Diesel fuel testing needed

[Seldom Seen Slim]

I have a new one and want some help getting a contaminant in the diesel fuel in my pickup's tank tested.

A couple of weeks ago the truck started running crappy - and got worse over the period of a week or 10 days.  I called for and got an appointment at the shop for later that week, and by the time I got tp that date -- it'd barely run at all.  So they started by looking at the fuel.  Whatever was in it was really nasty -- crudded up the inside of the tank, the fuel lines, the injectors, farkled the fuel injection pump, and so on.  It was a VERY expensive repair.

The fact that the truck went from fine to crappy so quickly is sort of cornfusing.  if it had been a buildup in the fuel system it seems it would have taken quite a while.  While it could have been a batch of bad fuel, I had got it from the same station, the same pump that I'd been buying at for years.  I checked with the station's owner -- known him since he was in high school and his dad before him - and nobody else had troubles with the fuel from that pump or tank.

So that leaves me with the idea that a bad guy dumped some crud down the fuel filler line.  The shop that did the repair (a GMC dealership shop where I bought the last few trucks) saved a few samples of the farkled fuel.  I'd like to know what's in it - besides diesel, that is.  Where should I send it for analysis?  Anybody got any experience here?  Let me know.

[WhizzbangK.C.]

Does the sample separate out with a dark colored liquid at the bottom? If it does, get some of the stuff from the bottom of the jar and put it in a shallow dish, let it set till it evaporates. If the remains after evaporation is crystalline, you had DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) poured into the tank. If it's a newer truck that requires DEF for the emissions controls, then you have to be very careful to only put that stuff into the correct tank, and not add it to the fuel. If it's a used truck possibly someone didn't know what to do and thought adding DEF to the fuel would be a good idea??

I'm a mechanic at a heavy truck dealership and we see this kind of issue frequently. Seems some folks just don't get it. 

[Seldom Seen Slim]

It's a pre-DEF '09 Duramax.  I bought it new -- it's got about 115K on the clock.  Can't blame anyone for DEF.  Thanks for the hint.  By the way, the stuff hasn't settled out much at all.  A bit of particulate matter, but that might be what came out from the filter when they tipped it into the bottle.  Mostly it's cloudy and funky-looking.

[SteveM]

You might want to talk to some of your "local" oil companies.  Around here, these are the guys who haul fuel from multiple depots, and deliver to commercial and industrial accounts.  One of my neighbors drives for them.

One of the things they do is pick up 100% biodiesel from one location, and blend it with petrodiesel for use at a nearby underground mine.

As you might imagine, the mining industry is pretty well regulated and requires testing of the fuel.

The oil company contracts with a local laboratory (St Louis Testing Lab) for the fuel testing requirements.

There just might be a similar business in your area.

Steve.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Great idea, Steve -- but there's no oil company within about 175 miles.  That'd be in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  I'm going to check with the local Caterpillar shop - Fabco, who's in about 5-10 states - and see if they can give me a lead on where to look.

[Glen]

How about ERC fuel,I think he will steer you min the right direction.Rick Gold is a phone call away. Number is in rule book.

[jacksoni]

Algae in the fuel?

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Glen, I had thought about asking Rick, but only thought about whether he can test the stuff.  Since he's a looonnnnnggg way from Skandia Michigan I thought the hassle of sending a fuel sample through the mail or UPS would be a bother.  I'd like to be able to hand-carry that sample to whomever is going to test it.  but you're right -- I should call Rick and ask him where I can get it done.

Algae might be, but I don't think so because of the way it went from running fine to harming lots of parts in the system in a big hurry.  I keep thinking that what I suffered is vandalism.  New locking fuel cap will be here day after tomorrow.

[MMorgan]

Hit me up.  Diesel/Biodiesel is my livelihood and all my research at the University!  Bring what you have to SpeedWeek as well!  I'll check it out.  Hadn't seen this.

[hotrod]

You might see if you have a local Caterpillar dealer nearby and give them a call, I understand they do oil tests, might also have the connections to get fuel tested.

[Crackerman]

Your dealership should have someone or a lab to ship it to. Tlthe dealership i worked at did, mostly to keep the litigation to a minimum. ( mercedes benz, too much money and alot of owners are sue happy lawyers)

[Speed Limit 1000]

Maybe someone jelise of such an old man with a good looking wife?

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Nancy thanks you - and so do I.