What Is Fuel Polishing for Generators?

In previous articles, we’ve discussed fuel storage, stability and the importance of a fuel management plan. But what if the fuel you already have is fouled by water, bacteria, and sediment? Red Dye Diesel fuel can be expensive, reaching just under $4 a gallon in some areas. Replacing 5,000 or more gallons of dirty diesel fuel can put a serious dent in your maintenance budget. Luckily, there is a solution. There is an entire industry built around cleaning and preserving diesel fuel, and many companies now offer professional “fuel polishing” services.

common causes of contaminated fuel

Contamination

The use of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel has made generator engine fuel systems much more susceptible to the damaging effect of water and it’s related contaminants. Water breeds fungus and bacteria, which create waste and die, forming a sediment in the fuel that sinks to the bottom of the tank and turns to sludge. This sludge can get sucked into the fuel pump and eventually make its way into fuel lines and fuel injectors, blocking the flow of fuel to the combustion chambers and causing engine failure. If your generator set is mission or life critical, this can be a devastating turn of events that is completely preventable.

Corrosion

Since the U.S. government mandated the reduction of sulfur from diesel fuels to reduce pollution, fuel just doesn’t function the same, on a molecular level. Lubricants, bio-diesels and other additives help to stabilize fuel, however, water contamination has become a major issue. Aside from the bacteria and fungus, water also corrodes steel fuel lines and injector parts, even the inside of the fuel tank. Not only does this weaken the structural integrity of the fuel system, increasing the chance of mechanical failure, it also adds tiny rust particles to the already dangerous sludge in the system.

so, what is fuel polishing?

Fuel polishing is the process of removing water and contaminants from diesel fuel by pumping the fuel out of the storage tank, through a series of filters, and back into the tank. The fuel is thoroughly cleaned in the process.

How Long Does Fuel Polishing Take?

Many factors come into play when estimating the time it takes to fully clean and filter a tank of diesel fuel. Mainly, how much fuel are we cleaning? How dirty is it? How big is the fuel polishing unit doing the service? Guessing how long this will take is difficult, but we do know it is substantially less time consuming than mission-critical engine failure.

How much does it cost?

Again, there are too many variables involved to give a blanket cost to fuel polishing services. It is usually an hourly based service, so more fuel, dirtier fuel, and the size of the unit still play the main part in determining the price. Compared to the cost of a blown engine, damaged fuel system, or replacing an entire tank of diesel fuel; the cost of fuel polishing is minimal. Investing a few hundred dollars twice a year in fuel polishing can make a serious difference when it counts, during an emergency power outage.

Resale

As regulations and technology continue to change, you may find yourself needing to upgrade or replace your generator set. Keeping it clean and shiny, changing the oil and other routine maintenance goes a long way to keeping your generators value, however, bad fuel can do damage that you cant see. Corroded fuel tanks, fuel lines, and injectors, as well as sludge build up throughout the system can render your investment almost valueless due to excessive repairs needed to restore it to trustworthy levels.

Woodstock Power Company

At Woodstock Power, we buy and sell used generators every day. We understand the importance of lifetime maintenance in retaining your generators vale and reliability. If you have any questions regarding buying or selling a generator, or fuel polishing and generator maintenance, feel free to call us anytime.

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