algae clogging diesel fuel filters

I have an International 8100 with a C10 CAT I use to pull my horse trailer. A couple of weeks ago it would barely run (fortunately I was bob tailing at the time)...being no mechanic, I took it to my diesel guys and the fuel filter (the one at the front of the engine with the replacable element) was almost completely clogged with algae. I had both filters changed, problem solved. The mechanic said that this was an issue with the low sulphur diesel fuel.

My question: What is a good additive to keep this from happening again...I have two Dodge 3500's with 5.9 Cummings and have not had any problem to date, nor have I had this problem with my MF165 or MF285.

There are a few different brands of fuel treatments for this problem, and I buy mine at the local oil wholesaler.

Algie isn't indicitive to just the ULSD, it was growing in fuel tanks long before low sulfur, or the ULSD ever hit the market. That said, if your still running several days after changing the filter then I doubt seriously algie is your problem. The new fuel I'm seeing is some of the nastiest stuff I have ever seen and when a customer calls me now with certain symptoms the first thing I tell them is to change the fuel filters and call me back if the problem doesn't go away. I can't recall one call back in close to a year of doing this. Heck I've been on two different jobs laterly where the engine on another machine lost power, etc and when I was asked to check it out all I had to do was change the filter for them.

Now if you actually do have algie in the fuel the only way to get rid of it is to kill it with a boicide made specifically for that purpose. Nothing else will work, I've seen people try everything from steam to clorox, and everything in between, and NOTHING else acually kills it to where it won't come back with a vengance within a few days. There are several different brands of biocide on the market nowdays but I've only had experience with Bio-bore, and I know it works. Thing is once introduced into the tank you better keep several filters on hand all the time because as the algie dies off it will clog a filter so fast it'll make your head spin. I watched it clog a sock filter that was 4 inches in diameter and about 3 feet long within less than 30 minutes, so you can imagine what it will do to a cartridge filter that is alot smaller and has alot finer micron rating than a sock filter has.

That said the biocide will kill algie, but there is nothing on the market additive wise that will remove all of the other gunk from the fuel that's showing up in our filters nowdays. But, hey, that's big business for you. Give you a product with less BTU's of power, that's nastier than ever before, and charge more than they have ever charged for it......and have wonderful governmental bodies like the EPA slapping them on the back for doing it because using more of it, creating more waste with dirty fiters, etc, etc makes us all environmentally friendly ........

Good luck, and I hope all you've got is dirty fuel and not algie because that mess can be a real PITA...

I agree with Wayne that a diesel fuel conditioner with Biocide or I heard of using formaldehyde. Moisture(water) in diesel fuel causes algae.

Had a terrible time with a new Volvo. I finally got something from Napa to kill the Algae. I don't remember the name but I believe it was their brand and it worked very good and quick. I couldn't drive 2 miles with out plugging the fuel filter. Good Luck

Do you have a tractor supply company near by? I"ll recommend 3, with 2 being cheaper. There is a Howse lubricator (large clear bottle with brown liquid. Then there is PS or power services in a gray bottle. Last is stanadyne performance formula;it is most expensive and treats the least amount of fuel.Try one of the first two i mentioned.

I have read enough horror stories this winter about algae in diesel so I did some research and the only way to kill algae is with a biocide, there are many good fuel additives for anti jell etc. but to kill algae it takes a biocide. I found a product called Bio-Bore at a marine dealer and I will use it from now on in my farm fuel. It's about $28 to treat 1000 gallons for prevention. Google it to get info.