|
Your diesel engine needs two essential supplies to be reliable: |
|
Air with an adequate oxygen content, (readily available, of course) and clean uncontaminated fuel.
|
|
If your boat has been subject to variations in weather and temperature (and virtually all of them have!) or your fuel has been stored for anything longer than a few months without usage, there is a danger of contamination. |
|
Contamination – Water.
The most common contaminant is WATER, usually building up from condensation. You will know that water in your fuel can lead to either, or both, a blockage of the filters and/or a reduction in the fuels performance. And water can seriously damage parts of your engine such as the injectors or the seals and gaskets. At worst, the fuel will be too hydrolised to work at all. |
|
Contamination – Bacteria and ‘The Diesel Bug’.
Diesel fuel has an inherent bacteria and when water is added this bacteria is able to breed. This ‘bug’ will form a layer between the fuel and the water and as it breeds it produces waste which is usually evident as black or dark lumps.
Water can also encourage the build-up of microbes, algae and even fungi which can develop many types of sludge and residue within the fuel. This biomass may drop to the bottom of the tank or it may suspend in the fuel. Either way, it will clog up the filters and lead to expensive damage to equipment, with breakdowns in power supply.
These are universally known as ‘the Diesel Bug’. |
|
|
| |
Microbial mat at the fuel/water interface of contaminated diesel. |
Fungal hyphae and other debris from the surface of a diesel fuel filter which blocked in service. |
|
Contamination – Oxidisation.
All fuels will deteriorate over time, especially latest low-sulphur types. The most common effect is a sediment which forms in the tank. These build-ups will not pass through the filters on your engine and can lead to expensive damage and repair costs. |
The Dangers:
- Clogged filters
- Slimy build-up
- Excessive smoke
- Algae or fungi
- Sludge or waxy deposits
- Hazy/misty fuel
- Smell of ‘rotten eggs’
- Sputtering
- Frequent filter changes
- Corrosion of the engine parts
- Damaged seals and gaskets
- Reduced power from the engine
- Sudden breakdowns!
|
|
|
What is the Best Solution?
DBB visit your marina with our mobile Fuel Polishing System. We cycle the fuel through our machine where it is cleaned and conditioned, removing as much of the water, contamination, bacterial growth or biomass (‘Diesel Bug’) as possible. We return the fuel to your tank re-optimised and ready for use. We will sometimes add a special fuel catalyst which will help to inhibit the growth of the Diesel Bug biomass. For details see ‘What is Fuel Polishing?’ and ‘Consumables’. |
|
