High moisture levels can create problems with fuel. These problems can be troublesome for the health of the fuel and the fuel tank. Excess moisture can get into your fuel in several ways, like condensation, cracks in the tank, covers left-off tanks, faulty seals or vents, and concrete not properly pitched for underground tanks.
All fuel contains some moisture, and there are safe levels for this. Water can be present in fuel either as an emulsion (suspended in the fuel) or as free water (water bottoms in tanks). The key is to keep moisture levels under control and at safe levels.
Moisture removal is the key to ensuring fuel quality and reducing the opportunity for microbial growth. One way to avoid this problem is by using a moisture control that will suspend and safely remove small amounts of moisture and prevent accumulation on tank bottoms. Safe moisture levels (less than 100ppm) pass through the filter and burn off in the combustion process without harming the engine. If a larger water bottom has formed in your tank, the only safe way to remove it is to have it pumped out or slowly drained from a bottom drain on the tank.
Tank Maintenance programs are a great way to keep moisture issues and microbial growth from getting out of control. The following recommendations will help you from having moisture-related problems:
- Use ETP’s tank cleaning additive to maintain fuel and storage tank cleanliness, prevent corrosion, safely remove water and provide long-term fuel stability while in storage.
- Use a biocide regularly to ensure that microbial growth is not active.
- Inspect fuel tanks to identify weaknesses that allow moisture to infiltrate tanks.
- Test bulk tanks to check fuel quality for moister levels and microbial growth.
Author: Dan Durdle, ddurdle@teametp.com