Fuel Test Keeps Engines Clean

2015 - Volume #39, Issue #5, Page #38

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If your diesel fuel sits very long in the tank, test it before you use it, suggests John Nightingale, Dieselcraft Fluid Engineering. Over time, diesel fuel without stabilizers can oxidize.
    “The first thing you notice is the engine smoking as the oxidized fuel has lost its cetane rating and starts to come apart,” says Nightingale. “Looking at the fuel, you’ll see it's darkening. The older and darker the fuel, the less efficient it is in the engine.”
    Eventually, the oxidation breaks down the fuel. If held in storage, some components will drop to the bottom of the fuel tank and form diesel sludge, which smells bad and can cause engines to smoke and eventually plug filters.
    “Diesel fuel begins to deteriorate as soon as it's produced,” says Nightingale. “Within 30 days of refining, all diesel fuel, regardless of brand, goes through a natural process called repolymerization and oxidation. Once it starts to oxidize, it's like milk going sour. It oxidizes throughout.”
    Knowing how much fuel has oxidized is key. Dieselcraft offers an oxidation evaluation test kit for use before using stored fuel, whether in the storage tank or the engine. The test, which works with all commercial diesel fuel types, consists of filling a vial half full of fuel and adding 15 drops of an oxidation catalyst. In the presence of a high level of oxidation, the catalyst turns black.
    “The more oxidized the fuel, the faster the results show,” says Nightingale. “Severely oxidized fuel can produce a black band in 5 min. or less. Less oxidized fuel will produce a brown band. To be sure, we suggest letting the sample rest for up to 20 min.”
    Depending on the level of oxidation, Nightingale may suggest different additives. If bad enough, filtering may be recommended.
    If water has accumulated in the tank, bacteria and fungi may add to the sludge. This can lead to serious problems.
    “When you refill the tank, you stir up all the sludge on the bottom, and when it hits the fuel filters, they plug,” explains Nightingale. “Of particular concern are standby generators that are mission critical. Even if tested for 20 min. every week, the engine may run for 2 hrs. when needed and then quit if the fuel has gone bad.”
    Nightingale emphasizes the same thing can happen with any stationary engine, like an irrigation engine, or even a tractor or truck engine that sits over winter.
    “I get calls from people saying they have algae in the tank,” says Nightingale. “It is microbes, not algae. If someone sold you a biocide, it has done nothing to fix the problem.”
    Nightingale recommends testing older fuel for microbes and mold. He offers a test that identifies the presence of both on a single test. If a problem is present, he recommends a tank cleaner to treat the remaining fuel.
    The diesel fuel test for oxidation is priced at $9.95 for a single test or $49.95 for 20 tests. The bacteria and mold test is priced at $15.95 for a single test or $290.00 for 20 kits plus a free 8-oz. sample bottle of tank cleaner for treating up to 275 gal. of diesel fuel.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Magnum Group, Dieselcraft Fluid Engineering, P.O. Box 7670, Auburn, Calif. 95604 (ph 530-613-2150; sales@dieselcraft.com; www.dieselcraft.com).

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Fuel Test Keeps Engines Clean ENGINES If your diesel fuel sits very long in the tank test it before you use it suggests John Nightingale Dieselcraft Fluid Engineering Over time diesel fuel without stabilizers can oxidize “The first thing you notice is the engine smoking as the oxidized fuel has lost its cetane rating and starts to come apart ” says Nightingale “Looking at the fuel you’ll see it is darkening The older and darker the fuel the less efficient it is in the engine ” Eventually the oxidation breaks down the fuel If held in storage some of the components will drop to the bottom of the fuel tank and form diesel sludge which smells bad and can cause engines to smoke and eventually plug filters “Diesel fuel begins to deteriorate as soon as it is produced ” says Nightingale “Within 30 days of refining all diesel fuel regardless of brand goes through a natural process called repolymerization and oxidation Once it starts to oxidize it is like milk going sour It oxidizes throughout ” Knowing how much fuel has oxidized is key Dieselcraft offers an oxidation evaluation test kit for use before using stored fuel whether in the storage tank or the engine The test which works with all commercial diesel fuel types consists of filling a vial half full of fuel and adding 15 drops of an oxidation catalyst In the presence of a high level of oxidation the catalyst turns black “The more oxidized the fuel the faster the results show ” says Nightingale “Severely oxidized fuel can produce a black band in 5 min or less Less oxidized fuel will produce a brown band To be sure we suggest letting the sample rest for up to 20 min ” Depending on the level of oxidation Nightingale may suggest different additives If bad enough filtering may be recommended If water has accumulated in the tank bacteria and fungi may add to the sludge This can lead to serious problems “When you refill the tank you stir up all the sludge on the bottom and when it hits the fuel filters they plug ” explains Nightingale “Of particular concern are standby generators that are mission critical Even if tested for 20 min every week the engine may run for 2 hrs when needed and then quit if the fuel has gone bad ” Nightingale emphasizes the same thing can happen with any stationary engine like an irrigation engine or even a tractor or truck engine that sits over winter “I get calls from people saying they have algae in the tank ” says Nightingale “It is microbes not algae If someone sold you a biocide it has done nothing to fix the problem ” Nightingale recommends testing older fuel for microbes and mold He offers a test that identifies the presence of both on a single test If a problem is present he recommends a tank cleaner to treat the remaining fuel The diesel fuel test for oxidation is priced at $9 95 for a single test or $49 95 for 20 tests The bacteria and mold test is priced at $15 95 for a single test or $290 00 for 20 kits plus a free 8-oz sample bottle of tank cleaner for treating up to 275 gal of diesel fuel Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Magnum Group Dieselcraft Fluid Engineering P O Box 7670 Auburn Calif 95604 ph 530 613-2150; sales@dieselcraft com; www dieselcraft com

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