Diesel Bug Kills Excavator !!.. Lets fix it
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- čas přidán 9. 06. 2023
- I was making a walking track with my Yanmar Vio17 mini digger, it started running rough then died.. I found some black slime in the diesel filter so figured there must be diesel bug in the fuel tank..
Diesel Bug info - nzmcd.co.nz/stories/debugging... - Jak na to + styl
For those that didn't know:
Diesel bug is a single microorganism or a consortium (group) of microorganisms that grow on fuels.
It includes bacteria, filamentous moulds and yeasts. They feed on the hydrocarbons in the fuel and create biomass, biofilms and damaging by-products.
These microorganisms will live very happily in even the smallest amounts of water, often from condensation, and at the interface of fuel and water, where they can create thick mats known as biomass. They can also coat surfaces and ‘climb’ up storage tank walls by creating what we know as biofilm.
Diesel bug is often called diesel fungus or algae-though, in reality, it has nothing to do with algae.
thankyou:)
Cheers mate this is very useful information!
Thank you ! = )
Wait… are you telling me that diesel is technically biodegradable?
That is why with each fill up I add a liter of alcohol to my tank. The alcohol combines with the water then combines with the diesel. That liter is added to a 153 liter tank so don't go adding a liter of alcohol to ten liters of diesel or expect it to do bad things to your engine.
For people that aren't willing to learn how to work on machines, something like that is the reason machines get abandoned or sold really cheap. I think videos like this are so helpful for people to learn there's nothing to be afraid of, it's all nuts and bolts plus common sense for the most part.
The old Wekas are loving that you have been stirring up the bugs and critters for them to have a feed on
Cool Marty. Fun seeing the birds at lap up the non-diesel bugs at the end 😊
Judging on the questions about the Weka eating the bugs, you are clearly going to have to do an episode on the local wildlife Marty.
I once had to start a siphon to get rid of a 26 gallon gas tank full of decade-old varnished gasoline. Got a mouthful of the stuff before spitting it out and vomiting for several minutes. Blowing into a tank to clear a line sounds absolutely lovely by comparison.
Weka's chasing a Kiwi on a digger. Nice video catch of them👍
I'm in the US.
You are living the dream!
Beautiful surroundings, tinkering with projects and digging in the forest.
Whenever Marty excavates in the woods, those birds "ah yes, the buffet monster is here".
Friend brought a Toyota Dyna tipper around, said it wouldn't rev. Apparently another friend of his had bypassed the filters with an electric pump to sort it out.
I found bug jelly in the line, and presume it's been forced through the injector pump and injectors. Might be lucky and find a 2H replacement that isn't worth more than this trusty rusty work horse.
Was driving old smokey across the farm when I found out someone hadn't done up the tailshaft bolts. Some days are more exciting than they should be..
Nothing's finer than being in a Dyna!
I’m always amazed at how you always, Always manage to get any old or simply just a little older, Up and running.
We always fuel up at the end of each day, making sure the tanks are full (stops condensation in the tanks). The condensation encourages the bacteria to grow. Filling with jerry cans can be a problem if you use all the contents (sediment and moisture can be at the bottom of the can).
Well, the birds at the end were happy with the "Bug's" you were uncovering.
I love the birds following you around getting all the grubs out of the fresh soil 😁👍
I believe they are Weka (Weka is both singular and plural - like sheep or deer)
@@tutekohe1361 as c'mon.. there'll always be sheeps...😂
@@tutekohe1361 Joke time:
Q: What do you call a deer with no eyes?
A: No eye deer.
@@davidrobert2007 Q: What do you call a deer with no eyes and no legs
A: Still no idea
Amazing how much work those little diggers can do
Certainly makes me in awe of the Navvies from years ago that did that type of work using only hand tools!
Doesn't surprise me there being crap in the tank ..a Flush of the tank and system will do it good ..
Can't wait to see more videos. Enjoyed watching 😊
Great Job Marty T on finding the Bug that was in ur tank. yea, a good clean-out would be good..
Great stuff Marty , looks like the local wildlife took care of the other bugs for you . Cheers .
I was thinking the same thing! lol.
What was that thing that crawled across the screen at :58??
@@andyrobinson339 Looks like one of the birds we saw at the end but from that angle it could be seen as a giant rat
@@andyrobinson339 I know, my first thought was possum ,it was big, but at the end are those Weka, but they are smaller than whatever it was at 0.58
@@mac4boys541it was a Weka, they can get quite big depending on how well fed they are 👍.
Nosey wekas, they are very cheeky and inquisitive birds..... looks like the little digger is working well.
