There's a guy on the Golf MkIV forums who's just had to completely replace his fuel tank due to it being contaminated with a fungal growth inside ! :eek:

I was amazed that anything could live in diesel but apparantly, it's a known (but not to me until now) problem that diesel can sometimes become contaminated by "diesel bugs".

Don't believe me ... try typing "diesel bugs" into Google for more information. :(

It seems that warm temperature & moisture facilitates the growth & it seems that it's not a good idea to leave your diesel tank empty for lengthy periods.

I think I'll be keeping my tank regularly topped up from now on ! :eek:

We tend to call it MBG at work.

Micro Biological Growth. Very prevelant in the marine industry due to constant changes of outside temps etc. Not normally a huge issue in you average run about I wouldn't have thought.

As you may already have read on Mk1V's Stu, the guy didn't use his car much and it appears it sat for long periods with a quarter full tank.

His tank was FUBAR'D though and had to be replaced.

Am I correct in thinking that these bugs generally live at the interface between any moisture and the diesel (hence presumably the prevelance in a marine environment) and that would be why it's recommended to keep your tank topped up to minimise any condensation in your tank ?

Like you I don't think it's likely to be a major problem in the motor industry but I was surprised to hear about it & now I'm aware of it I certainly won't be leaving my tank empty for any lengthy periods.

I've not read the thread TBH but I'm surprised to hear that they say the tank was U/S as it's normally a simple case of disposing of all contaminated fuel and a good flush out.

From what I know I would say that this was a rather extreme case and don't think it would be necessary to change your current fueling habits.

It seems that warm temperature & moisture facilitates the growth & it seems that it's not a good idea to leave your diesel tank empty for lengthy periods.

One of many resons I always say that people should go no lower then half a tank..... another thing I learnt when i was working for shell

Q

I think that the guy on UKMkIVs had his tank replaced because the stealer thought that the lining on the tank was breaking up.

David Attenborough will be calling to do a " Diesel Plaanet " program.....

I think that the guy on UKMkIVs had his tank replaced because the stealer thought that the lining on the tank was breaking up.

That's correct but they subsequently found out that it was not breaking up but contaminated by a fungal growth.

Viz:

Re my original post of 31 Oct 2006 (Now resolved)

It was not the lining of the tank that was responsible for the engine dying, but a fungal growth in the tank.

I was not aware that this phenomena existed

After many hours 'Googling' I was able to correctly indentify the cause of my engine dying.

Further investigation suggests that it was my own fault, by frequent 'none use' of my car (29K in six and a half years). In other words, the length of time between filling the tank was to blame. I always waited until the tank was quarter full, before filling the tank. On occasions this has been as long as six weeks, and on a few occassions eight weeks. Apparently this is not good.

Not feeling too good as £500 to the stealer could have been prevented by doing what I have just done (Thanks Google !! )

Anybody else had this problem ?

I had this happen to my car a few months back.

after i was off the road for a few weeks.

I found that running a few tanks of ultimate diesel through it cleaned it out allright

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/general-car-chat/lost-10mpg-my-fabia-vrs/57183/

I think that the guy on UKMkIVs had his tank replaced because the stealer thought that the lining on the tank was breaking up.

They are plastic....