Trucks that are never shut off can still become infested.
We all call it algae, but it cannot be, as algae requires the sun to survive.
What we get is a dark-loving bacteria that thrives in the interface between water and fuel.
It matters little where one buys fuel either.
The age of the tanks and them never being completely cleaned out on a regular basis is what causes most problems.
Fuel tanks "sweat" on the inside, especially in extremely humid areas such as Kentucky.
Fuel is much colder than the surrounding air, making condensation that much worse.
You can buy pristine fuel at every fill-up and still have three-inches of water standing in the bottom of the tanks.
Older vehicles had "sumps" with drain-***** in the tanks.
You let the vehicle sit still for half-an-hour, the water collects in the sump, and you open the drain, letting the water out.
Such conveniences cost maybe fifty-cents to the manufacturer, so we no longer get them.
Once the bacteria gets started, it is hard to get completely rid of it.
I got tired of filters instantly clogging, shutting me down in in-opportune places, when big wads of dead bacteria sludge would come through the lines.
I did a lot of extensive research and got a bunch of New Zealand De-Bugg magnetic fuel filters; those things work.
I have a whole barage of fuel cleaning devices that the fuel must pass through prior to entering the main fuel-filter.
First in line is a GoldenRod filtering sediment-bowl; those things are wonderful and should be on every truck --- they are that good.
Next in line is a genuine LUCAS-CAV glass-bottom water-separating sediment-bowl; this catches any water that comes along and I can actually see when water is present just by looking through the glass.
Then, the De-Bugg bacteria-killing magnetic fuel-filter.
Along with all of this, just ahead of both the mechanical lift-pump and auxilliary electric pump are plain old cheapie inline filter/strainers; these catch anything that would otherwise lodge in the inlet screens and are much easier to service than accessing the screens.
Since employing this gauntlet of fuel cleaning devices, I have not had an un-expected filter blockage issue; and, I have saved enough on replacement fuel-filters to more than pay for it all.
