Visit our online store Dismiss

Let's Talk
+44 (0) 121 511 0400
ipu@ipu.co.uk
IPU Group
Log in
StoreQuote
ContactsContact us
  • Home Page
  • Webshop
  • Explore IPU
  • Your Industry
    • Marine Industry
    • Oil & Gas Industry
    • Mining
    • Healthcare
    • Data Centres & IT Services
    • Power Generation
  • IPU Academy
  • Fuel Management Services
    • Case Studies
    • HMRC Red Diesel Rebate Changes
    • IPU Fuel Conditioning Programmes
    • Diesel Testing – DieselCheck Service & Kits
    • Fuel Cleaning Services – ClearTank diesel cleaning
    • Fuel Tank Cleaning
    • Fuel Polishing Systems – Diesel Defence
    • Diesel Defence Servicing
    • Cloud Based Fuel Monitoring
    • Fuel Polishing Hire
    • Diesel Defender Fuel Additive
    • Baldwin Filters
    • Parker Racor Filtration
    • Donaldson Filters
    • Supporting Fuel Conditioning Products
    • What is Diesel Contamination?
    • Fuel Conditioning Contacts
  • Environmental Services
    • OFTEC Inspection services
    • MCERTS Emissions Gas Testing
    • Total Fuel Management
  • Engine Starting
    • Case Studies
    • Hydraulic Engine Starting
    • Spring Starters – SureStart
    • Air Starters
    • Nitrogen Starting Systems
    • Reman Air Starter Motors
    • ATEX Starting
    • Inertia Starter Motors
    • Pre-engaged Starters
    • Servicing
    • Engine Starting Contacts
  • Emissions Reductions
    • Case Studies
    • IPU Emissions Solutions
    • Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR)
    • Diesel Particulate Filter for gensets (DPF)
    • Latest Emissions Legislation: MCPD and NRMM
    • Clean Air Zones
    • Stack Modelling
    • What is NOx?
    • What is Particulate Matter?
  • CAN Bus Solutions
    • Senquip Telemetry ORBs
    • Enovation Engine and Genset Battery Chargers
    • Enovation J1939 Input/Output Modules
    • Enovation CAN J1939 PowerView Gauges
    • Enovation Process Monitoring Instruments
  • Displays
    • Displays
  • Filtration
    • Parker Racor Filtration
    • Baldwin Filters
    • Donaldson Filters
  • Component Sourcing
    • Single Sourcing
    • Specialist Component Sourcing
    • Engine Manufacture
    • Oil Industry Supply Company
    • Marine Engine Service Company
  • Manufacturing Services
    • IPU Sub-Assemblies
  • Case Studies
  • About IPU
    • About Us
    • Our capabilities
    • Our Distributors
    • IPU’s COVID-19 Response
    • Meet the Management Team
    • IPU Finance Options
    • Contact Us
    • Our History
    • Quality & Environmental
    • Modern Slavery Policy
    • Careers
    • News
    • Compliments & Complaints
  • Contact Us
  • Downloads
  • News

Home » News » Fuel Conditioning » How to spot fuel contamination in your storage tanks

How to spot fuel contamination in your storage tanks

January 15th, 2015 in Fuel Conditioning, News

The good news is you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to spot if your fuel is contaminated, the bad news is if you can actually see the signs of contamination the problem is already serious.

On sites where power is critical (such as datacentres, hospitals and military bases) backup generators will be employed to cover any failures in the mains supply. Under normal conditions these units will run for just minutes each month as part of a maintenance programme. But this leads to the storage of large amounts of fuel over a long period of time. This practice carries a stark warning from engine manufacturers and even diesel suppliers that advise if storing fuel any longer than 6-12 months it will lead to fuel contamination. But how can you find out if your fuel is contaminated?

The safest, most accurate way is to have it properly tested with an IPU DieselCheck test. This is because once you start to physically seeing the signs of fuel contamination the situation has already become serious and your generator stops running. But if you haven’t had it tested a common first sign you’ll spot is when the fuel filter starts to become blocked by a greenish-black or brown slime, frequently accompanied by a foul odour. If left, this slimy, string-like colony can also plug sharp bends in fuel lines and fuel meters.

Another issue is that microorganisms can cause corrosion due to the acid by-products they produce. Some microorganisms will even pass through the standard fuel filters which can form deposits and cause damage in the fuel pump and injectors.

Additionally, as fuel ages colloid carbon particles naturally form., these are microscopic particles of carbon that will also pass through filters and damage fuel pumps by hindering lubrication and fuel injectors on compression burn.

Other indicators of contamination are:

  1. Slime deposits of a wax formation that can block fuel lines and seize fuel injectors. These deposits are usually greenish-black or brown and are slick to the touch.
  2. Black or brown “stringy” material suspended in tank water bottoms.
  3. Swelling or blistering of any rubber surface (washers, hoses, connectors, and so forth) that comes in contact with fuel.
  4. Sludge or slime deposits on filter surfaces.
  5. Foul odour resembling that of rotten eggs (hydrogen sulphide).

To ensure your fuel is reliable you should regularly test your fuel as part of your maintenance programme, but if you haven’t and you witnesses any of the above symptoms, you must contact IPU urgently. An IPU Fuel Test can provide you with a full report on the diesel in your tank and a recommended course of action. If your fuel is found to be contaminated our fuel conditioning programme can restore you fuel to ISO EN590 certified condition.

« Previous Post
Next Post »
« Back to all News

Recent Blog Articles

  • Vacancy: Mechanical Assembler / Multi-skilled Workshop Engineer October 10, 2023
  • Vacancy: Business Administrator September 15, 2023
  • Vacancy: Service & Proposals Engineer September 12, 2023
  • Vacancy: Applications & Software Engineer Trainee June 7, 2023
  • IPU are at Plantworx Show 13th-15th June! June 5, 2023
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
IPU Group

Registered in England & Wales: 12167631

Industrial Power Units Ltd
Cygnus Way
West Bromwich
West Midlands
B70 0XB, UK

Contact us
+44 (0) 121 511 0400
+44 (0) 121 511 0401
ipu@ipu.co.uk
Links
  • Product Registration
  • Product Manuals
  • Terms & Conditions of Sales
  • Privacy & Cookies