As the summer quickly approaches, most of us are thinking about going to the beach, barbecues, and the 4th of July. The warmer spring and summer weather brings its own set of issues for those of us responsible for the proper functioning of our diesel fueled truck fleets, construction equipment, and emergency generators. You need to be aware that there could be something very destructive festering in your fuel tanks: microbial growth (bugs).
The Link Between Biodiesel and Microbial Growth
With the addition of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (USLD) and biodiesel, microbial growth has become a more frequent problem in our industry. Even if you don’t use pure biodiesel fuel, most diesel fuel purchased today can have between 2 and 5% biofuel. The blending of the biofuel into our diesel is part of the renewable fuel mandate. In essence, whether you want it or not, biodiesel is probably present in your supply chain.
What are the factors that contribute to producing an environment that microbial growth thrive in?
- Time- fuel that is stagnant for long periods of time
- Temperature- higher temperatures, particularly hot summer days
- Water- bugs, like anything living, need water to survive
Note that all diesel fuel has a level of water present and statistics show that for every 10,000 gallons of delivered diesel fuel, one gallon of water may be present.
Signs That You May Have Microbial Growth
Time plus temperature plus water equals microbial contamination and this means bugs. These bugs are microscopic organisms that feed on the fuel and live in water. These are some of the signs that you may have an infestation of these microscopic organisms in your fuel tank:
- Plugged filters and fuel lines
- Foul smelling fuel
- Injector issues
- Low MPG
Do you think you may be affected by this problem? Our knowledgeable team of fuel management experts is here to provide you with top quality diesel fuel delivery and can help you when these situations arise. Contact us today!
