Algae and bio-contaminants otherwise known as “The Fuel Bug” are an ever increasing problem in diesel fuels – especially where fuel can be left standing for long periods such is in domestic heating oil tanks or agricultural yard tanks used to fuel the vehicles and machines used by farmers in agriculture.
These bugs thrive at the interface between fuel and water. There is always some water in fuel, the air space above the fuel in tanks contains water vapour. The walls of the tanks are cool and the water vapour condenses on these surfaces. Fungal infestation can ‘spoil’ the fuel and the sludge and residue is drawn into the engine, quickly clogging filters, causing loss of power, narrowing fuel lines and eventually leading to engine breakdown. The damage does not stop there. A portion of sludge adheres to the inner walls of the tank and fuel lines producing corrosive hydrogen sulphide that causes metal defects and pitting of the injectors and fuel related components. These micro-organisms will also consume rubber gaskets, O-rings, hoses, tank linings and coatings in an effort to obtain their mineral content.
As we move to a “greener” age, government regulations are imposing a greater and greater percentage of fuel be produced from bio sources this introduces new problems and more bio-contaminants into the fuel – further increasing the risk of fungal growth.
ADERCO 5000 completely separates any water from the fuel and leaves a thin layer of the product between the two, essentially starving the bio-contaminants of an environment where they could multiply.