The Best Ways to Prevent Fuel Contamination

Fuel contamination can cause a variety of issues in the running of your vehicles.

Tank erosion, blocked filters and increased oil and fuel consumption can all be caused by contaminated fuel. It can cause serious engine problems such as poor performance, sudden loss of power, sputtering and involuntary speed changes.

Prevention is the best solution to fuel contamination. There are several steps you can take to prevent water, debris and microbes in your fuel.

• Water condensation can enter through your vent pipe settling in your tank over time. Do regular checks and maintenance, and ensure your tank is kept in good condition.
• Deep clean your tank every 2-4 years to remove sludge and debris that may settle at the bottom. This will prevent contaminants being sucked up in the tank suction line clogging pump filters as well as water rotting your tank from the inside out.
• Make sure you get your fuel from a reliable source to avoid poor quality contaminated fuel.
• Get your fuel tested if you suspect it could be contaminated. We are able to test a sample of your fuel and identify both if it is contaminated, and how seriously fuels may have become degraded over time.
• Octane can as part of tank cleaning, inspect and photo the internals of your tank highlighting any issues as they happen, and carry out further services such as NDT testing. (Non-destructive-Testing) , which allows measurements on the thickness of the tank and welds ensuring no ruptures or sudden tank failures can occur.

Even after taking these steps, fuel contamination is a common issue and can be unavoidable.

To avoid wasting contaminated fuel, we offer fuel polishing and tank cleaning services. Fuel polishing filters out debris and other particles and removes water from the fuel. The polished fuel can be returned to a clean tank, saving you from large fuel replacement costs.

Fuel that has been contaminated with water can also be salvaged with Octasolve. This treatment dissolves water in fuel, quickly neutralising the problem and preventing it from causing further issues like corrosion and diesel bug.

If you have been experiencing problems with your fuel or would like to know more about contamination prevention, get in touch at 0113 2012 460. We will be happy to help save you money on fuel replacement and engine maintenance costs.

Find out more about our tank cleaning process here: