Bacterial growth in diesel? Prevent bacterial growth.

Bacteria in the diesel can cause many problems, such as causing the filter to become completely clogged
Marine engines, truck engines, motorhomes and agricultural and earthmoving machines perform better with Bardahl Diesel Anti Bacteria (DAB) and Bardahl Diesel Conditioner (BDC).
Bacteria and fungi, with the help of too much moisture in fuel together with heating, (return pipe) can form and cause biggest problems in fuel tanks and fuel filters.
Bardahl therefore supplies 2 additives:
1. For preventing bacteria in diesel fuel and keeping away too much moisture, increasing the cetane number, improving the lubricating effect and more, we recommend using Bardahl Diesel Conditioner (BDC).
2. To stop and remove bacterial growth from the diesel fuel, we recommend using Bardahl Diesel Anti Bacterie (DAB). A powerful biocide that works immediately after adding it to the diesel. Grotamar 71®.
Use biocides safely. Before use, please read the instructions for use on the label and the product information
Bardahl BDC: de-accumalizes prevents moisture and diesel remains free of bacterial growth
Biodiesel is added to diesel. There is also much less sulfur in fuel than in the past. This makes the fuel leaner and ensures less lubrication. From an environmental point of view, the addition of biodiesel and the reduction of sulfur in the fuel are great developments. However, in practice, biodiesel and sulfur reduction pose major problems, which can eventually lead to bacterial growth in the fuel tanks.
How can the problem that is described above arise?
Biodiesel attracts up to 8x more moisture than normal diesel. Moisture is a first source of possible problems. How does moisture (eventually water) get into the fuel tank?
Temperature fluctuations, no UV light due to storage in fuel tank, long storage (e.g. after a winter) and poor sealing of the fuel filling opening ensure that moisture/condensation have a chance.
´Too much moisture in the fuel will eventually lead to bacterial growth´
Now there is always a percentage of moisture in fuel. Diesel can absorb up to 0.02% water, without loss of quality. If there is more 0.02% moisture in the diesel, this will slowly sink to the lowest point of your fuel tank. An excess of moisture / water reduces the lubricating effect of the diesel fuel and will eventually lead to bacterial growth. Bacteria are recognizable as a black sludge. These bacteria must be removed before they can clog the fuel filter. If fuel filters become completely clogged, this will mean that your engine will no longer run, with all the consequences that entails.
´moisture in the fuel to minimize there is Bardahl BDC´
To minimize moisture in the fuel there is Bardahl BDC. However, using BDC gives you more benefits as you can read below or watch the product video. Do you have fungi and bacteria in the gas oil and do you want to remove them? Then first use Bardahl Diesel Anti Bacteria (DAB).
´Bacterial growth? Use Bardahl DAB first ´
DAB removes bacteria from the diesel. This is an effective biocide specially developed to remove bacteria from the diesel fuel. If the fuel is clean again, free of moisture and bacteria, you can switch to Bardahl BDC.
Use of Bardahl BDC ensures:
1. Maintaining moisture percentage
2. Cleaner combustion
3. Higher power
4. Clean atomizers
5. Improved lubrication
6. Fuel savings of up to 3%
7. Lower solidification point (diesel antifreeze)
Read the official ASTM* Test Report here and see the points on which Bardahl BDC has been tested.
Instructions for use Bardahl BDC:
- 0.5 to 1 liter Bardahl BDC on 1000 liters of diesel fuel
- In winter, a mixing ratio of 2 liters to 1000 liters of diesel fuel is recommended.
Important: you should add it above freezing (min+5°C)
Who is Bardahl BDC for?
O Wherever large quantities of diesel fuel are present (road transport, shipping, agricultural and earthmoving machines) or diesel must be stored for a longer period of time (sailboats, motorhomes, aggregates) there is a possible danger of moisture and ultimately bacteria. The consequential damages can be large.
