Fuel Polishing is More Than Adding Chemicals and Filtering Fuel!

Most diesel engine failures start in the fuel tank. You can read article after article about all of the solutions on the market and how they maintain the quality of your fuel.  The articles also talk about how to resurrect the bad fuel in your tanks.  Solutions from draining the tanks and cleaning the tank walls to running very large filters as some sort of polishing rig.  These are touted to be the only solution.  Many claims are put out there for fuel polishing and many hold little substance.

The importance of Diesel Fuel Maintenance cannot be understated. Diesel fuel problems, causes and cures are discussed elsewhere in this web site (click here to read articles in our knowledgebase about fuel and fuel issues). The real problem is terminology! What is diesel fuel polishing, and what is not.

The most commonly used term for treating and/or cleaning diesel fuel is Fuel Polishing. Many manufacturers describe their products that polish your fuel will revert it to usable quality. Many of these processes rely mainly on the addition of chemicals.  Most of these chemicals deal with microbial contamination.  They also rely heavily on the use of filtration systems. For the average mechanic not schooled on the deterioration process of diesel fuel the addition of an extra filter is the answer.  Some will go as far as working the micron rating of the filter.  We have seen two or three filters connected in series to deal with fuel “contamination or deterioration”.

Also on the market are unusual filtering media such as paper towels or toilet paper to remove particulates from the fuel.  The bottom line is that filters only treat the symptom and DO NOT treat the problem.  Chemicals that deal with microbial growth will almost always compound the problem.  As these poisons work they kill the microbes.  As the microbes die they fall to the tank bottom.  As this layer is left unattended it continues to thicken.  Eventually it will get deep enough to be sucked up by your fuel pickup or even worse, on a rough day the sloshing will stir this sludge and render the entire tank useless.  Clogged filters WILL SHUT DOWN YOUR ENGINE.  Even worse this "bio-sludge" is very acidic and will eventually eat away at you tanks and fuel system.

Fuel that has been attacked by contamination from microbial growth is a common problem, however, is only part of the problem.  Chemicals used to treat microbial growth do a fair job, but microbial growth returns in time.  Treating your fuel with any of the filtration systems on the market will not eliminate the need for maintenance doses of chemicals.

The problem that is not solved by chemicals is the accumulation of asphaltines.  This is dirt and crude oil molecules left over from the refining process.  Asphaltines lead to the formation of bigger clumps of solids, which, if left alone will not completely burn in the combustion chamber of your engine. The first sign of fuel deterioration is loss of engine performance and black smoke in the exhaust.  These solids get so large that they will not pass through the filter.  So if you find yourself replacing filters at a more frequent pace than normal, then you are at the begining of a critical contamination problem.  Chemicals or filtration alone will not reverse this type of fuel degradation.  Not even when used together.

But the ALGAE-X unit, when installed in the fuel line or the ALGAE-X Fuel Polishing System when installed on the vessel will break down the clumps and solids, prevent oxidation, stabilize the fuel, and clean up accumulated tank sludge. The results are “Clear & Bright Fuel”, improved filter performance and life, optimal combustion and clean fuel.  Deteriorated fuel is restored to usable condition. With regular fuel polishing utilizing the ALGAE-X Fuel Polishing unit, chemical treatments to fight microbial growth is no longer needed, further reducing costs and maintenance, and longer injection equipment life.

 Fuel Polishing Systems from ALGAE-X are more than just a filter.  The fuel is pulled in from the tank then travels through the LGX Unit.  This breaks down the clumps of asphaltines and crude into smaller particles.  From the LGX magnetic fuel conditioner the fuel travels to a full flow, low restriction filter.  This filter has a very high flow rate and allows high flow of diesel fuel through the system.  The fuel then flows through the gear pump at a max rate of 240 gallons per hour.  The entire process is controlled by a timer.  This has a max time of 6 hours.  You know the phrase "set it and forget it".  Standard safety features include a vacuum gauge on top of the filter housing for the suction side.  this allows you to easily see the condition of your filter.  The filter itself is cleanable for up to five cycles.  Systems are available in 12 Volt and 24 Volt DC as well as 120 Volt AC.  The "A" model incorporates an alarm panel which will automatically shut the system down in the case of a clogged filter.  If you need to change the filter it only requires 4" above the unit for some models.

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