Black dirty diesel

The color of fuel indicates the fuels age or bacteria growth. The dark color is coming from one or the other.
Biological growth in the diesel fuel will often be black, and it will smell bad. It is the result of contamination and
water in your tank. You need to have your tank professionally cleaned and use treatment specifically for
biological growth to stop reinfection.

To fix old diesel remove the water first.

Once the water is gone he can then filter out the solids. BUT filtering may take LOTS of filters so we are back
to how many gallons do we have?

If you have an older engine with mechanical injection as long as the big solids are removed the engine will be
fine…but get the water out…no engines like water.

If you have hundreds of gallons you need to use an additive to speed up the cleaning and a fuel “polishing”
service or machine. http://dieselcraft.com/fuel-tank-cleaning-chemicals/

If your fuel is “dark”, this generally implies poor quality and will result in reduced or inadequate combustion
and potential filtration issues. Further, this darkening usually means that the fuel has begun to degrade and
has oxidized If your fuel is “hazy”, water has been absorbed into the fuel

What are the symptoms of contaminated diesel? The fuel contamination is usually discovered by noticing
performance changes from the equipment using the supplied fuel. Tell-tale signs are a loss of acceleration
and RPM, involuntary or volatile changes in speed, and sputtering. These signs mean that the fuel isn't
burning as it should.

Three signs your fuel storage may contain contaminated fuel

Most of the problems within standby fuel storage are caused by fuel contamination and degradation, this is an
issue which should be on your radar. Fuel contamination is a common issue when storing white and red
diesel, biodiesel and even kerosene, and it only takes a small amount to jeopardise your business.

Contamination can either be caused by something foreign coming into the tank that shouldn’t be there, such
as microbes (also known as diesel bug); or by the fuel itself degrading. Contamination will lead to the
incombustibility of the fuel which, in turn, increases fuel consumption as the fuel is passed out through
increased emissions. The effects of contamination can quickly multiply and render the fuel useless, impacting
efficiency, cost and reliability. However, recognising and sourcing the problem at an early stage will ensure
that you can resolve the issue as quickly and easily as possible.

Making sure you are aware of the symptoms of contaminated fuel and knowing how to look out for the signs is
the first step to prevention. WP Group have compiled a list of the top 3 signs of fuel contamination that you
should be aware of.

The fuel appearance is not clear and bright Samples taken from the tank bottom should appear clear and
bright. If it is looking cloudy or dark, this indicates contamination. If it is looking cloudy, there could be water in
the fuel. Microbes usually occur when water is present in the diesel, so keep this in mind when assessing the
condition of your fuel. Water contamination is arguably the most damaging contaminate to find in your fuel
tank, hence this needs to be resolved as quickly as possible.

If the fuel is dark in colour, then it is likely that asphaltenes are forming. Asphaltenes are hard particles that, if
agglomerated, can block engine filters. Keep an eye on the condition of your fuel by taking samples from the
tank bottom every 3-6 months will help to diagnose and solve the problems in time.

Equipment performance is affected The fuel contamination is usually discovered by noticing performance
changes from the equipment using the supplied fuel. Tell-tale signs are a loss of acceleration and RPM,
involuntary or volatile changes in speed, and sputtering. These signs mean that the fuel isn’t burning as it
should. Any time your engines are running noticeably different to how they should be, make sure you
eliminate the possibility of contamination in your fuel storage. Be on the lookout for black, white or blue smoke
as well. If your vehicles are experiencing this and the engine is working properly, the smoke could be an
indicator that there is a contaminate in the fuel. The most common offenders that cause these symptoms are
heavy compound contaminates which also cause sludge. Be sure to also check the filter, if it is slimy or
clogged this will restrict fuel flow to the engine.

Poor fuel tank condition Checking the fuel tank regularly is a good habit to get into for catching fuel
contamination in its early stage. Ensuring that the filters are unclogged and checking for any sludge build-up
are critical for preventative management. Sludge at the bottom of the fuel tank can be formed from a specific,
or a combination of, contaminants; it is also a sign of a poor filtration system. Any damage and holes on the
tank should be dealt with immediately to prevent foreign contamination, and any signs of rust could also
indicate contamination of the fuel.

Any of these signs above indicates the possibility of contaminates within your fuel supply. Spotting them can
be easy once you know what you are looking out for. However, it can get trickier when it comes to figuring out
how, when and what has caused them. Many of the signs above may have more than one root cause, while
ensuring your fuel supply is maintained to a high standard will help to prevent contamination which could
disrupt your business significantly.

WP Group offer a wide range of fuel services to help you prevent issues related to fuel storage and manage
your fuel with ease. Get in touch today to discover what you can do as a business to ensure the risk of
contamination is significantly reduced. Our experts can offer a bespoke consultation about the requirements of
your business.