I want to share some of the many e-mails received because they really have helpful comments on the 'bacteria' plus diesel engines in general.....

Rhonda's husband: "When was the fuel filter changed last? Does the vehicle stay unused for a long period of time? What is the climate? Diesels, when not used, can grow a bacteria that causes problems, but a clean fuel filter should have taken care of that." (Asked Tiger the questions and her replies were: "Fuel filter is changed every time oil is changed. Truck is used daily. Climate is California San Francisco Bay Area.")

Pete writes: "As a professional truck mechanic and owner of two diesels, I have had good luck with fuel additives such as Power Service, there is also a product strictly for preventing algae. I use regular power service additives every other tankful at a ratio of a half-pint to a tank (25) gallons for the last ten years with no problems."

Jack from Pittsville, Missouri said: "I spent the last 25 years or so working in the fueling business, selling pumps, dispensers, tanks, monitors, etc. The diesel fuel algae problem is not uncommon. It is something that starts in the underground storage tanks and goes on from there. Most of the truck stops are aware of the problem and take steps to minimize or eliminate it. Insofar as owners/operators go, their best option is to use a diesel fuel conditioner on a regular basis to prevent the expansion and growth of the problem within their vehicle and its tanks. It's just one of the prices you pay for the advantages a diesel powerplant provides to those of us who pull and tow."

Russell in Canyon, Texas: "I used to drive an 18 wheeler delivering livestock feed. Several years ago my fuel filters were stopping up and the mechanic at Amarillo Truck said there was algae in the fuel. I along with several other truckers in the area were using a fuel stop and everyone had the same problem. It took several applications of a very expensive additive to get rid of it. I do not remember what the name was but it cost about $300 to treat my 300 gallon tanks. Your friend might check with a diesel mechanic and they should know what the tratment was. Hope this helps."

Dan from North Fork, Idaho: "Bonnie, I work at a local parts house, have driven a diesel truck for over 20 years and deal with many diesel truck owners. I know of ranchers that have this problem with microbacteria growing in the diesel fuel. My experience has been in dealing with this problem with trucks that are driven on occasional basis, such as ranchers and farmers who only drive their tucks to move stock 3-4 times a year and then park the truck. There are several suppliers of anti-bacteria chemicals such as Lucas Products, Power Service and I believe Stanodyne which is sold by John Deere. If you are going to park your truck for a period of time, I recommend treating your diesel fuel with one of these products. I hope this helps your problem to get better."

Dale said: "Since diesel fuel is inherently unstable, solids begin to form and the accumulating tank sludge will eventually clog your diesel fuel filters, ruin your injectors and cause diesel engines to smoke. As you stated going to truck stops that have a high fuel turn over is one way to prevent this from happening, the other question is how often you drive your vehicle. If a vehicle sits still for long periods the fuel begins to break down. There are numerous additives that help prevent this from happening and any automotive store will have them. Talk with any counter person for a recommended product."

Judine: "Diesel is an organic fuel and provides an excellent medium for growth of bacteria, fungi, yeast, etc. Most diesel mechanics will probably tell you that contamination of this sort is one of the number one causes of diesel engine breakdown. Unfortunately, you never know that you've filled up your tank with contaminated diesel until it presents a problem and your vehicle just dies on you for no apparent reason. And contamination can be extremely difficult to get rid of. About all you can do is entrust your vehicle to a good diesel mechanic and hope the situation is not beyond help. Wish I had better news but that's the story."

MR went into detail: "This is a fairly common problem. Some microbes can survive in diesel fuel and can feed on the diesel fuel. These microbes form a colony that lives at the fuel/water interface. They grow quite rapidly in warmer temperatures. They can even grow in cold weather when fuel tank heaters are installed. Parts of the colony can break off and clog the fuel lines and fuel filters. It is possible to either kill this growth with a biocide treatment or eliminate the water, a necessary component of microbial life. There are a number of biocides on the market which must be handled very carefully. If a biocide is used, it mst be added everytime a tank is refilled until the problem is fully resolved. Given the right conditions microbes will repopulate the tanks and re-treatment with biocides will then be necessary. With repetitive biocide treatments microbes can then form resistance to a particular brand. Trying another brand that uses a different antibiotic chemical may resolve this. Diesel treatments with biocides can be bought at places like WalMart, auto parts stores and boating supply stores. Additonally, changing fuel filters more often than recommended helps. I change my fuel filters every 20000 miles."

And for those than want to learn more, Jon T said to: "Do a Google search on Diesel Biocides and you can read about the many choices. Here is one http://www.diesel-fuel.com."

Personally, I've learned a few things about my diesel. I've always used Lucas when adding any diesel. I do pay attention to the 'idiot light' when it says "water in fuel". And I do change fuel filters above every 10,000 miles. But I didn't know warm weather could cause the bacteria to grow. As could not driving my diesel. So with that thought in mind, it's time to hit the road!! Going to fill up my diesel, add some Lucas, hook up the trailer, load Nic and go camping.......tell ya' about it in the next blog or two.

Keep those diesel tanks full!!

Bonnie

I'm back from Western States Horse Expo and it was (as usual)  GREAT. Miki Cohen, the producer, had it well organized so it's not only easy for vendors to move in, set up, and tear down, but clinicians, sellers, and participants as well. The economy seems to have hit the horse industry too but I'll tell you more about Horse Expo next week and post some pictures.  Right now my computer has crashed, and I can't get those pictures out; I'm 'borrowing' a computer to work on. I'm not a computer person and the shop where I sent it should have it fixed (or whatever computer repair is called) by middle of next week. 

