Diesel Bug

[its.... only me]

I have "acquired" diesel bug in a second hand tractor I purchased from a dealer...... who is now on the case.
He has put some bug killer in the tank, I've filled it up and changed the in- line filter - that has been added, and have been told to work it hard.

Has anyone any experience of this. We're you successful in eradicating it - if so how did you manage it

 

[Macsky]

Does your dealer not have a ‘diesel polishing’ setup? Basically a pump with several filters/water separators that circulates the fuel from the tank at a high flow rate, cleaning it as it goes. I think they’re quite common in leisure marine craft, as they are prone to sitting for long periods during the winter months.

 

[neilo]

I had it in the SP sprayer tank. I treated it with Exocet Anti-bug, which most of the local fuel suppliers stock, changed the filters, and it’s ever been a problem since.

Diesel Anti-Bug Kill Fuel Additive | FAST exocet®

Try Our Diesel Anti-Bug Kill Treatment. A Fuel Soluble Biocide & Preservative. Premium Fuel Additive With A Clean Up Rate of 24-36 Hours. Call exocet® Now On 01743 761415

fastexocet.co.uk

 

[its.... only me]

Does your dealer not have a ‘diesel polishing’ setup? Basically a pump with several filters/water separators that circulates the fuel from the tank at a high flow rate, cleaning it as it goes. I think they’re quite common in leisure marine craft, as they are prone to sitting for long periods during the winter months.

He hasn’t mentioned it, but i’ll ask.
Thanks for reply.

 

[its.... only me]

I had it in the SP sprayer tank. I treated it with Exocet Anti-bug, which most of the local fuel suppliers stock, changed the filters, and it’s ever been a problem since.

Diesel Anti-Bug Kill Fuel Additive | FAST exocet®

Try Our Diesel Anti-Bug Kill Treatment. A Fuel Soluble Biocide & Preservative. Premium Fuel Additive With A Clean Up Rate of 24-36 Hours. Call exocet® Now On 01743 761415

fastexocet.co.uk

It really was that simple then ?
Presumably you treated as soon as you realised you’d got the bug

 

[neilo]

It really was that simple then ?
Presumably you treated as soon as you realised you’d got the bug

Yes, I drained the tank and got as much of the jelly/sludge out as I could by swilling a bit more diesel round in it, then added the chemical to the next fill. I changed the filter again after using the sprayer a couple of times and was expecting to have to do the same again, but it was never an issue again.

I only knew it was there when the filter pretty well blocked up with that sludge/jelly, so it was pretty bad to start. It’s an old Frazier SP sprayer that sits all winter and for weeks at a time during the summer, so ripe for it really.

 

[milkloss]

Depends what solids/jelly is left in the tank. If it’s got debris like straw/hay or whatever in the tank it could be a pain because the bugs make it sticky and can block filters/pipes easily.

If it’s just jelly then what you’ve done so far is fine. See if it clears. If it doesn’t then draining the tank and flushing the cr4p out is the best answer. We drain it into a clean 80kg lick tub under the tractor and pump it back through the tank to flush it out. Can see the debris in the tub usually. Use a 12v barrel pump from Amazon for about 12 quid.

see what the treatment liberates first….. filters might get really gummed up as it all loosens up before it gets better.

 

[Dry Rot]

I just disconnected the fuel line from the tractor fuel tank, ran the fuel into a 5 gallon can, then 'polished' that. Then I put it through again. Continued with that until spotless. No trouble since. Google 'DIY diesel polishing' on Youtube.