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Frequently Asked Questions |
- What is Diesel fuel polishing?
Diesel fuel polishing is the process of filtering out contaminates such as water, rust, tars and bacteria commonly found in Diesel fuel tanks and restoring the lubricity, stability and combustibility of Diesel fuel.
- How does PowerSure Clean Tanks?
Our tank cleaning machinery is completely portable and can be brought to wherever the fuel tank or boat is located.
Our unique 4-stage equipment and proprietary fuel polishing techniques flushes fuel tanks clean and polishes the fuel all in one step. With these we can restore even dirty stale Diesel fuel to like new condition.
- Why Get the Fuel Tank Cleaned?
Diesel engines require three things to run reliably: clean oil, clean air and clean fuel.
Since 90% of Diesel engine problems result from contaminated fuel getting the tank cleaned is some of the best preventative and cost effective maintenance you can do.
- Is fuel polishing expensive?
It is far less costly than the alternative, which is pumping out and disposing of the contaminated Diesel and replacing the tanks.
Doing preventative maintenance now is almost always far less expensive then making repairs later. The fuel injection pump is the most expensive component on a Diesel engine and can be easily damaged by water or other contaminates.
- How can I save money on fuel polishing?
PowerSure is a mobile service and we do charge for mileage outside the immediate Boston area. One way to save money is to arrange to have more than one customer serviced and we will split the mileage charge equally. In boats and RVs we usually access the fuel tank by removing the fuel sensor or inspection port. If cabinetry or other obstructions are in the way, you can save money by removing these obstructions yourself.
- How does Diesel fuel become contaminated?
Condensation of water vapor on the inside of the tank and seepage past the fuel fill are the two primary sources of water contamination. Once water is present, microorganisms can begin to grow contaminating the fuel and forming sludge on the bottom of the tank. In steel tanks, trace amounts of water can also cause the inside of the tank to rust contributing to the contamination problem.
- Is there really algae in Diesel fuel tanks?
Algae is a catch-all phrase for microoganisms, primarily bacterial and fungus that can thrive in a Diesel/water environment.
- How do I know I need get my Diesel fuel tank cleaned?
If there is water in the bottom of your primary fuel filter/water separator it is time to get the tank cleaned. The water comes from the fuel tank and is causing corrosion and breeding bacteria that will eventually clog the fuel filters.
If there is a gooey black substance clogged in your Diesel fuel filters it is bacteria that is living off the water in the fuel tank. The tank will need to be cleaned.
If there is black grit in your fuel filters they are tars that have formed during storage. The fuel is degraded and needs to be polished and the tank cleaned.
- What does it mean if my fuel has a pinkish or milky coloring to it?
Usually that means there is a water contamination problem. A fuel additive containing alcohol was likely used and now the water is suspended in the fuel. Depending on the severity, the water can either be removed from suspension during the
polishing process or in some cases the fuel will need to be pumped out and disposed of.
- What does it mean if my fuel has turned black?
The black color is due to bacterial contamination. The Diesel should be polished and the tank cleaned.
- What is the black sediment in my fuel bowl?
Usually clumps of bacteria or tars that form when fuel has been sitting for too long.
- Can you test the fuel?
Yes, we can take a sample of the fuel and check for water, particulates, bacteria and fungus contamination. We can also send samples out for laboratory testing.
- Should I use a Diesel fuel treatment?
Tank treatments such as biocides effectively kill the bacteria and fungus in fuel tanks but leave behind a sludge that forms from dead algae falling to the bottom of the tank. This sludge can block fuel filters. A better solution is to use a high quality fuel conditioner such as Algae-X's AFC-705 which will take care of the bacterial contamination, help reduce sludge, lubricate fuel injector tips, and help preserve the seals in the fuel injection system.
- Does the primary fuel filter remove all the water from the fuel?
No. Fuel pick-up tubes typically extend down to about one inch above the bottom of the fuel tank. Since water is heavier than Diesel, water will remain on the bottom of the tank and only a fraction will be removed by the primary filter.
- What can I do to avoid problems?
*Use a high quality ALCOHOL FREE fuel conditioner with every fill-up. This prevents microbial contamination, lubricates the fuel injectors, and preserves the fuel system seals.
*Store the tanks nearly full to reduce water accumulation through condensation.
*For boats, when filling up, use a water separating fuel funnel (available at marine supply stores) to prevent water transfer from fuel station tanks to your vessel's tanks. Alternatively you can request the fuel station attendance to show you the water separators on the filling station pump to make sure they are not over-run with water.
*Most boats are equipped with O-rings on the fuel fill caps, replace the O-rings once a year.
- My boat was submerged. Can PowerSure clean the tanks?
Yes unless the tanks are excessively corroded. Often we can also recover the remaining fuel as well.
- What about Low Sulfur Diesel:
Low sulfur Diesel reduces exhaust emissions and sulfur contamination in the engine oil. However the sulfur also enhanced the fuel lubricity, helped preserve seals in the fuel system and discouraged bacterial growth. To remedy this add a high quality ALCOHOL FREE fuel conditioner before filling up the tank.
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