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Algae in fuel tank

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Old 06-19-2011 | 06:52 PM
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Default Algae in fuel tank

I've got some nasty build up of algae scale in my gas tank. My filters are plugged after 8 hours of run time. Any suggestion as to what I can dump in the tank to kill this stuff... I've been searching the web but all I can find is products for Diesel, nothing for Gas. Any suggestions.

Last edited by endeavour32; 06-19-2011 at 07:08 PM.
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Old 06-19-2011 | 08:40 PM
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I have used Lucas quite a few times on cars and trucks always worked great dont know what it would do in your situation with the algea. Might check their web sight you never know or call them im sure they have a R&D tech maybe pick their brains good luck sounds like a real mess
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Old 06-19-2011 | 08:47 PM
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Are you sure its not a pure gas then e10 issue? I find it hard to beileive alge would live in a fuel environment.
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Old 06-19-2011 | 09:00 PM
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What I'm dealing with is a dark flake scale that varies in size from a grain of sand to a 1/4" and about the thickness of a sheet of paper. When it dries its a light green color. I really don't know what it is other than its causing me all sorts of grief and I've had about enough. I just assumed it was algae any suggestions as to what else it could be and how to deal with it.
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Old 06-19-2011 | 09:06 PM
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That sucks, I'm not the expert on this but I find it hard to beleive its a growth. This may take some time to work out.
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Old 06-20-2011 | 09:50 AM
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It sounds like some type of scale or corrosion from inside the fuel tank. I am assuming you have an aluminum fuel tank in the boat, right? If the boat was left sitting for a long time outside without a full tank, it is possible that a lot of moisture built up on the inside walls of the tank. You may have to pull the sender and get a look at the inside of the tank to determine what is going on. I know that copper oxidizes to a blue/green color, but I always thought aluminum oxidizes white. I have also read that the ethanol in today's fuel is causing some fiberglass tanks to break down, but this usually results in a jelly-like substance in the filters and strainers.

Good luck.
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Old 06-20-2011 | 09:56 AM
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To me it sounds like water, you either have rust in the tank or corrosion or if you have algae its because of excess water or moisture in there. I doubt there is a algae that can live in pur gasoline environ ment
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Old 06-20-2011 | 10:10 AM
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I have heard of people having trouble with the switch to e10 fuel. With pure gas a sludge can build up in the tank, when the ethanol is introduced in the tank it cleans out the sludge. You may just have to keep changing filters untill it clears out. Good luck with the problem...
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Old 06-20-2011 | 11:04 AM
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you can absolutely get algea, fungi, and other bacterias growing in fuel. typically its more common in diesel fuel but it can occur in gasoline also. i have a diesel truck and run additive in very tank to prevent stuff like that from growing in it.

this stuff would do what you want but is damn expensive?? you may be able to find it in smaller quanties somehow?? i'm not sure how you would easily get all the crap out of your tank though after you kill it all?



http://www.microbikill.com/microbikill.html
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Old 06-20-2011 | 11:08 AM
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never heard of it in gas...diesel for sure....sounds like alcohol fuel that broke down from sitting...seen plenty of that !!!!
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