Fuel Bacteria Test Kit

Fuel Bacteria Kits

Detects “Fuel Bugs”, bacteria and fungus in fuel.

This test is called a “dip slide”. One side of the slide is “white/transparent”. This will detect BACTERIA between 24 to 48 hours after exposure. The other side of the slide is “brown”. This will detect FUNGI within 4 to 5 days after exposure.

NO spots are good news. Any reaction is bad news.

Any reaction requires immediate action on your part. Remove excess water from fuel tank and treat with a Biocide.

Fuel Bacteria Test Kits – $9 each

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Fuel Bacteria Kits - 10-Pack

Fuel Bacteria Kits - Regularly $90 each on Sale for $65 each

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Step 1

Unscrew the cap and carefully withdraw the cap/slide from the vial. Do not touch the agar coated surface of the slide.

Step 2

Dip the slide in the fluid sample so that the agar surfaces are totally immersed. Agitate the slide back and forth for 3 to 15 seconds.

Step 3

Withdraw the slide from the sample and allow excess fluid to drain from the slide.

Step 4

Return the slide to the container and lightly screw the cap back on before backing it off one half turn.

Step 5

Incubate the vial in a dark location where it may remain in an upright position at a temperature of 25-36⁰C (77-96.8⁰F) (recommended: 24-48 hours for bacteria; up to five days for fungi). Inspect the slide and compare to colony density chart.

  • Autoclave or incinerate the capped vials (loosen cap to prevent explosion). Alternatively, decontaminate inoculated slides by immersing slides overnight in a bactericidal solution (1 part bleach added to 5 parts water). Local/state/provincial laws may apply to disposal.
  • If water enters your fuel system either through condensation or vents, it can causes bacteria growth. Many species of bacteria, mold and fungus can grow in diesel fuel but not algae. The scientific names for the most common types of organisms that live in petroleum products are Cladosporium resinae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • Algae growth in fuel is a misnomer for the problem.
  • What looks like algae may be in fact asphaltene or diesel sludge.
  • Asphaltene is a chemical problem inherent in diesel fuel and not biological contamination.
  • Unless you drain your tanks 100%, you always have old fuel in your tanks. This old fuel most likely has one of two problems, biological or chemical.
  • KMT Labs offers the fuel bacteria test kit to identify biological contaminants in the field.

Each kit comes with a sampling beaker and plastic tube for the fuel sample, along with the test kit that contains the bacteria and mold media.

Kits are $9 plus shipping.

10-pack test kit that contains the bacteria and mold media.

$65 plus shipping.