What is Diesel Fuel Contamination?

Diesel fuel is the backbone of thousands of businesses across the Delaware Valley but it is often kept out of sight, which means it is also out of mind. The fuel, if not used daily, will only be called upon in an emergency. However, do you know if the fuel will be effective when it is needed? The diesel fuel might have been delivered six months ago and not used until a power outage in town after a storm rolled through the area. The bottom line of your company depends on the emergency fuel to work when needed but if it’s contaminated it might not get the job done.

Types of diesel fuel contamination

There are three basic types of diesel fuel contamination and they include the following:

  • Inorganic debris (rust, dirt, etc.)

  • Water

  • Organic debris (microbes, waste from fuel deterioration)

Fuel had longer shelf life

In the past, diesel fuel had longer shelf life. This means that diesel fuel wouldn’t become contaminated as quickly or as easily in the past. The United States Army conducted a fuel study in the 1960s and found that fuel could be stored without contamination for two to five years and diesel fuel could be stored for up to 10 years without contamination.

Nowadays, regular fuel can only be stored for 90 days before becoming contaminated. When looking at diesel fuel, it downgrades by 26 percent in the first 28 days of storage and could reach 95 percent downgrade if there is water in the fuel. The reason for the change in shelf life is that refineries are being asked to produce higher volumes of fuel from the same crude in shorter periods.

Another reason for the shorter shelf life is the switch to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) in the last 14 years. This fuel is much safer for the environment but it is more attractive for water, which causes fuel to become contaminated. This type of fuel is also less resistant to microbial growth.

Keeping all of the above in mind, fuel that is stored for a rainy day is not always checked for problems until it’s too late. When could it be too late? After the power goes out and you need a backup generator to run to power your business or when a major storm is forecasted for the area. Make sure you check the health of your stored diesel fuel as often as possible to rectify any issues. 

How to Prevent diesel Fuel contamination

It is possible to prevent diesel fuel contamination with the help of Diesel Dialysis.

Diesel Dialysis can provide your business with the following services to help prevent diesel fuel contamination:

  • Conduct fuel testing to find the root cause of the problem

  • Fuel and tank cleaning (known as fuel polishing)

  • Add chemical treatments

If your business, municipality, or emergency services department relies on stored fuel you should keep these services in mind to ensure clean fuel is available when the time comes.

Questions to ask yourself

If you own a company that runs equipment, generators, or other items using diesel fuel, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions:

  • Have you checked all of your diesel fuel tanks lately?

  • When was the last time your diesel fuel was tested?

  • What should you expect if the fuel is bad?

  • Have the tanks been checked for microbial growth?

  • Do you know the difference between chemical and mechanical solutions?

  • Do you have a trusted company to take care of these details for you?

contact Diesel Dialysis today

Diesel fuel contamination is a serious problem that plagues many companies and municipalities across the Delaware Valley. Don’t let bad fuel burn you in an emergency. Call the team at Diesel Dialysis at 856-470-7705 today to schedule an inspection of your tank and the fuel inside. We have the tools and experience necessary to diagnose the problem and rectify it in a timely manner.