Hello all --

I really need to update the blog w/ some new photos - I've made some recent progress I'd like to share, but have been too lazy (read: busy - getting married in a month, lots to do!).

I realized the heater hoses that came with the diesel engine are shot, which is too bad as they would have fit perfectly. I am going to make my own using some formed hoses for bends - I will install the block heater at the same time (a tank-type heater, seen here) and possibly plumb for the future SVO system. Now to the question:

Does anyone know an easy way to roll a bead into a metal tube? I may want to duplicate factory coolant lines but haven't ever seen a tool that does this.

Failing that, are there coolant hose junction pieces available? Like a metal tube that allows 2 hoses to be connected together, or maybe a tee?

As always, thanks for the advice.

I've added a substantial (for me, anyway) amount of new material to the blog. Have a look, link is in my signature.

Looking good there Acy76!
I'll hopefully be picking up my late father's 89 trooper later this summer. Fingers crossed it will make the trip from NC to PA.

Can you shed some light on how/when/where you found your diesel drivetrain? Feel free to email me at mtkirby@alltel.net if you don't want to include that info in your thread. I've been looking around on the net but haven't come across much.
Todd K.

Sure, it was being discussed a bit in this thread.

Thanks for the support. Keep us posted on your Trooper acquisition.

Well ---

Any diesel-heads here have experience with fuel system fungus/algae/bacteria (not certain which one it really is)?

I was running the engine a bit tonight (to bleed air from the power steering lines, test the alternator, etc. -- alternator didn't start any fires the first time it was connected, but I have no charging... wiring or relay problem, hopefully) and it died after a couple of minutes. I checked my clear fuel pre-filter (just before the main filter unit) and there was a chunk of greenish algae-looking crap in it. Could this be the dreaded fuel system growth I've heard of?

I didn't check the filter prior to running the engine, so I don't know if it came up from the tank or was there to begin with. I also don't know for sure whether fuel starvation caused the engine to die, but it seemed that way. If there is fungus, it could be clogging my fuel lines and sock filter in the tank.

Any thoughts on how to deal with this? I think I will first remove and fill the main filter, run the engine and try to use my vacuum canister to draw fuel into the filter. If it is clogged, I'll know right off. After that, if it is clogged, what to do? Do I need to remove the tank? I think if I did, I'd replace it as it's rusty and full of sand and garbage from farm use. I also may run new fuel lines away from the exhaust on the driver's side of the truck, making it easier for the pump to draw fuel.

As always, any insight appreciated.

Saw the 'fungus' in the header; wow, this looks like a bunny trail thread.

A friend of mine works on Toyostoves, which is a heating oil monitor which is quite popular here in Alaska. They usually burn #1 diesel. He has noticed here lately with the fuel filters that he is getting algae in them.

Turns out this is common of the petroleum products that come out of Cook Inlet refineries. Here in the Interior, we usually have fuel distribution out of the refinery in North Pole (20 mi ESE of Fairbanks, thankyouverymuch); their petroleum source is off the North Slope.

The reason we are seeing the algae in the Interior now is because the Pogo Gold Mine and the Missile Defect System down at Ft Greely are demanding these resources, so we're seeing more fuel come up to us out of Anchorage.

He took a sample of this stuff to a guy who specializes in studying microorganisms associated with petroleum products, and said this is quite common of Cook Inlet product, as it's an offshore source.

The PNW gets a fair amount of petroleum distribution from this area, IIRC.

Not a lot you can do about it as the algae ingests this stuff. Just gotta keep on top of your filter changes I reckon.

I did a google for 'algae in fuel products' and came up with this; very interesting.

http://www.algae-x.net/faq.htm

I don't have much experience running diesels on anything with wheels, but the marine stores carry an algecide that was always effective for me in the watery environment.

That might be the ticket for the wheeled versions then. The dino juice all comes from the same place.

I will try some biocide, although if it is clogged I wonder how much good it will do without a physical cleanout.

Could my fuel line routing be causing starvation? The injection pump is located on the driver's side of the engine. I used the existing fuel supply and return lines which run on the passenger side of the truck, connecting them to the pump with rubber fuel hoses that travel up and over the engine on the firewall (similar to the routing of the A/C lines in this area). Is it possible that this up-and-over arrangement is not allowing the pump to draw fuel from the tank?

acy76, I have been reading your forum and blogspot for sometime. I have an 88 Trooper with a 2.6. It has a fuel filter near the rear passenger side wheel. That filter could be causing your starvation if you left it there. I hope this helps. Keep up the good work and keep us posted please.