Unleaded Algae?

[Interceptor]

Has anyone seen this stuff before? it reminds me of diesel bug, but I've never seen it brown, only white or off white....

[Yellow_Festiva]

Wow. Never seen that before. What are the details of the car it came out of?

[Interceptor]

2005 BA Falcon ute...

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

2005 BA Falcon ute...

Was it in constant use?

[Mowdit]

Almost looks like grease !
How is the texture ?
Does it seem like grease or more like mould ?
How was it running before, compared to now ?

Jetfuel storage tanks are often sprayed with an algae prevention, but haven't heard of it in unleaded before !

Interesting

[You Yangs]

Wow, was the car even running? Doesn't look like there would be any flow through that at all

[mik]

mmm , does look like grease, pump at your local servo had a bowser pump rebuild recently and repacked with grease ? ................. or another possibility, apparently e85 left in the tank too long can turn to jelly so im told ?

[Interceptor]

Car is running, has taken a bit more cranking to start in the last week or so but it is in constant use, 6-700km a week...

Doesnt run any ethanol blends at all

Texture is almost like a jelly, spreads very wrll but didnt want to stick to my fingers

[Mowdit]

I have some interaction (limited admittedly) with the chemists at a major fuel distribution company

Will ask when I next get the chance

[SSD-85]

That looks very similar to what happens when a brush that has contact adhesive on it is left to sit in a jar of turps or adhesive remover for at least several weeks.
Some sort of hydrocarbon reaction methinks.

[marty351]

Originally Posted by SSD-85

That looks very similar to what happens when a brush that has contact adhesive on it is left to sit in a jar of turps or adhesive remover for at least several weeks.
Some sort of hydrocarbon reaction methinks.

This reminds me of the toluene scandal.
But can living organisms live in petrol/ethanol fuels? And if that's in the filter, where else could it be?

[calais]

That is apple jelly. Same thing has been known to occur in jet fuel. It is a very dangerous occurrence in aircraft. It will and has clogged filters and injector nozzles bringing down aircraft in the past. Caused by an excess of water in the fuel and the breakdown of the original chemistry of the fuel. I would suggest a strong dose of injector cleaner for that car...

[Terriplod]

Yep caused by water in the tank. I would be obliged to check the in tank pump strainer for a similar build up. Seeing that it is a ute, unless its a tray top it is a tank out job while its out take it to your local radiator joint and they can flush it with steam and ready to re-fit by the time you get home. then the next parts I would look at are the fuel rail for rust. Injector cleaners are ok but for a water in tank problem in future a 1l bottle of metho does the trick in breaks down the water into microns and can be burnt but not in this case. Time for a new fuel station mate.

[MattSAU2XR8]

I used to use ethanol (metho) myself but apparently isopropyl is better, not sure why, you can buy a litre on ebay for about $10.00. Maybe not as corrosive as metho? I've been thinking of giving my bike a shot once a month since I don't ride it that often.

[aussiblue]

This can also happen if glycol based coolant anti-freeze concentrate is accidently added to the fuel; usually when a company packages their fuel injector cleaner and anti-freeze in similar containers.

There are also fuel antifreezes not usually used or need in Oz . But if you are near the snowfields the servo may have added some to their tanks so the pumps didn't play up and too much of fuel aniti-freeze, which is also glycol based, will cause this too.