´BDC ensures fuel savings of up to 3%´
In addition to the improved lubrication and protective effect, there is also a financial advantage when you use Bardahl BDC. Many practical tests have shown that fuel savings of up to 3% can be achieved. Trucks consume many tens of thousands of liters of diesel fuel per year. Marine engines often involve hundreds of thousands of diesel per year. A saving of up to 3% in many cases means of course a huge saving in diesel fuel and therefore in fuel costs.
* ASTM International (originally: American Society for Testing and Materials) is an American standardization organization. ASTM publishes technical standards in the field of materials and services. ASTM was founded in 1898 by a group of scientists and engineers, with the initial objective of solving the then common fractures in rails. This resulted in a standard for steel quality for rails. Members of the organization include suppliers, consumers, governments and academics. Its members come from around 100 countries www.astm.org.
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Diesel Anti Bacteria: removes bacteria from the diesel fuel
Bardahl Diesel Anti Bacteria is an effective biocide, specially developed to remove bacteria and fungi from the diesel fuel. Bacteria can clog the diesel filters. At best, the fuel filter is only partially clogged. When the fuel filter becomes completely clogged, the engine will no longer run. The risk of engine damage and damage to the high-pressure pumps is then high.
‘Water condenses from the fuel, sinks to the tank bottom´
Half a cup of water in 1000 liters of diesel fuel is enough to trigger microbiological growth. Water is insoluble in fuel, especially in a hot and humid environment. It condenses from the fuel and from the air in the tank, as it cools. It comes together on the tank bottom or forms droplets against the walls and in the fuel lines.
At any stage between refining and your fuel tank, microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and fungi can multiply exponentially in the water. After that, biosludge (biological sediment) will form. Heat accelerates this microbial growth. In case of turbulence, the microorganisms can come out of the water and the biosludge and mix with the fuel.
Consequences:
The biosludge can cause engine failure or damage due to clogged filters or injectors. Microbes can also cause rapid and severe corrosion of tanks and fuel system components.
´Bardahl DAB works immediately after adding to the fuel´
Diesel Anti Bacteria can be added directly to the fuel and stops microbial growth and bio corrosion. This biocide dissolves easily in water, concentrates in the free water and in the wet biosludge, where it kills the microbes. The biocide works directly. With a shock dose, Diesel Anti Bacteria kills the microbes in the fuel, water and biosludge of a contaminated fuel system. Bardahl Diesel Anti Bacteria has been tested by leading manufacturers such as MAN, Daimler and MTU and is suitable for all diesel engines, pumps and fuel devices.
Use Diesel Anti Bacteria:
- Dosage light - to visible vcontamination: 0.05 - 1.0 ml per liter of fuel (1:1000).
Explanation;
If possible, remove all water from the diesel tank before adding Diesel Anti Bacteria. Add the biocide when the tank is filled for about a third. The product thus mixes as much as possible with the fuel during the filling of the tank. Bardahl Diesel Anti Bacteria concentrates in the water and wet sediment and immediately begins to work. The amount of product to be added depends on the total tank volume.
Is the fuel system thoroughly contaminated with visible sediment, or is there a technical defect such as a filter blockage? Then use a SHOCK DOSE. If possible, remove all residual water and biosludge 24 hours after treatment with Diesel Anti Bacteria. In case of large quantities of biosludge, you must clean the fuel system (tank, fuel lines and filters) before using Bardahl Diesel Anti Bacteria.
Please note:
If you fail to clean soiled tanks before treatment, you may have to replace the fuel filters more quickly in an initial period, because they become clogged with biosludge that has removed the biocide from the system.
Usek Bardahl Diesel Anti Bacterie only if you have bacterial growth. Once the bacteria have disappeared from the diesel, switch to Bardahl BDC.
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Biodiesel and low sulphur content in diesel EN590
Oil companies have been legally obliged to add biodiesel to the diesel EN590 since 2010. For inland navigation in Europe, the requirement has been set that only
EN 590 may be sailed. This EN590 fuel contains hardly any sulfur.
Now, adding bio-components to diesel fuel reduces the amount of sulphur in fuel (to 0%) poses major problems in practice. In response to questions and problems that reach us, we want to inform you, offer solutions and give tips on what you can do yourself to prevent problems in the field of fuel.
