Diesel Testing Products and Services

As well as a supplying a vast array of ‘tank side’ testing equipment, IPU also provides a diesel testing service.  Sometimes it’s simply not possible to test on site, or you may need accredited lab standard test results.  For these instances the IPU Diesel Testing Service will provide precise, dependable diesel tests, all carried out to internationally recognised or accredited testing standards.

Diesel testing methods conducted by IPU:

  • Particle Count to ISO4406 or NAS – A measure of the general cleanliness of fuel by counting the amount and size of particle contamination.
  • Karl Fischer Water Content to IP438 – A measurement of the amount of water in your fuel.  Includes dissolved, emulsified and free water.
  • Microbe Count to IP385/99 – The diesel bug test.  Accurately measures the amount of bacteria or fungus in fuel.
  • Metals Content – Uses the spectrographic method to detect levels of wear metals within your fuel.
  • Bio-Diesel Content – Detects the exact amount of bio-diesel (FAME) in fuel.

We can also carry out soil and ground water testing where fuel spillages or fuel tank leaks may have occurred.

Diesel Contamination

Diesel fuel can contain many types of contaminant; all of them can be harmful to your engine.

  • Water – Can be present in fuel in three states; dissolved, emulsified and free.
    • Dissolved Water – Water that is chemically dissolved, or absorbed, into water and distributed molecule by molecule. Just like sugar in tea.
    • Emulsified Water – Where very small droplets of water are suspended in the fuel. Just like oil and vinegar in a salad dressing.
    • Free Water – Water that falls out of suspension in the fuel and gathers at the bottom of the fuel tank. Whilst dissolved water can affect fuel stability, it is free and emulsified water that are more problematic. Not only can it cause fuel system and engine damage but it also promotes microbial growth, or diesel bug, in fuel systems.
  • Diesel Bug – Microbial growth within a fuel tank or system is commonly known by the generic term ‘diesel bug’. Diesel bug isn’t a single type of organism, there are up to 100 different types of bacteria, moulds and yeasts that have been found inhabiting fuel systems.
  • Bacteria – Single cells, typically 1-10 micron in size, 20-30 minute generation time (the time for the population to double), one cell can multiply into 2 million in 7 hours. Bacteria will degrade fuel over time.
  • Mould – Type of fungi, long multi-cellular filaments. There is little indication that they degrade fuel but due to the long strands are effective at blocking filters etc.
  • Yeast – Type of fungi, relatively slow growing. Typically 3-4 micron in size.
  • Bio-Films – A biofilm is a complex structure of microbes that adheres to the walls of the fuel tank. It begins to form when free floating microbes land on a surface and attach themselves to it. This attachment is initially reversible, although if they are not removed they start to change their structure and become irreversibly attached to the surface. These microbes then start to divide and attract other microbes to join the colony. Bio-films are complex structures that, given time, can grow to millimeters thick and contain billions of microbes. Sometimes, perhaps following fuel tank turbulence, chunks of the bio-film will slough off and will block fuel filters. The bugs in bio-films also excrete acid, this acid will erode a metal fuel tank quite easily and many holed tanks are as a result of biofilm formation.
  • Asphaltines – These are present in all petro-diesel fuel to a greater or lesser extent, although they tend to increase with changes to fuel temperature and fuel oxidation. They are hard, brittle particles that are not soluble in fuel, and are generally less than 2 micron in size making them harmless to the fuel injection system. However they can agglomerate into larger particles which can easily block engine filters. These particles tend to collect at the bottom of a fuel tank and can form an oily sludge that is often confused with microbial contamination.
  • Gums and Other Organic Contaminants – The oxidation stability of bio-diesel is inferior to that of petro-diesel. Meaning that as the fuel comes into contact with oxygen chemical reactions break down the fuel into peroxide, organic acids and gummy sediment. These soft, sticky substances can stick to fuel filters and engine components and cause acid erosion.
  • Other Particles – Other particles can be present in fuel with diverse sources such as road dust and grit, soot, fuel tank rust, engine wear particles. All particles, regardless of source have the potential to cause wear or damage to the fuel injection system or engine.
  • Sludge – It is often claimed that ‘sludge’ is found within diesel fuel systems, and it is often interpreted as being one of the above contaminants. In reality it is likely that it is formed from a combination of many of the above contaminants.

Diesel testing service

Using state of the art equipment and globally recognized methods and standards, the IPU Diesel Testing Service will provide you with accurate, reliable fuel quality reports. We can even interpret the results for you and recommend a course of corrective actions if needed. All we need is around 750ml of your problem fuel in a sterile container (this is important because back ground contamination can give false results) and you can leave the rest to us, we can even supply the container and the sampling equipment if you need it. To test your fuel quality call the IPU Fuel Conditioning Team today on 0121 511 0400

Fuel Quality Management

When it comes to fuel quality standards, prevention is always better than cure. IPU recommend that, wherever diesel or biodiesel is being stored, effective processes are put into place to monitor and maintain optimum fuel condition. Much of this comes down to good fuel housekeeping and some of the measures to consider are:

  • Where possible purchase fuel from reliable sources
  • Ensure all tanks are in good condition, leak free and well maintained
  • Always follow recommended methods when refilling tanks
  • Where possible, keep fuel cool
  • Keep fuel tanks as full as possible (to reduce possible water condensation from moisture laden air)
  • Employ an ‘on tank’ filtration (or fuel polishing) system to remove water and other contamination
  • Filter fuel every time it is moved
  • Consider the use of a fuel additive to maintain fuel stability and a fuel biocide to minimize diesel bug growth
  • Introduce a regular test program to check fuel for water, particulate and microbial growth

It is possible that, even following the above recommendations, your fuel can become contaminated. In extremes this can mean that the fuel storage tank will need to be drained and properly cleaned. More often the contamination can be removed with fuel treatments of filtration. Where fuel bug is detected, this can be treated with Predator 8000 Fuel Biocide, where water in fuel is a concern we can supply Diesel Defence Fuel Polishing system. We have a variety of fuel conditioning solutions and can tailor a package specifically for your application. Call the IPU Fuel Conditioning Team today on 0121 511 0400

Why test your diesel?

Today’s common rail diesel engines, with injection pressures up to 35000psi, are intolerant of even the slightest fuel contamination. Abrasive particles and water will quickly cause damage and result in equipment downtime and the fine engine filtration designed to protect the equipment can easily become clogged if any microbial bio-mass is present in the fuel storage tank. Some forms of contamination in your fuel tank can cause other types of contamination, for example if free water is present in diesel fuel, it will promote the growth of diesel bug (also known as fuel bug). Water will also accelerate diesel fuel oxidation, which can lead to the formation of acids and gums in your fuel. When stored for long periods of time, the latest specification of diesel fuel, or gas oil, can start to deteriorate as it can contain up to 7% biodiesel.

Biodiesel is less stable than petroleum diesel and is more prone to oxidation, it is also more hygroscopic than and will absorb moisture from the atmosphere. As ambient temperatures change this moisture condenses out of the fuel to form free water at the bottom of the fuel storage tank – this is the breeding ground for diesel bug. Major fuel companies and engine manufacturers are now recommending that, wherever diesel is being stored for long periods of time, a fuel conditioning programme is introduced to monitor and maintain fuel quality. A key component of such a fuel conditioning programme is regular fuel testing. By testing your fuel for water content, for bacteria in fuel and general cleanliness you can prevent the possibility of premature engine fuel filter blockage, unscheduled maintenance and equipment damage and downtime. Where fuel is being stored for a safety critical application such as a fire pump or standby generator you will have the certainty that your fuel will be in prime condition when you need it most.