Engines1

As with most things related to the pleasure marine industry, they do not get used as much as they should.  This certainly applies to the fuel in your tank.  For most boat owners the fuel sits in the tank month after month.  This fuel degrades over time and at some point gets to the point where it starts to cost you real time and money.  So what to do?  We have heard all sorts of claims about fuel polishing.  This is the trick of pulling your fuel from the tank by means of an electric fuel pump.  This fuel is then run through a filter or series of filters and then back to the tank.

Well I’m here to tell you that method IS NOT fuel polishing.  (more…)

With winter fast approaching it is important to speak with your fuel supplier about the additive package they use in your winter fuel.  We have seen problems in the past with additive packages.  The problem seems to be more pronounced when your engines are the common rail type.  These engines use extreme pressure on the supply fuel side prior to the injectors.  In several cases (found in the mining community) there has been a thick brown residue on the injector tips and on the piston crown.  In all of these known cases the engine suffered serious power loss and in some instances downtime.  This resulted in large repair bills.  We do however know that on vehicles where we have installed the fuel conditioner the engine suffered no injector related problems or downtime.  To learn more go to http://www.cleanfuelmanagement.com/ and click on mining.  To learn more about our complete fuel catalyst go to www.cleanfuelmanagement.com/p_fcatalyst.html.

Tim

Engines1

Portsmouth, VA

Have you ever wondered why we neglect our fuel as much as we do?  Do you worry about the long term effects of your fuel just sitting around?  Well, there is finally an affordable solution to keep your fuel in it’s optimum condition.
Introducing the all new Smart FPS-DX-D from Algae-X.  This compact 12 or 24 Volt DC system will keep your fuel pristine.  Dramatically reduce or eliminate filter clogging.  It is fitted with an automatic programmable timer that turns the system on and off at your discretion.  Set it and Forget it.  The fail-safes will protect you from high suction and high pressure in case of a loss of suction or clogged filter.  This system will pump up to 80 gallons per hour.  The filter options include a 10 micron fine filter and 15 micron water block filter.  That is perfect for a 500 gallon tank or less.  Even twin tanks can be easily fitted with this system by installing a couple of three way valves or fuel manifolds.  So if you are thinking about your fuel then STOP! We have a low cost solution that works.
For more information go to Engines1.com or Cleanfuelmanagement.com.  Once you have downloaded the Smart FPS-DX specs, operator manual and read through the data, give me a call and I will help you solve this ever growing issue…….bad fuel.

To save time call 1-800-548-6252 and ask for Tim.
Or submit a request for a quote.
Happy Boating

Did you know, your diesel fuel is spoiling while you sleep?

Diesel fuel quality issues are creating a heightened level of concern for consumers worldwide.Fuel deterioration causes clogged filters, loss of engine power, and worst of all, engine failure. By educating yourself, and preparing your equipment for this inevitable failure you can avoid emergency problems and insure a continuous flow of clean, clear and optimal diesel fuel to your equipment.
Before we deal with the solution we must first understand the problem. Diesel fuel is an organic compound that is refined from crude oil. Through the refining process the resulting fuel molecules become polarized and unstable. We will deal with polarization and stability one by one.

The magnetic effect of the polarized molecules allows these to recombine or attach to one another ending up, over time, in a cluster of what we commonly refer to as sludge. Sludge is the extreme effect of these clusters. At the point that you can see the formations it is too late. Your engine pulls this sludge into the fuel system, the filter traps it in the filter media, and when the sludge covers enough of the filter media to prevent fuel flow, the engine shuts down. You can change the filter and wait for the next event or begin a proactive approach, through annual tank cleaning or permanent automated fuel polishing systems, that deal with the root cause of this polarization. Look for a future article on “How Magnetic Fuel Conditioning Works”.
Secondly is the issue of stability. During refinement an oxygen molecule is stripped from the hydrocarbon chain of the fuel molecule. Needing to fill that void is the desire of the fuel molecule. Since refining uses high pressure steam in most cases the simplest way to fill this void is to grab an oxygen molecule from the steam during the cracking process. Unfortunately there are also a couple of hydrogen molecules attached to the water molecule that fuel just grabbed. In fuel speak this is known as entrained or emulsified water and is carried with the fuel for the rest of it’s life. In most cases this is not seriously harmful on it’s own but when left to rest this water combined with other free water will create a recipe for disaster. Because, when your engine is running the fuel is drawn into the system and is separated at the filter. The level continues to elevate until the high water alarm sounds or until the filter flow is blocked and fuel ceases to flow. In extreme cases when using substandard filters the water continues through the system thereby damaging injection pumps and injectors.

Getting the water, particulate (dirt) and sludge out of your fuel prior to use by the engine is, and must be, your prime focus. Engines1 sells, services and installs systems that clean your fuel. These systems circulate fuel outside of the engine fuel system. Our fuel polishing systems provide primary filtration, magnetic fuel conditioning, and secondary filtration. They utilize a water removal filter on the inlet side and in most cases a water block filter on the discharge side. Go to our Cleanfuelmanagement site to see and learn more.

Before And After Pictures of Diesel Fuel After Polishing

This sample was taken from a tank that supplies a standby generator set for critical backup.  The tank is a 2000 gallon below ground tank.  The company stated that they currently had a maintenance company who was taking care of the fuel.  The maintenance company would sample the tank periodically, recommend a treatment program, then add a series of chemicals to the stored fuel that was supposed to bring the fuel back to life and give the company uninterrupted backup of the generator plant.  When enough water and sludge built up at the tank bottom the maintenance company would come in and pump the tank bottom and discard the sludge.  What we have learned:

No two tanks are the same.  The things that affect one tank may not affect the other.  The things that you cannot see will hurt you and your power plant.  Simple chemical insertions will not repair poor fuel quality.  Proper fuel polishing requires an understanding of how the problem occurs.

Sampling the fuel:

It is critical to sample a tank prior to a tank cleaning/polishing operation.  This is done to minimize filter consumption and a tech’s time on site.  Sampling is typically done off of the tank bottom by a bacon bomb or tube from a sampling pump.  The required quantity for lab testing is 16 ounces.  If the tank is 10,000 gallons or larger then a mid-tank sample is also required.  An alternative method to use prior to the lab is a visual test.  When sampling, fill a pint size Mason jar and allow a few minutes for the fuel to settle.  This will give you a better idea through a visual exam what you are dealing with and how to start.  A second option (not to replace the sampling procedure) is to run a Veeder Root report.  This will show the amount of fuel in the tank and most importantly the amount of free water at the tank bottom.

Why is this important?

When servicing a tank it is critical to remove as much sludge and water as possible prior to the filtration process.  Not only will this save filters and time on site in the competitive market of tank cleaning but also save the tank from pitting and potentially leaking as a result of the acidic properties of this sludge.  This process also allows you to carry enough empty containers so you can transport and discard the tank bottom sludge without stopping to procure extra sludge vessels.  The ultimate goal in tank cleaning/polishing is to return the customer’s fuel to clear, bright, and spec condition.  To do this efficiently you must plan for the job.  Removing the tank bottom sludge is your first step in staying on budget.  You want to be sure that when you switch the machine to the filtering process you get the maximum life from a filter and avoid premature filter stoppage.  This cuts costs and reduces stress on the machine.

To learn how to solve this and other fuel related items visit:  www.Cleanfuelmanagement.com