Algae X

[Bertramp]

Do any of you folks use the magnetic filtration helper called Algae X ? Is it
"snake-oil" or a legitimate product ?
thanks

 

[Passages]

I have some observations:

First, they have an effect on diesel. Not sure why putting a non-magnetic liquid through a magnetic field would do anything, but it does.

It appears the biggest effect is the products ability to dis-aglomerate (is that a word?) sludgey fuel and pass it through your filter. The frequently of filter replacement will be reduced.

The amount of smoke (soot?) out the exhaust will also be reduced. Perhaps because the sludgey fuel is being emulsified.

At the MIBS, I noted Detroit Diesel is now selling them as accessories. That says something.

Claims that these devices save fuel are doubtful.

Before you buy, check out DieselTEX, and Vostec as well. Forget the snap on units from no name companies as they have been shown to be ineffective.

If it were me, I would buy one unit and run a side by caparison using the unmodified engine as a control. Give it a shot, I don't see how it could hurt anything.

I recall a discussion on Boatdiesel.com which addressed this. There might be some new info since I last looked.

 

[Canuck Dennis]

I installed one in 1995, ran thousands of gallons of fuel through it, still had algae traces in the fuel. Threw it away.
My 2c

 

[Bertramp]

I have some observations:


It appears the biggest effect is the products ability to dis-aglomerate (is that a word?) sludgey fuel and pass it through your filter. The frequently of filter replacement will be reduced.

But aren't you then potentially jeopardizing injectors ?

 

[Passages]

I have some observations:


It appears the biggest effect is the products ability to dis-aglomerate (is that a word?) sludgey fuel and pass it through your filter. The frequently of filter replacement will be reduced.

But aren't you then potentially jeopardizing injectors ?

Probably not.

I don't believe abrasive material is reaching the injectors. By placing them between your tank and primary filter, you still get the benefit of primary & secondary filtration.

 

[Brian Degulis]

Pure Snake Oil The X is sold as a system put on the majic magnetizer and use these additives. The improvement is from the aditives not the majic magnitzer. There are other aditives that work as well or better.

 

[Captned]

Smoke and mirrors IMHO.

Captned
MBMM

 

[Bertramp]

Seems strange ... if you're changing filters less, then the "bad stuff" has to be either disolving away or being burned with the fuel.

 

[Passages]

Seems strange ... if you're changing filters less, then the "bad stuff" has to be either disolving away or being burned with the fuel.

Yep. I've talked to skeptics and advocates on this.

If you have some funky fuel that you want to burn up, these might help, otherwise they will not provide much benefit.

I'm waiting for an independent lab to run some clinical trials on these devices and settle the matter once and for all. When I asked folks at the Algae-x booth at MIBS why this had not been done, I was told it cost too much.

OKaaaay.....

I do recall an article on boatdiesel.com that showed side by side comparisons of filters with & without mag treatment. The difference was obvious so something was happening.

It may be snake oil...I don't know, but for now I'll keep an open mind.

 

[Passages]

Found the article from boatdiesel.com:

http://www.algae-x.net/_testimonials/testimonial_60.pdf




and here is an article blowing off the whole concept of magnetic treatment:

http://www.csicop.org/si/9801/powell.html

 

[captddis]

In my experience they work.
Here is an example. 1977 42 Hatteras repowered with 450C cummins, Filters would plug every 35 ish hours using Racor 30 mic filters in a racor 900. Installed a set of 900 duals and Algae X 500 series. The new racor duals had 2 mic filters installed. The boat went to the Bahamas for the summer and came back after 160 hr running time. Went to service engines and he was still running the factory2 mic filter and never changed a filter the whole trip.

That was good enough for me. I have installed them on other problem boats with good results also. YMMV.

 

[GJH]

Here's a comprehensive thread from 5 years ago. Note that our own Genesis (Karl) did the test cited by Passages in boatdiesel, and he provides a link here as well:

http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=318&highlight=algae

I have these on my boat c/o the PO. I don't know if they work or not. We run the boat a lot (600+ hours a year); I change the Racors about every 200 hours, but they are pretty dark when I do. The genset has one too, and comes up much cleaner than the mains after 200 hours, due to far less return, I'm sure. I use Pri-D about every third tank.

I have given occasional thought to changing out the Algae-X for RCIs, but that is way way down the priority list. Probably will end up in the "why bother?" category.

 

[Genesis]

I have a pair of Algae-X competitors units in my garage. Anyone want 'em?

 

[Timm]

I was the category manager for the "engine" department for our favorite marine parts supplier for a number of years and made the decision to pull them from the product assortment due to inconclusive results and, poor sales.

As a replacement product, I brought in a product by Walker Engineering (the airsep folks) which they call FuelSeps. They had documented (scientific) proof of its improvement in fuel efficiency which begins at about 5 hours of use and tops out after 30 or so hours. Increases in fuel efficiency by 5% and eliminates the need for additional additives if the engines are run at least 50 hours per year.

They install in-line after the fuel water separators and have a conservative life of 5000 hours or 5 years. They are not inexpensive but with the 5% improvement in fuel consumption, there is some justification. And, you don't have to worry about additives. There is some reduction in smoking as well since the fuel is now burning more efficiently.

I installed them on my 8v71N's on my old 57' Chris and both the mains and genset on my Hatt. It was tough to prove on the Chris as I didn't have a real accurate way to track useage but the Hatt has Floscans which makes it much easier to keep track of fuel useage. I can attest that there was about a 3% improvement after installing FuelSeps.

They come in various sizes ranging for use in outboards up to 2000hp. You can read about them at this link:

http://walkerairsep.com/product_list.asp?productTypeID=3&engineMakeID=0&engineHPID=0