Since we seen a certain of people struggle with the issue of diesel bacteria we made this topic to show, learn and prevent you and your boat against diesel bacteria, sometimes called diesel algae. We are able to help you out with this kind of problems which can made a mess in your boating.
Diesel fuel runs well when it’s clean, so you want to keep it that way. One worry of diesel tank owners involves worry over algae in the tank and you may have even wondered “Is there algae in my diesel fuel?”
Let’s say you look into a diesel fuel tank and find a dark sludge. Is this algae? It’s not algae but a buildup of undesirable microbes that need testing, treating, and prevention for the future.
MICROBES, NOT ALGAE
If you think you have algae in your diesel fuel tank, think again. Algae require sunlight for its growth. A tank is closed and dark, so algae couldn’t grow inside.Microbes, including mold, fungus and bacteria can get inside your diesel fuel tank and grow, creating biomass, which is the technical term for the sludge that you might think is algae.
Is there water in your diesel fuel tank? Water creates favorable conditions for unwanted microbes. Water may have gotten into your tank or may have separated from the fuel. The water forms a layer below the fuel. The microbes that get in the tank grow in between the layers. The source and components of today’s diesel fuel, including biofuels, contribute to these favorable growth conditions. The microbes can grow rapidly, clog your engine filter, create engine stalling, cause performance issues and lead to damage that’s expensive to repair. It’s important to know what you have in your tank to treat it properly before damage occurs.