Hydrocarbon Utilizing Micro-organisms (HUM bugs)

Bugs - Bacteria, Fungus & Yeasts exist naturally in Crude Oil when it comes out of the ground. They are then burnt off during the refining process.

Later, at any point in the supply chain, storage tanks and in the diesel engine's fuel tank - diesel can and often does absorb microbial (bacteria, fungus and/ yeast) spores. It is accepted there is a microbial population in every fuel tank.

The spores require water as an oxygen source to multiply and colonize fuel tanks.

All tanks make water, general rule of thumb about 5% of tank volume per year. It occurs by fuel returning hot from engine pump which increases tank temperatures, direct sunlight, and diurnal change of temps all cause water to separate from the fuel. Moisture is also absorbed from the environment and let into the tank by ill fitting caps etc.

Keeping water at a minimum requires good house keeping - regular draining of the lowest points of the tanks and a water separator (De-Bug Australia supplies fuel purifiers for this purpose). However even the best efforts by the most attentive maintenance procedures  can't keep water from the tanks at all times. When there is enough oxygen (water) to go round and the temperature is above 20^C the microbes breed at a very rapid rate and can degrade a fuel system within 6 hours.

Causing:

• Frequent filter blockages,

• Loss of power & torque,

• Increase fuel burn,

• Increase maintenance filters, fuel pumps and injectors,

• Increase exhaust smoke,

• Increase equipment running costs,

• Decrease reliability 

• Decrease service life of all fuel system components

De-Bug Units prevent this from occurring - fit once, run the engine or recirculation pump regularly - That's it!

No filters to change, maintenance is occasional draining. No chemicals, No bug sludge forming in tanks.

More about Microbes in diesel: