Sucking up dirt from the bottom of the tank myth?

[Dancake]

My S40 1.9d also had diesel bug. It never caused any running issues, but I did treat it with expensive marine diesel bug treatment. The tank was always brimmed at each fill, spending more time full than empty due to low mileage and frequent fuel top ups.

Diesel bug grows between diesel and water, so if there's water in your diesel tank then there's a risk of diesel bug developing. Condensation within vehicle fuel tanks and forecourt underground tanks can contribute to water contamination within diesel. I'd be more worried about water than dirt within a diesel tank. This is why you should periodically change your fuel filter or drain the filter bowl two or three times a year to remove any water build up.

I once witnessed a farmer using the nozzle of a diesel pump to poke mud and dirt out from under his wheel arch after he had filled up. The next person to use that pump was at risk of introducing the dirt into their tank. Saying that, I've yet to see a tank on a light vehicle that you could describe as being badly contaminated with dirt. It's mostly heavy vehicles such as trucks, trains and buses that seem to accumulate more debris within their fuel tanks, most likely due to their exposed fillers.

[Bashy]

Originally Posted by Clan

plenty of petrol in diesel tanks though !

Been there, done that, only once so far, my latest laguna, cost me £200+20 fuel, was lucky i realised during filling....

[Dash300]

I run a boat out of Plymouth with a Volvo TAMD 41p 6 cylinder 6 ltr turbo diesel. Fantastically reliable smooth as silk and one of the last Volvo diesels that you can work on without a laptop. The issue I and many other marine diesels suffer increasingly from is 'Diesel Bug' It is caused by the increasing concentration of Bio elements added to the base diesel. It's called fame diesel (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) and it is this the bug feeds on along with any moisture (water in the tank) It manifests itself as long strands of fine silk like gel which builds up and clogs the fuel filter and can ultimately starve the engine of fuel to a complete stop. Not good when mid Channel! Despite all diesel polishing products and tank washes it just comes back time after time. I am resigned to just replacing the primary fuel filter regularly. Not sure how much Bio if any is in road diesel but if there is and fuel rests in the tank for any length of time it could happen. Overwinter I brim the boat tank to minimise any space for condensation. Never had this issue in the traditional red diesel but it is a now a major issue and an expensive one. Lets hope it doesn't manifest itself in road diesel.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Dash300

I run a boat out of Plymouth with a Volvo TAMD 41p 6 cylinder 6 ltr turbo diesel. Fantastically reliable smooth as silk and one of the last Volvo diesels that you can work on without a laptop. The issue I and many other marine diesels suffer increasingly from is 'Diesel Bug' It is caused by the increasing concentration of Bio elements added to the base diesel. It's called fame diesel (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) and it is this the bug feeds on along with any moisture (water in the tank) It manifests itself as long strands of fine silk like gel which builds up and clogs the fuel filter and can ultimately starve the engine of fuel to a complete stop. Not good when mid Channel! Despite all diesel polishing products and tank washes it just comes back time after time. I am resigned to just replacing the primary fuel filter regularly. Not sure how much Bio if any is in road diesel but if there is and fuel rests in the tank for any length of time it could happen. Overwinter I brim the boat tank to minimise any space for condensation. Never had this issue in the traditional red diesel but it is a now a major issue and an expensive one. Lets hope it doesn't manifest itself in road diesel.

That happens with cars too if little mileage is done perhaps in warm conditions , some fuel companies are adding something to reduce it now .