In the meantime, I have a fuel question for you guys who own a diesel vehicle.......

A friend of mine had her diesel truck suddenly stop running. Luckily she had unloaded horses, parked the trailer and was heading home -- glad it didn't happen on the freeway with horses in tow! Coming into her street, her truck suddenly died. Dead. Like a doornail. She managed to park the truck but then had to have it towed to her service center. At first they thought it was something in the fuel pump but after closer inspection they found 'bacteria' growing in the fuel tank; and it had clogged the fuel pump and system.

My question to you guys is this, have any of you had this problem?  Tiger's truck is a 2003. I'm driving a 1985 (I know, it's old but paid for and I love my truck) Ford. I never thought 'bacteria' or 'algae' as the mechanic called it would GROW in diesel. It covered the bottom of the fuel tank in Tiger's truck. Chunks of it had broken loose from tank and went into fuel lines and system. She had to have the fuel tank dropped, cleaned, remounted and all lines to the engine cleaned as well.

I know that one has to be careful with water in diesel. My truck has an 'idiot' light that comes on and tells me 'water in fuel' so I have to drain the water out. It's a simple task as long as I don't let air back into the line. I usually check the line about every 6 months even if the light doesn't come on just to make sure. Plus, I'm really careful where I buy diesel. Only buy from fuel stations that have high diesel turn over. Like truck stops. Card locks. Usually stick to 18-wheeler fuel points. As one station operator told me, "Those 18-wheel drivers are really particular about their diesel and I sure don't want any water in the diesel. Don't want one of those guys mad at me!".

It had settled in the bottom of the tank where it 'grew', and tends to be in big chunks since it had to be scrapped out.  If anyone has any ideas, e-mail (horsecamping@comcast.net).  I will pass the information on to other diesel owners and especially Tiger. I'd like to find out more about it and what some folks do to keep water out of their diesel.  (Me, I add a diesel additive.)

Drive carefully......

Bonnie

I'm going up to give daily 1 pm clinics on "Horsecamping". Plus I'll be wandering over to Elk Grove Milling's vendor booth daily from 10-11 am to talk about their California Certified Weed Free Pellet. Since California (like most states) is moving along the line of recommending and requiring certified weed free feed when using public lands, Elk Grove has the only California Certified Weed Free Pellet (I'll explain all this weed free certification process in a later blog for those that haven't heard about it). After that I'll go back to the Two Horse vendor area and hang around there.......

HorsExpo has grown from the very first one 12 years ago--now ALL of CalExpo ground and halls are required. Over 18 clinicians will be there. John Lyons, Stacy Westfall, Ken McNabb, Richard Winters, Stephen Bradley, Dr. Sue Thompson plus others will be in round pens, corrals, arenas and demo areas. In addition there's the Mustang Challenge, Magnificent 7 All-Around Stock Horse Championship, Equine Art Show, Young Riders Park, Driving Darby, Breyerwest, Trail Symposium and Horse Sale. And to help find what you may just-have-to-have, over 800 vendors! For a complete schedule, map, times, list of everything, check website www.horsexpo.com.

HorsExpo is one of those places you can find anything you may want. One can walk in, buy a truck, find a trailer (on 40 acres of horse trailers being offered), have the hitch mounted and then tow it home after the show. And if you need another horse, bid on one at the horse sale. Of course there's tack -- plenty at different vendors. And if you need books or maps on where to ride, come over to Two Horse Enterprises' vendor booth and I'll help you find some great horsecamps and trails!

I'm looking forward to going again this year. I'll go up on Wednesday to set-up 'camp' in the Trail Syposium area with my trailer. Then into the vendor hall to get Two Horse Enterprises organized. Even though HorsExpo is three days, it takes me two to get set-up and another day to repack after the show closes Sunday!

For the 136 people who asked for Expo Bucks, don't forget to drop by and say 'hi'. Last two requests were mailed Monday. And for the folks in Vermont, forgot to tell you when mailing your Bucks -- got the books you were looking for!

Everyone stay safe........  

Bonnie       

The corrals are all divided by ages -- yearlings, mares with foals, two-year olds and so on. One can wander all over the place and for $125 'adopt' one of the horses.

In the different corrals are horses of all colors; some have very good conformation! I saw a little Quarter type yearling that if it had not already been adopted -- I would have stuffed him into the back seat of my car!! Then there are some that lack in conformation but would still make 'good' horses.

Wandering around the place always brings a feeling of sadness to me.  Once caught and freeze branded, they are no longer 'wild horses'.  They will never range the open country or run free under the sun again. Those that aren't ultimately adopted will be shipped to a 'sanctuary' in some 'foreign' state where they will live out the rest of their lives.

Regardless of how one feels about the wild horse program, there's good and bad management in all programs just as there are good and bad horses in all breeds in all colors. If you haven't been to an adoption, go to one and see the horses. But better yet, if close enough or in the area where the BLM has a wild horse facility, drop in for a visit.  Seeing all those horses will give you a different 'perspective' of the BLM's Wild Horse Program.

Here are some pictures I took.  Hope you guys like 'em.

Bonnie