I work at a car dealership and had this issue a handful of times. Mostly with new cars that sat in the comfy and warm showroom for quite some time, allowing bacteria to grow...
The problem with modern common rail diesels is the bug will eventually reach the HP pump and the injectors, clogging them up or destroying them.
The only solution is to change the complete fuel system, from filler neck all the way up to and including the injectors. If you don't, the problem will repeat itself, clogging the injectors up with more bacteria or metal shavings from the grinding HP pump.
I'm glad for you this excavator was a bit simpler to fix. 👍🏻
But if it was me, I would try to take the fuel tank out and at least give it a proper clean with the pressure washer.
Good to see there's still plenty of Wekas cruising around in the bush.
I was not expecting the noise it would make when you blew into the fuel line! Like blowing bubbles in a glass of milk lmao
Marty, I really appreciate the "ease" and manner you show toward diagnosing a problem. Sharing your knowledge of anything mechanical and showing the methodical way you deal with any issue is deeply appreciated. I always look forward to watching you work. Also, thanks for caring for the environment. Discarding fuel properly, for example, is a reminder that we can all do our part to protect "mother earth".
Those little guys are having a field day!
I use Starbrite Startron in our tractors, which are not used during the winter. This problem seems worse since fuel companies started adding biodiesel to regular petrochemical fuel and low sulphur fuel also seems more prone to diesel bug. I read an article in Practical BoatOwner which tested 12 products and the Startron was highly recommended. Seems to work just fine. I also now make sure the tanks are topped off at the beginning of winter, to reduce condensation. No water no bugs.
That is the main issue, the use of bio fuel in the manufacture diesel which when you take into account the water content of commercially sold diesel just allows the bacteria to grow the use of a biocide is one of the ways you can inhibit the little boys from becoming too much of an issue and you are keeping on top via the use of fresh diesel to keep it topped up
That lil excavator has turned into one heck of a good tool.
I had heard before to keep diesel tanks full, especially in winter to prevent condensation. I had no idea this was what happened if too much water built up! Thanks for sharing 👍
Good on ya Marty🙌🏻 for sorting it out.
I think we should start feeding diesel bug bacteria to environmentalists.😆
We ain't going to stop the climate from changing, all we can do is adapt to the changes.
I’m with you on the roading. Building interesting bush tracks on your own land is stupidly addictive fun.
Love to see the old wood hen (Weka) there Marty, at least he's not in your garden for now.. LOL
Flush the tank
Add Chemtech fuel additive to treat against further bug growth and Moreys diesel fuel condtioner to add lubricity to the diesel for your pump and injectors.
Amazing that there are organisms which live and thrive in diesel.
Glad you got it running again in the field instead of having to pull it back to your shop
Back in the early '70s I worked on B-52s in Guam. One of the systems I maintained was the fuel quantity indicating system. The first thing we did was hit the tank sumps for whichever gauge was messed us. We almost always got tons of water and globs of the black fungus, and draining it often solved the fault. Never heard it called diesel bug before.
thats what its called
Diesel bug is microbes, which include bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Needing tiny amounts of water and food to proliferate, they live almost everywhere, including in fuels such as diesel. As soon as fuel leaves the sterile environment of a refinery, it is exposed to these microbes. Feeding off even the tiniest amounts of water, they go on to form what is known as diesel bug.
Diesel bug microbes prefer to live at the fuel/water interface, living in the water and feeding on the fuel. They have a tendency to ‘hide’ in the lower flow areas of a fuel system, where the lack of turbulence allows them to thrive in relative safety.
Not here...
It's called a bug because its bacteria
It's common in boat tanks in warm climates because it's almost impossible to keep moisture out and those tanks are never drained really low. This permits quite a build up of sludge especially if the boat is unused for long periods which grows in the warm humid conditions despite the fuel vapours. There is also a fairly heated discussion about what this sludge is exactly, some people refer to it as bacteria and others call it algae so to avoid arguments both sides refer to it as 'diesel bug'
I work diagnosing & fixing all sorts of problems with small & compact equipment like this. One of the most useful tools for quickly diagnosing & recovering dead machines is a small fuel can I modified to have a couple of tire valves in it. I can use it as an alternate tank to diagnose bad fuel & I can either gravity feed the fuel to the engine or pressurize the can using a compressor to diagnose or bypass a bad fuel pump, bad crank pressure in pulse pump systems. It also allows me to move machines to shop or somewhere I can more easily work on it.
That's a good idea
I saw the title of the video, and thought to myself, “self, you gotta see this diesel bug, and wouldn’t you know it, the little stinkers live in the bottom of the tank!” All seriousness though, no matter how clean you keep the fuel and tanks, and change filters it eventually get hit with fuel contamination. Nice field repair sir, enjoyed the video.
