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Algae?
We needed to be home unexpectedly this year and we are gearing up, hoping to leave in the next several weeks. I have a question concerning the bus sitting this long.
I filled the fuel tank at Flying J 10 miles before arriving home on February 2. I added Howe’s Diesel treatment for gelling because the temps were cold.
We stay inside the bus while home.
The bus has not been on the road since. I have cranked it every two to three weeks in order to take it outside the barn and empty the holding tanks. Since warm weather has arrived, I have been leaving it outside for two or three weeks and then parking inside the barn again.
I serviced the generator in March and I have put a few hours on it each month when parked outside.
I have read so many threads about algae in fuel and I am kind of spooked after sitting so long.
Is there anything that I should add to the fuel tank to deal with potential algae problems before hitting the road?
Thank you,
Davy
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11 Replies
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When you crank the Coach up to move it to dump, take it for a 30 minute ride. That will allow everything to come up to operating temperature. Do same with the generator and Webasto.
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Use Biobor in your fuel all the time.
I used it for about 4 or 5 years and never had another algae problem.
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+1 what Buddy said for using Biobor. And make sure you have several sets of filters and a gallon or so of fuel to fill the spin on filter & top off the Racor if you have to do it on the road…just in case. Also make sure you have a pretty good filter wrench on board as well. The spin on filter will tighten as a result of engine heating/cool down cycles and can be almost impossible to get off on the side of the road if you don’t have a good wrench.
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Dick, A 70-100 mile ride is exactly what we did a few times last year during the lockdown. The last few months, driving was not an option so it was crank, move, empty the tanks and shut down. Not the best, but done.
Thank you for the picture and advice, Buddy and Mike. Can I add Biobor now, after the months of sitting and then run it? Or is it preventative only?
I hope that I am concerned about a nonexistant problem in my case.
Davy
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I probably have a different take on this. I had 3 Prevosts coaches since 2009. I parked all 3 from mid October to end of April or early May each year. I left the tank full when parked. I never had any fuel issues with any of the coaches after sitting that long. They were in a heated garage where the temp was kept at 60 to 65 degrees all winter. I never changed a fuel filter other than at oil changes. I put a total of about 180,000 miles on these coaches
With the advent of ULSD, I wonder if there is a need for these additives. I have tried some Power Service products when I thought I may have had a dirty injector, but never was sure it helped.
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Temperature controlled, my bus barn is not. Whatever the temp and humidity outside, my barn is not far behind. I can only hope there is not a problem in the tank.
I can find no Biopor JF in this area, but I can order it online for delivery late next week. Locally, I am finding Power Service Bio Klean for algae. I may try that in the meantime. I would love to get this thing on the road and blow out some cobwebs.
Davy
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I would add something as soon as possible.
With the temp variances and humidity we have in the south keeping your coach out side can lead to condensation in the tank.
If changing filters is required before normal maintenance don’t forget the Aqua Hot or the Webasto filters.
On my 99 the Webasto filters were almost stopped up.
A little while after that I added a Racor to the Webasto system and threw away those little plastic filters.
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Davy, if you do have algae and you use an algacide the debris from the algae is floating around in your fuel tank and can screw up everything from your fuel pickup in the tank to the filters. As Buddy points out algae can plug filters fast.
To minimize the grief you might consider polishing the fuel. That is something most marinas can do because boats have a tendency to grow algae.
The prevention starts with storing only with a full tank. That minimizes the opportunity to get moisture into the tank. No moisture, no algae. Ideally the bus will be kept where there are no or minimal temperature variations during the day. Another ideal way to prevent algae is to use the coach often.
But if the above is not practical as a last resort use a fuel treatment.
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Davy,
You may not have any algae at all. What makes you think you have it?
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Thanks guys.
I do not know I have algae. From reading previous threads, I only suspect I may have the potential for algae after an unexpected extended shutdown. I may be completely algae free.
The diesel tank was as full as I can get it when I pulled into the barn February 2. I only cranked it up to pull out of the barn to empty the holding tanks every two-three weeks. Once spring arrived, I have moved back and forth from outside the barn to inside.
I added a bottle of Power Service Bio Klean yesterday as shock treatment since I could not find Biobor JF locally. Hopefully, the bottle of Bio Klean was wasted money.
I am still a few weeks away from rolling, but I intend to take the bus out for a couple hundred mile trial run as soon as possible. I always have a set of fuel filters, but me being able to reach them to remove and replace would be nigh unto impossible.
I might could sell tickets as a contortionist if I could pull off the change alongside the road.
Thanks again,
Davy
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Yesterday, after 154 days without a road trip, we took the bus around the block for a spin. We took the interstate route by way of Columbus to Der Dutchmen in Plain City, Ohio and shut down for lunch and rest.
I stopped twice on the way to check wheel temps and look things over. All good.
We drove back through Dayton and pulled into home after 200 miles total.
There did not seem to be any fuel issues at all. The Anti Skid light stayed on all the way up, but was off when I restarted to drive home.
Thank you for the help.
Davy
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