What's Eating Distillate Fuel These Days?. December 1966. WHAT'S EATING DISTILLATE FUEL THESE DAYS? PAUL HOBSON (Consultant) Microbes, that's what! Diesel fuel, kerosene, gas oils . . . all serve as food for bacteria. The result is severe gumming of delicate components and corrosion of metal surfaces. To prevent trouble, the Author explains in this article how to outwit these hung