Black color of diesel fuel

[pr2501]

Is it a big problem? Does it make damage to the engine?

I did notice that my fuel did got black color.The fuel is one month old now.
I did change my filters now and i did not notice any bigger particles in it. Just the color.

But in other tank fuel is much older. Around one year.
I was thinking to take it out, filter it with 2 micron filters (i have some old little rusty - not for regular use) and put it back. Or is better not to use it? Clean the tanks and put new fuel?

[Pete7]

What quantity of fuel are we talking about? If its only a few gallons I would ditch it and then clean the fuel tanks out. The tanks may not be the cause of the problem, you might have been supplied with contaminated fuel but now its in the tanks.....

Once cleaned dose the new fuel with a good biocide to reach any areas not spotlessly cleaned and check if any water can get into the tanks from filler caps etc.

Pete

[GordMay]

Could it be “Black Diesel”, where used motor oil (waste motor oil) is mixed with regular diesel fuel?

[zeehag]

when my diesel fuel turned black it was due to fail of lift an injector pumps and i managed a runaway diesel from it,. have your pumps checked so you donot enjoy problems you donot wish to handle.
are you finding extra oil on the dipstick??if so--rebuild your lift pump. use new fuel to run engine after your lift pump rebuild. if that also turns black you have bigger issues than merely lift pump.

[pr2501]

Is next a problem with injection pump? ""fail of lift an injector pumps""


"Are you finding extra oil on the dipstick?"
I do not think so. I can not say for sure, because i had oil leak on oil pan gasket. I did change it, and i will see in couple of days if it is ok or not. And then i will also can say about extra oil.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by pr2501

Is next a problem with injection pump? ""fail of lift an injector pumps""


"Are you finding extra oil on the dipstick?"
I do not think so. I can not say for sure, because i had oil leak on oil pan gasket. I did change it, and i will see in couple of days if it is ok or not. And then i will also can say about extra oil.

my lift pump fail added oil to fuel with return line and ultimately inj pump failed causing runaway.

not sayin yours will but that was my sequence. each one is different

[pr2501]

Is it lift pump = injection pump?

Anyway my question was if black fuel damages the engine?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by pr2501

Is it lift pump = injection pump?

Anyway my question was if black fuel damages the engine?

It's hard to say if it will damage the engine without knowing why it's black.

That being said, I've run various colors of fuels and fuel like substances through various engines, and provided it's well filtered, have suffered no long term effects.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by pr2501

Is it lift pump = injection pump?

No. Lift pump gets fuel from the tank to the injector pump.

[Cheechako]

I have had it before. It was fine filtered and looked better after. Probably growth in the fuel. I would polish it or fine filter it.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by pr2501

Is it lift pump = injection pump?

Anyway my question was if black fuel damages the engine?

i believe the fuel itself will not damage engine, but the ailing lift pump will make oil pan hold way too much fuel mixed in with oil and then the regulator on the high pressure pump, aka injector pump can fail. the lift pump is the manual diaphragm pump on side of engine, used to prime and to get fuel into injector pump.
read manual for engine.

[pr2501]

I think i will filter the fuel and i am going on. I did change the lift pump last year.

Thank you.

[LooseGoose]

You might give

Advanced Research Center
106 Access rd
Norwood, Ma 02062

P: 781-762-2766

a call ...they do oil analysis and may well do fuel too. Might be a good idea to do both so you can assess both. It's super easy to pull a sample and mail it in to them...results via e-mail....they are fast to respond.

[Manos1955]

We regularly buy black colored diesel in the east Med area
They add black color to distinguish from the heating oil which is red
Are you sure that your diesel is not colored?
Where are you sailing now days ?

[Lepke]

You could have growth in the tank and should use a good biocide on a regular basis. Because I only buy clean fuel, I run 2 micron filters in my primary filters all the time.
When I bought this boat it had sat for 6 years. I added Algae-X and circulated the fuel thru 2 micron filters. No problems.