Minimising Downtime with Fuel Additives • Company Profile Cause Microbiological growth (diesel bug)
Observations • • • • • • •
Black, grey or brown slime Rapid proliferation Sour or sulphurous odour Indication of water in the fuel tank and starts at a fuel-water interface Fuel starvation Can be passed easily from tank to tank More common in warmer, humid
Remedies and Prevention • • •
The application of exocet® Anti Bug Kill The removal of excess water from the fuel tank The continuous use of exocet® Anti Bug Protect or exocet® Gas Oil Conditioner on non-infected fuel tanks
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Biodiesel precipitates
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Hydrocarbon wax
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White deposits floating on the fuel surface Fuel starvation Sticky or greasy brown residue seen on fuel filters
Fuel starvation Associated with periods of excessive low temperature Can occur frequently at the transition time between summer to winter grade fuel and vice versa Larger hydrocarbons in the fuel blend solidify and precipitate Solids can be almost pure white, have a yellow tinge, or, in red diesel, a pink tinge
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Sediment (‘dirt’)
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Long-standing accumulation of solid material within the fuel tank Contamination from the local working environment and/or poor housekeeping
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exocet® Gas Oil Supreme or exocet® Diesel Supreme are recommended for high turnover fuel tanks with every fill For tanks where fuel is kept for >6 weeks exocet® Gas Oil Conditioner is recommended immediate problems to be treated with exocet® Sludgebuster to disperse the solids
Use fuel appropriate for the time of year or elect to use winter grade all year round Use exocet® Anti Wax as a top treat to purchased fuel in order to lower the CFPP temperature exocet® Anti Wax must be used as a preventative – it will not cure already waxed fuel
Professional tank cleaning and fuel polishing is highly recommended exocet® Sludgebuster will lift and disperse small amounts of sediment but the bulk fuel tank must have a filter on its outlet and you must expect to change this until the tank is clear for diesel and gas oil tanks, the regular use of exocet® Gas Oil Supreme, exocet® Diesel Supreme or exocet® Gas Oil Conditioner will prevent excessive build on a clean tank.
PlantPlant Planet Planet • FEBRUARY • April 2021 • 55