The low sulphur percentage has advantages (environment), but certainly also disadvantages (technology)
In terms of emissions, a very low sulphur percentage is a big advantage, the SOx emissions will be nil. A major disadvantage of greatly reducing sulfur percentage is that it is too short of lubricity of fuel, normally a task of sulfur. One solution is to add a diesel additive like Bardahl BDC. BDC prevents moisture accumulation (basis for bacterial growth), increases the lubrication of diesel, cleans, reduces friction and saves energy (3% fuel savings are possible).
Problem with biodiesel
The biggest problem that biodiesel poses is moisture, condensation and water. Each fuel is hygroscopic (attracts water). However, biodiesel attracts much more water (up to 8x more because biodiesel is hygroscopic) than EN590/B7 diesel oil. Moisture in the fuel is an immediate source of problems.
How does moisture get into the diesel?
Temperature fluctuations, dark rooms, long storage (e.g. after a winter) and poor sealing of the fuel filling opening ensure that moisture/condensation have a chance. Now there is always a percentage of moisture in the diesel. Diesel can absorb up to 0.02% water. If there is more 0.02% moisture in the diesel, this will slowly sink to the lowest point of your fuel tank. An excess of moisture / water reduces the lubricating effect of the diesel fuel.
Consequences of water in the fuel tank
Where is the water? As mentioned, this drops to the lowest point in the fuel tank, and will start to concentrate there. The excess of water can cause rust in fuel tank, fuel pumps, pipes, atomizers etc.
Finally, if you have moisture / water in the fuel tank, then the biggest danger is: bacterial growth in diesel.
Bacterial growth
Once there is too much moisture in the fuel tank, all the ingredients for bacterial growth are present. Because bacteria grow through cell division, more and more bacteria are added, which then also divide again. If the conditions remain the same and the problem is not addressed, bacterial growth continues very quickly. These bacteria must be removed before they clog the fuel filter and stop your engine from running.
How can you avoid the above problems?
The diesel fuel is clearly different in composition than years ago and that brings with it the necessary problems. It is therefore necessary to pay more attention than ever to the control of diesel tanks.
Read some recommendations below to prevent moisture / water and bacterial growth:
1. At the end of the sailing season, when the boat enters winter storage, the camper is put away (generally; if you want to keep diesel longer): add Bardahl BDC to the fuel that goes into the fuel tank and fill the tank completely with diesel. The fuel itself is thus protected and the chance of condensation is very limited, as there is hardly any room for the condensation to develop. In this way, the chance that bacteria can develop is minimal.
2. Make sure there is winter diesel in the fuel tank at the end of the sailing season. This diesel contains antifreeze additives and is better suited for storage in winter.
3. Moisture, water is unfortunately always present, control if possible is a correct endeavor. BDC eliminates the water accumulation and will reduce the moisture build-up in a controlled manner. at 1: 500ml it also increases shelf life to >12mnd
4. Make sure the fuel tank filler opening closes tightly.
5. The motor works as a kind of heater. To prevent excessive heating / bacteria in the diesel, it is advisable to insulate the steel diesel tank in the engine compartment.
Bacteria problem and now?
If you already have a bacterial problem Bardahl Diesel Anti Bacteria is an effective biocide to tackle diesel bacteria and fungi in the diesel fuel.
Can I also drain the diesel and fill the tank with clean diesel?
That is possible, but this does not completely solve the problem. When the contaminated diesel fuel is extracted, the fuel tank is emptied, but diesel bacteria still remain in fuel lines, filters, pumps, etc. When you fill the empty fuel tank with new diesel, the process will start beforehand.
Conclusion:
Is your diesel fuel free of fungi and bacteria and do you want to keep it that way? With Bardahl BDC you keep the diesel really clean, moisture stays away, the cetane number is increased and the efficiency of the engine increases. The diesel is lubricated (important due to a decrease in the sulphur content), the performance increases and finally: the fuel consumption decreases by up to 3%.
Use biocides safely. Read the label and product information before use.
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