350 cummins diesel with algae

[wayne watts]

I was going on about a 220 mile trip. I stopped about 20 miles from my home and put my credit card into the diesel pump all it would let me have was $100.00 of diesel about 27 gallons. I new with what I had I could make it to my destination however I got about 20 miles down the road and it started skipping no pulling power I thought I had picked up water. I could not drive but about 25 miles an hour I finally made it to a garage and they changed my fuel filter and everything seemed fine until I started home I filled up before leaving the coast when I got about 100 miles up the road my problems came back it was on a sunday could not find a garage or even a filter I did make it home 7 hrs later. I took it to a local diesel garage to find out I had lots of algae in my tank in my lines in my lift pump and had even made it to a sensor. They let it sit over night then they drained at least 3 gals of slim from the tank then they pumped all the fuel out in into clean plastic barrels after replacing the lift pump blowing out the lines and changed the sensor and spending 2400.00 dollars all I have driven it is about 20 miles it seems to be ok I just hope it doesn't come back

[Hooligan]

Wayne: Welcome to IRV-2
The algae/slime is a by-product from bacteria and fungus growing between the water and the fuel. Some of the bacteria may still be in the fuel and coating the tank..
Check with that diesel shop and see if they added a biocide to kill the bacteria. If not, you probably need a biocide to keep the algae from coming back. There are several brands, Power Service makes "Bio Kleen" that is supposed to be effective. (It is an "insecticide" of sorts so don't overtreat) It's also a good idea to stock up on fuel filters until all the algae producers are removed. Getting rid of all the water was a good first step. BIO KLEEN® DIESEL FUEL BIOCIDE: A dual-phase biocide to kill microbes, bacteria and fungus.
Usually at the first sign of losing power, replacing the filter will get you back on the road.
Once the tanks are clean, you probably won't need to continue the biocide, try to always store the tank full of fuel, less room for condensation to form.

Hope this helps

[Mr_D]

Good advice

[hogdriver]

I recently traded a 02 Monaco that I got some algae contaminated fuel a month or so after Katrina at a truck stop in Lousiana. I tried all sorts of additives and changed filters 2-3 times a year. I got good at doing it myself! Finally another RV-er recommended "Lucas Oil Biocide" . Like a previous post said I think any brand of Biocide is okay. The folks with diesel yachts use this stuff and it works great. I think a gallon jug was $25 and it will treat 1000 gal. I added a pint or so to every tank and eventually the algae was gone. It also is very important to keep your tank as full as possible when not in use so there is little air and surface area for algae to grow.