Maintain Fuel Tanks for Cold Weather Performance
10/29/09 11:53:47 AMHi everybody, Every year we get a handful of customers who experience fuel problems related to cold weather. Most of the problems are related to diesel fuel. As the old saying goes, "an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure," and in this case being prepared is much cheaper and time saving than having equipment with gelled fuel. Before the cold weather of winter sets it, take steps to ensure problem-free engine performance and protect your valuable diesel equipment. With proper tank maintenance and fuel handling, you can avoid most common cold-weather problems. In cold northern winters, ice formation in fuels containing water creates severe fuel line and filter plugging problems. It's important to regularly remove water from storage tanks, vehicle fuel tanks and filter bowls, and to follow these guidelines: • Tilt tanks to direct water and debris away from the outlet • Pressurize tanks to keep vapor and air inside • Drain and remove all contaminants (mainly water) every three months • Install a proper filtration system with a water trap on all bulk tanks • Replace fuel filters according to manufacturer recommendations; if filters have a drain valve, periodically drain water that may accumulate from condensation • Clean pump screens regularly • Request periodic fuel sampling for quality assurance purposes • Have tanks cleaned annually The vast majority of fuel problems we see in the winter are related to moisture in the farm fuel tank. Every tank will accumulate moisture due to condensation and this water needs to be regularly drained as indicated above or there will be problems when the weather turns cold. Moisture in your tank will cause fuel to cloud and plug filters at a much higher temperature than clean fuel. Another major reason for winter problems is that tanks are not properly blended down. When blending down a tank, it's imperative that you know how much fuel is left in the tank and calculate the treat rate accordingly. If you have 700 gallons of #2 diesel remaining in the tank, and need to create a 50-50 blend of #1 and #2, ordering 700 gallons of a 50-50 blend (a common mistake) would create flow problems - because it would result in a blend of 1,050 gallons (71 percent) of #2 and 350 gallons (29 percent) of #1. If you are blending a lighter fuel containing #1 in a tank that is unblended, this fuel needs to be circulated by running the hose back into the tank or at a minimum, stirring the tank with a stick. If either of these methods are not used, the heavier fuel will not blend properly and gelling may occur. Proper use of cold flow improvers can extend the operability of fuels without the use of #1 fuel. They serve two functions: 1) changing the wax structure of diesel fuel so it can pass through filters more readily, and 2) keeping wax crystals dispersed longer when fuels are stored below the "cloud point" (temperature at which paraffin in fuel begins to form cloudy wax crystals and reduce flow). When blending fuels, biofuels and additives, the components must all be at least 10 degrees above their cloud point- otherwise the additives will not blend in and therefore may clog filters. As said before "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Making sure your fuel is ready now for winter will save you time and money. If your last load of fuel was not a winter blend you will need to treat it soon to make sure you don’t have equipment problems. Lastly, if you ever do have warm weather fuel when the weather turns cold we have products that can treat the fuel to prevent gelling. We also have products that will turn gelled fuel to liquid again in tanks or equipment, but it’s best to prevent this from happening in the first place. Let us help you with all your winter fuel needs. |
