Once most common in trucks and commercial vehicles, diesel-powered cars are now increasingly popular and abundant in Australia. Advances in technology means that Australians are embracing the higher torque, better fuel economy, lower maintenance and longer lifespan of a quality diesel engine.

But those benefits are only possible if your diesel engine remains healthy.

One issue that's widely known when it comes to diesel engines is carbon build-up - made obvious when a driver puts their foot down and leaves a cloud of black smoke behind them. That's because carbon builds up throughout a diesel engine's system more easily than it does in normal petrol engines.

But another problem is so-called 'dirty' - or contaminated - fuel.

There have been reports that dirty diesel can have such an adverse effect that it can damage injectors or actually destroy an engine, costing the owner thousands of dollars.

Australia has strict rules for fuel quality standards and fuel supply, ensuring that clean fuel is not only better for the environment, but allows engines to operate efficiently when that fuel is delivered to the system. For this reason, the 'common rail diesels' available in Australia are of a high quality.

Although the quality of diesel fuel can often be lower in remote or agricultural areas, 'dirty fuel' is therefore actually more about contamination, exacerbated by the high pressure of fuel injection involved with modern diesel engines, making them very sensitive to the fuel.

Almost always, 'dirty diesel' has been contaminated after the fuel-production process, for instance by owners storing or carrying diesel after they buy it. Particulates can get into the diesel, while water and diesel do not properly mix together. For these reasons, many owners change their fuel filters regularly, switch to a higher quality filter or add supplementary filters.

Another option is to fit an aftermarket product like a water separator, although most car manufacturers actually insist that their engines are best left alone and that modifications may void the warranty.

There are other things you can do to keep your diesel engine safe from 'dirty fuel'. For instance, anyone storing diesel should ensure their containers are kept immaculately clean, and re-consider practices such as storing fuel for long periods of time. Another way to minimise the risk of damaging your diesel engine is to avoid letting your fuel tank get too empty, as it can increase the ratio of fuel versus particulates, and increase the amount of water taken in by your engine.

When it comes to diesel fuel, Bulk Fuel Australia is an industry leader in customer service excellence and operational safety. Our fleet is ready to meet your delivery needs and our tank and fuel cube storage options are of only the highest quality, so give us a call on 1300 57 9990 today.