As the price of fuel is now a concern for yacht owners and diesel engine operators, it makes sense to maintain the fuel to the standard the engine is designed for and that does not damage its storage infrastructure or even the engines fuel system.
To assist you in the simple task of monitoring the fuel quality, we are now supplying an easy-to-use fuel test kit enabling you to test the fuel and know the stored fuel or fuel you wish to use is of an acceptable standard.
As can be seen in the following image a PASS is the RED/PINK colour………… simple.
- PFMBlue have available NAPA Gold Fuel Analysis Kits these are simple Professional Grade tests which are easy to use and are very cost effective.
- NAPA (National Automotive Parts Association) was established in 1925 and is now a global organisation endorsing Automotive parts and tests.
- We also offer a litmus style strips or swab kit detecting “Fuel Bugs”, bacteria, fungus and mould in diesel fuel.
This fuel sample is in New Zealand and is a petroleum based fuel, stored above ground in a tank approximately 70% full for just 3 years, it was expanding as it heated in the sun and contracting in the cold breathing atmospheric with condensate moisture (fog and frost) entering thru the vent.
When the fuel fails the test, rather than the expensive process of disposing of the fuel as industrial waste, use one of our suitable Recirculation Units to treat your fuel and restore it to the standards required by the engine and protect the fuel and storage infrastructure of the fuel, it uniquely works down to the molecular level removing the bacterial infections and moisture.
The “milky” appearance of the fuel in the image is a combination of the moisture and the SRB’s “eating” the tank (quite often people mistake the “pits” in the bottom of their tanks for just simple corrosion when in fact it’s been eaten by bacteria as well).
We will post the independent test results after treatment the fuel will be back to standard required.
Fuel without correct pH levels can eat rubber seals and damage other components.
On completion of treating contaminated fuel with a PFMBlue recirculation unit, we recommend having a sample tested by an independent approved fuel laboratory of your choice (a simple PDF will soon be available on our website to assist you with selecting a minimum of required scope of tests, so you can know the fuel is fit or purpose).
It is important to establish a routine of periodically running the system to maintain the fuels high standard and not let it “sour” again.
Running our very efficient and automatic system on a routine profile, you should not have the issues with your fuel, our systems results have been independently tested around the globe on many diesel fuel types (including biofuels) with a very high pass rate.
Contaminated diesel contains
Sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) eating holes tanks steel, aluminium or stainless, Water rust holes in steel tanks and also not to flash for your engines fuel system.
Iron-reducing bacteria (IRB) are another contaminant found in storage tank’s and they to can cause some fairly major issues if not addressed.
- MOISTURE Diesel is a Hygroscopic this is where the fuel attracts and holds water molecules from its surrounding environment through absorption or adsorption at this even occurs at normal temperatures, radiant heat (sunlight or engine room temperature) even water temperature and tank colour can greatly increase this effect.
A good example of this physical phenomenon is a bowl of salt sitting on your kitchen table,
The pH level of fuel when out of limits causes a lot of damage over a period … yes diesel has a pH level, and it is important for your fuel’s infrastructure and engines performance that it is maintained in the following ranges:
- Industry Standards: For modern engines, those compliant with Euro VI standards, the ideal pH between 5.8 and 6.2.
- Biodiesel: Biodiesel can have a higher pH and can be found between 8.5 to 9.9, this is found to be considered acceptable and if the wash water used in its production is managed properly, thus it does differ from standard petroleum diesel.
Please remember Biofuels are often a blend of petroleum-based fuel and biofuel, this ratio varies greatly from region to region and source of biological matter used.
Our technology is as “plug and play” and efficient as we can possibly produce for you reaching required approvals for not only the units but also the quality of the fuel it maintains.
We strongly advise using a suitably skilled and qualified installer.
Proven Fuel Management (PFMBlue) in New Zealand can offer fuel treatment services off your site when possible or needed, please enquire if required.
