Algae in fuel tank

[ayersml]

Has anyone ever had issues with algae in your fuel tank(s)? I have 1993 350 Convertable with twin 3116 CATs and have an algae issue which requires immediate treatment. My mechanic has recommended AGX to treat it.

Thanks,
Michael

[EXECUTIONER]

I purchased by 28 from the states and it came with massive amounts of algae.
Any biocide does work but the whatever you do dont use racor filters to fine. I now run two racors per engine so when one stops all I have to do is move a valve and away I go again. Unfortunately my middle fuel tank was able to be fuel pollish {dont know what you call it in the us} but my front tank still has a problem.
Ive beeen told that empty the tank and put some straight "petrol" "gas" in the tank and let it slush around for a couple of weeks, then suck it out and it should be fine. I havent tried this but I have been told it works. We just finished summer point score and now were are into winter point score which finishes at the end of August. This is when ill try it.I have tried everthing and spent $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ nothing has fixed the problem completely. If you work it out tell me.
Cheers
Richard

[Douglas Fairchild]

You should use a multi stage fuel filter setup. 30 mic to a 10 mic to a last chance filter on engine at 2 mic. Using engine for about eight hours should allow filters to filter out all the gunk. Keep extra sets of filters on boat. Use fleetguards or Baldwin filters. Racors are too messy to use. Check out boatdiesel.com.

[irishrogue]

assuming that you dont have the option to have the fuel removed and cleaned by a mobile unit, the first thing you need to do is kill the algae. any diesel biocide will do this. we use pri-d biocide. there are others. i believe they all work...

once the algae is killed, it wont continue to grow/spread. but once dead, now it will be running through your lines and needs to be filtered. assuming you have racors with a 10 or 30micron filter before the 2 mic cat filters, plan on them clogging up 1 or more times over the next few hours of running depending on how much algae is in the tank. you might run a few hours before they clog or it could be much less depending on how much is in the tank...in any event you need spare racors on hand and some clean fuel to fill up them up unless you have a primers installed on the racors.

if you dont have filters before the cat filters, i would say you need to get the fuel removed and polished. the cat filters will clog really quickly....

good luck.

in the warmer months you should always pretreat diesel with a biocide unless you are running the boat constantly and burning a full tank every week or two....

[Artcruise]

I have 3126 Cats in my 2000 360 Conv. which had an algae issue. Removed fuel gauge pickup and pulled as much water out of tank as I could then installed an RCI filter ahead of my Racors. These filters do not have elements but remove most water and contamination from fuel before it hits the Racors. Drain the filter regularly and the problem seems to be resolved. I also use the Racor Biocide when fueling.

RCI Filter web site is http://www.rcitechnologies.com/.

Good Luck

Art