced all rubber lines with Boston Perfection fuel hose. At the same time I had my fuel tanks sucked out to remove any junk in the bottom. Had all rubber replaced in genset and bigger filtration installed to run biofuel in it.

Why run biodiesel? I do it because I feel I am greatly reducing my carbon footprint. I have children that are growing up in this polluted world, and I want to do everything I can to make it a better place for them. My partner and I also run a green business, so using biofuels makes our company that much more sustainable.

Our petroleum resources are drying up fast. The production of biodiesel can take a waste product and turn it into a usable resource.

I drive my bus from coast to coast a couple of times a year. I have no problems finding biofuel on both sides, but for some reason in the middle of the country, it does seem scarce.






Why not run biodiesel?

[wal1809]

Well first off bio diesel isn't free even if you get the oil free.  You still have production costs like methanol and soda ash.  Bd100 can be obtained at the pump.  You just have to find the pump.  Houston bio diesel in Houston has it.  The question if why run biodiesel.  I don't have that much time to explain all of it but here is a portion.  We are spending billions on crude oversees.  It simply has to stop.  Obviously it will nit stop unless we the people make a change.  Bio diesel alone is not the answer.  The mind set of us looking for alternative energy is a start to energy independence.  I we don't do it nobody will.  I see wind powered hydrogen generators as fuel stations in the long future.  No carbon footprint and completely renewable.  What we have to be careful of is the government gearing our future energy usage from lining their pockets.  Lord knows they are banking on energy costs now.  I don't care if they claim dem or republican they all have their finger in the energy pie and we pay for it.  If the gov. Was not butt deep in it now we would be a whole lot better off.

[eddiepotts]

I just looked up Houston bio diesel thinking with out the taxes and all it should be a way to go. They still want $2.89 a gallon when Walmart still has regular diesel at $2.68. Fossel fules will never go away until you can prove it is more cost efective. I think "like most probly do" I am out to get my bus as far as it can go on the lowest cost. As long as it is safe. When the millitary backs down from needing so much the prices will fall again. Yesterday I did notice Gas at the pump was higher than diesel. I am all for going green but it will have to be in my budget. Not to highjack the thread, I am intrested in whats in the fuel filter. If it is Bio diesel eating the lines it may be one more thing to push me away from it.

[wal1809]

Houston biod has always fluctated with the fuel market.  It is there business and I can't say what I oukd or would not do for I don't have to pay their bills.  They are cashing in on the Grenada market.  If the market allows it then I say go for it.  So far as running it you will eventually have to replace your rubber fuel lines.  I have been studying the fuel lines in my eagle because I am setting up a wvo system as soon as the parts get here. If you are going to run biod and are worried about fuelline break down you can replace the final fuel hose between the secondary filter and the motor.  Replace hr rest one at a time until you get them all done.  So far as hurting your engine the biod won't hurt it.  At the 1500 mile mark on biod you can draw off some oil and send it to a lab for testing the amount of biod in your oil from blow by passing the rings.  That would give you an idea of when or when not to change the oil.

[Eric]

i've had a lot of success with getting 20% bio from the co-ops out west! so not completely bio but i PURPOSELY look for it ! I will go significantly out of my way if i find a station that carries it! I don't do the wvo deal or anything fancy just the stuff i can get from the co-ops! I've found soy a few times too! we like to travel the boonies from Colorado through iowa! so far so good!

Also the black substance has a definitive "biologic" feel too it...slimy, cohesive bonding to it'self..kinda ugh....!

[philiptompkjns]

Well first off bio diesel isn't free even if you get the oil free.  You still have production costs like methanol and soda ash.  Bd100 can be obtained at the pump.  You just have to find the pump.  Houston bio diesel in Houston has it.  The question if why run biodiesel.  I don't have that much time to explain all of it but here is a portion.  We are spending billions on crude oversees.  It simply has to stop.  Obviously it will nit stop unless we the people make a change.  Bio diesel alone is not the answer.  The mind set of us looking for alternative energy is a start to energy independence.  I we don't do it nobody will.  I see wind powered hydrogen generators as fuel stations in the long future.  No carbon footprint and completely renewable.  What we have to be careful of is the government gearing our future energy usage from lining their pockets.  Lord knows they are banking on energy costs now.  I don't care if they claim dem or republican they all have their finger in the energy pie and we pay for it.  If the gov. Was not butt deep in it now we would be a whole lot better off.

I believe the term is balls deep.

[wal1809]

LOL!  It means you had more of tem than I did to put it on the forum.