A short video! But it's always good receiving notice that a new Marty T is up. Thanks friend.
If you've got diesel bug, you've got water in the tank.
The microorganism grows at the interface where the diesel and water meet.
As far as i undertand it, the brown snot you see isnt the 'bug', thats microscopic but the snot is the result of the broken down fuel.
Marty T has put a link to an article about diesel bug in the description. I had never heard of it before. Its very interesting.
Your sobriety tests are kinda weird over there. "Sir, I need you to blow into this diesel tank..." ;)
That's a good one, Bob!
🤣🤣🤣
:-) Haha. I don't think NZ police do sobriety tests like I've seen on US television/film. It's a straight blow into a device that measures the amount of alcohol on your breath and if you are over the set limit you get to accompany the officer to do a compulsory evidentiary blood test. It's much faster and you're either over the limit or not. And refusing to blow in the device has the same penalty as Driving Under the Influence.
Good day to you Marti.....
from Sunny Scotland....😊
The Weka enjoyed the fresh earth. When I was a NZ Forest Ranger in the 80's they would follow us in the bush, curious to what we were doing.
Worked on boats for many years, & diesel bug was often a problem. Found an in line device which contained srtong magnets ( forget the name) , which destroys the bug as it passes through. These worked very well,- we had no issues with any fuel system we fitted them to. You could try a do it yourself solution - neobium magnets are available pretty cheap, throw a couple ion the tank, &/or make a ring around one of yout filters. It's worth a try. Cheers.
No evidence magnetic fields destroy anything. Otherwise a person would not survive an MRI scan.
Just dealt with the same crap on my Belarus tractor. Rust in the diesel tank. I flushed it and still was getting rust chunks out. I drilled and tapped the feed plug and put a sediment filter in. Seemed to work good for me
It’s crazy that things can grow in diesel fuel. You would think it wouldn’t be possible 🙂
Where I work, strongly acidic baths are in metal treatments. The baths sometimes have bacteria grow in them and need to be decontaminated.
Every time Marty opens the engine cover of a machine I hear the McGuiver intro music in my head.
Good job! I really enjoyed watching one of the greatest methodical patient mechanics I've ever seen! Thanks so much for sharing I really enjoyed watching and learning! 🇺🇸
I love how the bush chooks came out at the end
Keep them coming!
Really enjoy your style.
Diesel sure does have some interesting issues and it's great to see you diagnose and solve- albeit temporarily- to get the digger back in action. The diminutive dimensions appear about perfect to build a walking trail and the little rig seems eminently able to do her part. And were those kiwis jumping in to scavenge bugs and worms? That was an excellent 6:02 spent, thanks again for a great post.
Yeah it's a handy sized digger 1.7 ton, ideal for making walking/atv trails.. They were weka's -www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/weka/
That same sludge was a problem for rocket scientists as well .
No joke .
Between that and the problems associated with the " liberal " compositions of commercial and mil spec motor and jet fuels , it was epically difficult to get any reliable performance from it .
Eventually they developed an extremely consistent highly refined kerosene , RP-1 , which is still in use today .
It would be a stretch to say that the Apollo Program might have been torpedoed by bacteria , but , it would not be completely inaccurate either .
I thought they were Kiwis too.
Now I learned about Wekas.
@@MartyT I'm glad you posted the link about the Wekas. I was about to leave a comment to ask what they are. Thank you.
@@MartyT cheers for the link interesting little birds
G’day from Australia
ever since i got my first 4wd ute 5 years ago i've used fuel treatment whether i needed it or not, currently using fuel doctor "seems to work ok" and if you believe what they, it poisons the fuel so microbes will die and prevent algae and sludge forming, breaks up algae and sludge to from the fuel tanks and fuel lines (after using it for a while change your fuel filters if you've never used a fuel treatment before since if it does what it says it'll go straight to your fuel filters), it evaporates/disperses moister (water, or condensation) in the fuel which microbes breed in, some of the fuel treatments claim to add lubrication to the fuel to prolong fuel pump, injector pump, injectors......
lol those weka don't give a toss!
Another great video Marty shows of a little preventive maintenance goes along way
Couple of years ago my Gator started messing about. Eventually only went uphill whilst reversing. It was microbial contamination. I'd never heard of it before; It was the dreaded bug. Cleaned Tank and Fuel Lines and now add 2.5ml of jollop to every 25lt of Red. No problems since.
Nice easy fix for this one.... way to go!!!
