Gunge in fuel tank

[Johnnojack Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Johnnojack]

No not a clagged up veg oil tank, the diesel tank. 2 weeks ago I lost power during a trip. Each time I stopped I had less power and less revs until I finally had a maximum 1800rpm and top speed of 60ks (on the flat)
After a tow and limping home I checked my filters and found the diesel filter was still flowing but very dirty. On cutting it open I found this
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/...7fe1218179.jpg
Gunge! but only in the diesel filter, the vege filter was pristine after 6000km. However after replacing the filter I had no improvement and my vacuum gauge still told me all filters were OK. So it was off with the IP.
The IP was not spotless but not bad and the filter screen in the high pressure head was clear. I decided to change all my O ring seals for Viton ones as the one at the bottom of the pressure regulating valve was fairly shot. After waiting days for the new seals I finally got it all back to together to find no improvement in power whatsoever.
Johnnojack

[Tim-HJ61 Donating Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tim-HJ61]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

eeeeuuu, yucky.

Has someone dropped a dog turd in your tank?

I'd be checking for vege returning to diesel tank. Is your diesel tank a plain steel tank? If so, or even not so, it might be worth replacing with plastic or coating with POR 15. The degreaser that comes with the POR 15 kit moves all sorts of gunge and even it you don't coat it, it'll need to be cleaned out

'Tis a good thing you have the competence to pull your IP apart and check/clean/replace despite it not perhaps being necessary. Also a good thing your filters have pulled this stuff out.

All the best with it.

Tim

[Johnnojack Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Johnnojack]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

Continuing. While dismayed at the lack of improvement I knew I had to chech out my diesel tank. Got it off and found the inside resembled a scene from Red Dwarf see pic
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/...2ee89635a0.jpg

Yes it is a steel tank and the vertical lines which look like rusty jetty pylons are the steel fuel in and out pipes. I took a deep breath and cleaned it with a cupful of caustic soda mixed in 2 litres of water. Put tank in wheelbarrow and rocked it for a good while then rinsed it out and blasted it with pressure washer. Came up a treat. This is what came out.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/...aeb57fe84a.jpg

Johnnojack

[RODEONICK Too Busy To Bio. Find all posts View Profile Close RODEONICK]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

so dog turds in filter and half of the simpson deserts dust in the tank. you'll be busy for a while now. goodluck mate it always sucks when the truck is outta action.
Cheers Mate

[Johnnojack Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Johnnojack]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

More, After many hours on the computer I found this, thanks to VW fans. VWDieselParts.com :: View topic - internal injection pump pressure

At the bottom of page 3 is a description below the photo of how to adjust the internal pressure regulating valve. So after manufacturing my 6th specialist tool I removed the valve and gingerly tapped at it, after a few much harder whacks I moved it down about 2mm . On replacing it I started her up again and all my horses are back, 4000rpm in an instant. What I have done is raise the internal fuel pump pressure. Trouble is I don't know just how much so may get a new valve to get it back to factory pressure, or work out a way to measure the pressure. (described in detail in the VW link). Ironic isn't it? delicate precise Injection Pump machined to very fine tolerances, adjusted with....a HAMMER
Johnnojack

[Fitian Was here Find all posts View Profile Close Fitian]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

Johnnojack,

Is the tank in the pics originally installed in the vehicle when you bought it or is it something you have added to the vehicle?

Have you done anything different lately? using different oil? using unknown oil? or filling up with dirty diesel?

[Johnnojack Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Johnnojack]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

so dog turds in filter and half of the simpson deserts dust in the tank. you'll be busy for a while now. goodluck mate it always sucks when the truck is outta action.
Cheers Mate

Yeah thanks Nick. I think from reading previous post on this the gunk was dead Algae, (the soft light brown stuff in the filter) however the harder dark brown plasticy stuff seemed like dried up vege oil. This was mostly on the steel bits above the fuel level in the tank. (and those crusty fuel pipes)
Re vege oil in fuel tank it isn't supposed to happen with my manual delay switching, but I know it has happened. Won't be happening anymore with my new looped diesel system.
Johnnojack

[Viola Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Viola]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

WOW. That's quite gross! Glad you shared photo's so I could see what you meant!

Good luck with it all

Vi

[Johnnojack Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Johnnojack]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

Johnnojack,

Is the tank in the pics originally installed in the vehicle when you bought it or is it something you have added to the vehicle?

Have you done anything different lately? using different oil? using unknown oil? or filling up with dirty diesel?

Yes original equipment steel tank only used for diesel. 2nd aluminium tank for veg.
Same oil mostly Soy based (would like to find a supply of Canola)
Dirty diesel possibly, not knowingly, certainly nothing like the state of the tank would suggest. Thats why I suspect algae. (With 230,000km I guess there could have been a gradual build up)
I'll be adding an algicide to my diesel from now on.
Johnnojack

[Fitian Was here Find all posts View Profile Close Fitian]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

(With 230,000km I guess there could have been a gradual build up)
I'll be adding an algicide to my diesel from now on.
Johnnojack

While you do that, would you like to install a cheap in line filter on the return line going to that tank?

Good luck

[Tim-HJ61 Donating Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tim-HJ61]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

I think I recall that a small amount of vege in a diesel tank with controlled algae causes a sudden outbreak of full on algal growth.

I had grey sludge in mine, perhaps Queensland blacksoil algae, yours is Simpson Red algae. Anyone with Sandgroper White Algae..... ?

BrianW had reference to a suitable algaecide for WVO in another post recently. I've been using Chemtech in my small diesel tank at 4 times normal strength to try to keep the injectors clean.

Tim

[Johnnojack Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Johnnojack]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

While you do that, would you like to install a cheap in line filter on the return line going to that tank?

Good luck

Not sure what you mean. I am fairly sure the algae grew in the tank. I won't be using the return line from now on with looped diesel supply.
Johnnojack

[Nuddy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nuddy]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

No not a clagged up veg oil tank, the diesel tank. 2 weeks ago I lost power during a trip. Each time I stopped I had less power and less revs until I finally had a maximum 1800rpm and top speed of 60ks (on the flat)
After a tow and limping home I checked my filters and found the diesel filter was still flowing but very dirty. On cutting it open I found this
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/...7fe1218179.jpg
Gunge! but only in the diesel filter, the vege filter was pristine after 6000km. However after replacing the filter I had no improvement and my vacuum gauge still told me all filters were OK. So it was off with the IP.
The IP was not spotless but not bad and the filter screen in the high pressure head was clear. I decided to change all my O ring seals for Viton ones as the one at the bottom of the pressure regulating valve was fairly shot. After waiting days for the new seals I finally got it all back to together to find no improvement in power whatsoever.
Johnnojack

No improvement! Starts OK? If so compression must be good. Check injectors I guess. Or is it the IP?

[Johnnojack Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Johnnojack]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

No improvement! Starts OK? If so compression must be good. Check injectors I guess. Or is it the IP?

Tis going like a rocket again, you must have missed reading my earlier post.
Johnnojack

[Johnnojack Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Johnnojack]

Re: Gunge in fuel tank

Bumped up for Atrix's info