Eco-diesel Alert

[BULLBLASTER]

I’m not a deisel guy but is the green fluid floating above the dark deisel?
Or are they both unknowns?

[Magnum_Willys]

Did they pull a fuel sample? Usually should be step 1. No sense in fixing anything without at least knowing what’s in the tank.

Not sure, when I replaced filter it looked like pure diesel coming out of drain.   I got a decent trade-in on it as-is so drove home yesterday with a new one WITH an extended warranty.   They are going to replace the fuel system and tank and hope there is no engine damage they said but who knows - they may just clean the screen and auction it off

[bearpaw]

What are some of the more common contaminants to get in a diesel fuel tank? Just wanting to know what to look out for? I'm running a 2005 Dodge 5.9 and a 2003 Ford 7.3.

[jackelope]

I’m not a deisel guy but is the green fluid floating above the dark deisel?
Or are they both unknowns?

The stuff on top is diesel fuel. The stuff on the bottom is unknown.

[jackelope]

Did they pull a fuel sample? Usually should be step 1. No sense in fixing anything without at least knowing what’s in the tank.

Not sure, when I replaced filter it looked like pure diesel coming out of drain.   I got a decent trade-in on it as-is so drove home yesterday with a new one WITH an extended warranty.   They are going to replace the fuel system and tank and hope there is no engine damage they said but who knows - they may just clean the screen and auction it off

Without a fuel sample, their diagnosis is pointless. Guess it doesn't matter at this point. I'd be willing to bet that problem wouldn't be covered under any warranty unless a fuel sample was pulled and shown to not be the cause.

What are some of the more common contaminants to get in a diesel fuel tank? Just wanting to know what to look out for? I'm running a 2005 Dodge 5.9 and a 2003 Ford 7.3.

The most common thing I've seen is gas. DEF, water, gas, and then the folks who don't know. Maybe bad fuel from a pump but that's super rare. More than anything it's gas. I had a construction company truck from the guys building the new 520 bridge that filled the same truck up with gasoline twice from the gas station. Almost $19k in repairs.

[Mudman]

Not that rare, it happened to me.  Bacteria feed on fuel somehow.  Bacteria poop builds sludge in tanks at stations.  Reason there is a filter on pumps the big rigs use..

[jackelope]

Not that rare, it happened to me.  Bacteria feed on fuel somehow.  Bacteria poop builds sludge in tanks at stations.  Reason there is a filter on pumps the big rigs use..

Oh yeah I've seen the bacteria thing too. Also in the older cab/chassis trucks we had the tanks delaminate on the inside. Crud from that clogs fuel filters, lack of fuel causes HP pump to fail. If it's a 6.7, replace the HP fuel system.

[jackelope]

Not that rare, it happened to me.  Bacteria feed on fuel somehow.  Bacteria poop builds sludge in tanks at stations.  Reason there is a filter on pumps the big rigs use..

If you mean fuel quality from the pump is not that rare, I can tell you that I see on average 50 vehicles a day through here and couldn't tell you the last time I had a verifiable actual fuel quality issue as in bad fuel from a gas station. I've had a maybe here and there, but that's about it.

[slowhand]

Not that rare, it happened to me.  Bacteria feed on fuel somehow.  Bacteria poop builds sludge in tanks at stations.  Reason there is a filter on pumps the big rigs use..

If you mean fuel quality from the pump is not that rare, I can tell you that I see on average 50 vehicles a day through here and couldn't tell you the last time I had a verifiable actual fuel quality issue as in bad fuel from a gas station. I've had a maybe here and there, but that's about it.

I work at a Toyota Dealer and would agree with this from the gas engine perspective.
Only know of a fuel station serving up water filled fuel once in 20 years of working on cars as a professional. 
Everyone in the area was aware of it, and every shop in the area had one or more vehicles in for the concern.
Fuel station payed for all of them. $$$$$$

[jackelope]

Not that rare, it happened to me.  Bacteria feed on fuel somehow.  Bacteria poop builds sludge in tanks at stations.  Reason there is a filter on pumps the big rigs use..

Have you algae tested your fuel tank?

[Mudman]

No this was in 2007.  I put fuel in, noticed it was very slow so stopped at 5 gallons.  after about 15 miles I lost an injector it seemed.  We drained 8 gallons from tank.  Let bucket settle over night and 1/3 was milky slurry with chunks dunno.  Took it to shop.  They did full fuel system cleanse n confirmed cont. fuel.  Then replaced 2 more inj after I did 2 before.  Then claimed pcm was bad.  Did that next.  Then they claim uh oh dunno maybe pump?  I tool to a Diesel specialty and had other 4 inj done plus re install first 4 as precaution.  Ran perfect.  I confronted store owner 2 days after fuel was bought and I had drained crap out of my tank.  The Fuel techs had closed all diesel pumps and were cleaning them, told me it had been years since done.  The owner tackled me and fight(He wasn't winning) was on.  Police came gave me case # and took security cam tape as I requested.  When I call Prosecuter they informed me this had never happened, no case no tape no records.  Later found out Sherriff was buddy of store owner.  over $5k spent and lucky I never saw the guy on dark dusty road.  He was a crook and sold store soon after.  So ya things do happen.  Avoid back road low volume fuel stations and or run filter.  Wish I had then but I didn't know better.

[Timberstalker]

No this was in 2007.  I put fuel in, noticed it was very slow so stopped at 5 gallons.  after about 15 miles I lost an injector it seemed.  We drained 8 gallons from tank.  Let bucket settle over night and 1/3 was milky slurry with chunks dunno.  Took it to shop.  They did full fuel system cleanse n confirmed cont. fuel.  Then replaced 2 more inj after I did 2 before.  Then claimed pcm was bad.  Did that next.  Then they claim uh oh dunno maybe pump?  I tool to a Diesel specialty and had other 4 inj done plus re install first 4 as precaution.  Ran perfect.  I confronted store owner 2 days after fuel was bought and I had drained crap out of my tank.  The Fuel techs had closed all diesel pumps and were cleaning them, told me it had been years since done.  The owner tackled me and fight(He wasn't winning) was on.  Police came gave me case # and took security cam tape as I requested.  When I call Prosecuter they informed me this had never happened, no case no tape no records.  Later found out Sherriff was buddy of store owner.  over $5k spent and lucky I never saw the guy on dark dusty road.  He was a crook and sold store soon after.  So ya things do happen.  Avoid back road low volume fuel stations and or run filter.  Wish I had then but I didn't know better.

You can’t say you didn’t get your moneys worth on that tank of fuel!  Lol.

[Mudman]

Ya it really sucked the $!  Poor mpg.   I ALWAYS run a good filter now..

[Magnum_Willys]

I was slacking on changing filter - may have contributed to problem.

[jackelope]

I was slacking on changing filter - may have contributed to problem.

How many miles since the last filter change?