Love the Weka's at the end
I want to come and play at your house Marty, you have all the cool toys 👍
Nice work Marty. Thanks for sharing as always.
Nasty stuff, nice work Marty! Thank You
😄 - that sped-up footage at the end - him rapid digging & the small animals shooting across
There's a similar or not the same goo that occasionally is found in the fuel tanks of jet aircraft. Sometimes an additive is used to kill it, called Prist. It's *REALLY* nasty stuff though and most people won't go near it.
I had the same issue working offshore some years ago we were nearly out of filters etc when the fuel (bunkers) test results came back we lost almost 12 tons of diesel in the day and feed tanks. You did well on this one as it is initially very confusing as to what the issue really is.
Hi Marty love the videos as always! Our car ended up in limp mode, after the repairs, Wurth Dieselcure is brilliant to treat the fuel, originally made for marine engines!
Enjoy watching your videos, would be great if they were longer!!
We used to put a litre of petrol in every few months to take care of the bug.
Thanks for sharing. Didn't know that gasoline clobbered the bugs.
Methylated spirits does also
Mate. Right hand to camera, thumb up, and say after me, “ All good”. 😂
Its amazing to read the comments in here! I see at least 30 questions about the birds eating the grubs. It has been answered SEVERAL times by Marty already, i guess people just like to ask the question instead of looking for the answers. wow
Glad you got it cleaned out. Sure hate to see your machine down 😊
Dang man I'd like to watch that path being cleared out
Ill do a vid once I've finished the trail
ah man, now we got to wait another month. 6 minutes is better than none. cheers
It looks like that wee beasty has led a hard life.. good onya
Love the weka in tow hookin out the bugs
Great to see you have a healthy population of Wekas on the property 🙏🙏🙏
Hi Marty, you can buy a biocide to treat fuel bugs but it’s best to flush and dry the tank
Also if you can fit a desiccant breather on that will absorb moisture
Shameless plug here from a retired castrol, rep, castrol sell a BUG eating fluid called fuel doctor, a big initial dose, followed by 40 MLS at each fill. It just atomises the bug and you can burn it with the diesel through the engine. Of course if it gone through your lines and pump and injectors, it will be a battle . Will certainly clean up the tank
Got a new (old) tractor ... stopped😂 . Started at wrong end (injectors)as i thought it may be a faulty gauge. In the end, pulled like a 2" clear jelly eel, out of the fuel line. A ok now.😊.
A filter full of ladybugs shut my CaseIH 255 down a week ago. I put that strainer and its washer back under the fuel cap.
A great save today! Your the best Marty. Cheer mate! 😊
Hi Manny, once again good job solved another problem. Keep up the good work Cliff from over the ditch at Logan city Queensland Australia 🇦🇺 We’re on the big island 🏝️
Ha Ha good too see the wood hen's at the end doing there thing.
Marty on a Saturday evening... 🍻🍻🍻
Used to get this problem with our old Fordson Major if we left it in the woods for a long period of time.
PITA if you ask me Marty😂😂🏴🇬🇧
Good job 👍👍👍Thank you for sharing. Be safe 🇨🇦
@0:54 Hello little fella!
Awesome how you know machines mate !
I have had great success with treating and preventing diesel bug with "fuel doctor" available at SCA. Maybe they can hook you up. I just add a bottle whenever i fill up my bowser to keep it at bay
That could get expensive. Think after initial shock dose it asks for 10ml per L .
@@kiwikingi1 recommended on-going treatment is 1mL per L, but i normally add one 1L bottle per 4000L bowser and that is working nicely for me. also they put it on special, i normally buy for around $30 /L
👍👌👏 again and as always.
Best regards, luck and especially health to all of you.
Very educational. Well edited video.
Checky little wekas at the end, love the vids mate keep it up been watching from the start. You should do a machinery walk around and a vid of the trail your making.
Love Mat, great guy to watch
I was almost expecting to hear Marty say, "Bugger" 😊 Yes, I know he's not Australian.
Dr. Diesel strikes again!👍
🇦🇺great video again from over the ditch
All petroleum fuels contain water......dissolved or entrained moisture. This is one of the reasons that these little micro organisms can exist in diesel, the more water you have, the bigger the problem. Almost nothing works except the proper treatment chemicals.
Looks like diesel algae Marty, yeah fuel treatment and She'll be sweet. 👍
Annoying, but an easy fix!!!
Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦
Had this problem a few years ago. Older engines didn't have as much issues with it; newer high pressure injectors and fuel lines, not so much.
dang wanted to watch the whole path
I'll put up a quick vid of that when I've finished the track
Good catch Marty
'Hey marty, bet you won't hit that diesel bong'
1:42