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Diesel fuel is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon molecules derived from petroleum crude.
Over time stored fuel will darken due to oxidation, repolymerization and agglomeration of certain components. The darkening is accompanied by the formation of sediment that plugs filters and causes poor combustion.
Gums and sediments in the fuel that develop over time do not burn in the engine very well, this can lead to carbon and soot deposits on injectors and other combustion surfaces which may lead to more serious problems.
Fuel vendors know what time can do to fuel quality and they suggest that if diesel fuel is stored it should be replaced with fresh fuel within a year unless special precautions or cleaning actions are put in place.
Another diesel quality problem is algae which is a bacterial or fungal growth. There are several forms, but they all live in water and feed on fuel. Generally algae are a living slime that will plug / block fuel filters. Water is the key catalyst for this algae issue. It is not possible to stop water from getting into fuel as the tank must always be vented to atmosphere, water naturally condensates on the insides of the tank walls with temperature changes.
Under normal storage conditions diesel fuel can be expected to stay in a useable condition for:
- 12 months only at an ambient temperature of 20ºC.
- 6–12 months at an ambient temperature higher than 30ºC.
Most diesel engine problems start out as poor fuel quality but end up as expensive repairs and out of service equipment. The source for 90% of all engine failures is poor diesel fuel quality.
Removing and disposing of contaminated diesel fuel and purchasing new fuel is a very expensive proposition, even when contaminated fuel is removed you still have a contaminated tank and just refilling the tank with new fuel does not solve the problem. Unless the tank insides are thoroughly cleaned the new fuel becomes contaminated by the remaining contents in the tank from the old fuel.
When failure is not an option on your diesel powered equipment clean fuel is paramount to you. Any application of fuel in storage will need extra special considerations. A diesel engine will not run if it is exposed to old or contaminated fuel. The use by date of fuel is limited and must be considered in any regular diesel maintenance program. Diesel fuel maintenance is often forgotten and can cause significant problems for your equipment reliability. Contact MLS to discuss options available on 08701 903090.
Dirt and water in diesel
Water molecules will form in the bottom of fuel cans, tanks or drums. These are formed when fuel is stored for even short periods of time. The free water formation is due to condensation in the air and or the separation of water molecules from fuel.
Water may be emulsified in fuel by vibration or by emulsifying additives such as alcohol, or detergents.
Dirt and water are practically unavoidable in stored fuel, causing microbial growth, corrosive acids, electrolysis and rust. These contaminants can plug filters, corrode components, and decrease efficient combustion and cause engine shutdown or system failure.
Why test 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 management programme is introduced to monitor and maintain fuel quality. A key component of such a fuel management 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.
Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME)
Standards: The European FAME standard EN 14214:2009 provides minimum quality requirements and limits relevant side products and tramp chemicals from FAME processing. In order to reduce the risk of premature failure of the fuel system, FAME must conform to EN 14214:2009, regardless whether used as 100 % fuel (B100) or as a blending component.
The European diesel fuel standard EN 590:2009 includes diesel blends with up to 7 % FAME (B7). The agreed position of all FIE manufacturers undersigned is to limit release of injection equipment for admixtures up to a maximum of 7 % FAME (meeting EN 14214:2009) with the resulting blend meeting the EN 590:2009 standard.
A more extensive revision of both the EN 14214 and EN 590 standards will be required to facilitate blending of up to 10 % FAME (B10). For future revisions FIE manufacturers support the development ofCEN standards, rather than those of individual member states, and do not approve national decrees.
FAME Stability: The reduced stability of FAME is of particular concern. Aged or poor quality FAME contains organic acids like formic acid and polymerisation products. The acids attack many components, and the polymers can lead to plugged filters, sediments and sticking moving parts drastically reducing the service life of the FIE. Long standstill periods bear the risk of reaching the point when the ageing reserve of the fuel inside tank and FIE is depleted. Extra measures are recommended like well-timed monitoring of fuel stability or precautionary fuel exchange, followed by an idling operation when such extended periods
of inactivity are anticipated. This affects also seasonally operated equipment like harvesters or emergency generators and vehicles to be exported to overseas. For this reason FAME-free EN 590 fuel is highly recommended for “first fill” or extended inactive periods.
Fuel stability is best described by the parameter ‘ageing reserve’, determined as induction period (IP) according to the EN 15751:2009 test method. B5 with an IP of ≥ 20 h has been demonstrated to be sufficiently stable for standard usage conditions in the European market. The stakeholders of CEN/TC19/WG24 considered it essential to maintain this fuel stability level of EU-B5 also for B7 and agreed to adapt EN 590:2009 accordingly.
Contact MLS for a free test of your diesel tel 08701 903090. |
