Cleaning out fuel tank

[super99]

The super 88 diesel that I bought had sat several years with a thin layer of fuel in it and it had turned into tar. The tank is off and I’ve been soaking it with a gallon or so of E85. It cut it some but wasn’t getting it all, the bottom of the tank looked like cracked blacktop. I got a gallon of Acetone and dumped it in and then fastened a parts cleaning brush onto a stick long enough to reach the bottom of the tank and rubbed it around a bit. Looked inside with a flashlight after a few hours and the bottom was clean. Might get to see if it runs tomorrow!

 

[Fred Werring]

Kinda looks like that black bacteria ...some call it algae...that grows in diesel.
I've only dealt with it once in a Ford 3000 I'd bought, nasty stuff.
Might want to treat with a biocide.

Biocide

Link is to the stuff I bought. Yes it treats a lot, but cleaning out that 3000 made me want to treat my bulk tanks just in case.
Hope the Super fires up for you

 

[caterpillar guy]

Once you clean your tank and storage tanks if you keep the water drained out of the storage tanks it shouls\d not be a problem again. I know you were talking about the tractors tank here. I drain our storage tanks each fall so there is no water going into winter . Solves a lot of issues and prevents more. I've never had to deal with the algae problem so far over 50 years and never heard dad or Grandpa mention it either that would go back to the 1930's