Fuel contamination is a costly issue not to be ignored. As a fuel supplier to Australian businesses, we can safely say that fuel is our lifeblood. And for the companies we serve through our fuel delivery services, it’s their operational driving force. The effects of fuel contamination can spread quickly, rendering your bulk fuel supply useless.

What is fuel contamination?

Basically, it’s a term used to describe the water and bacterial microbes that find a home in your diesel fuel supply. There are many ways contaminants can occur in your fuel, however, the most common issues happen due to atmospheric absorption, condensation and leaking in the fuel tank.

Water is arguably the most damaging type of contamination as it can cause a series of chain reactions. In water, microbes can thrive and flourish, causing sludge build up in the mix, blocking filters and causing complications with fuel stability, subsequently causing long-term damage to the entire engine.

Pure microbial contamination is considered different from water contamination. Essentially, it’s accelerated when you couple higher Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) content with lower sulphur content. When water is added to the equation, bugs have more opportunity to grow at the interface between the water and the fuel.

What it’s costing you

According to a Choice.com.au expose, a consumer filled his vehicle with contaminated fuel at his local petrol station. He noticed the car was sluggish and had it towed to his nearest dealership. After testing and analysis, the mechanic concluded that repairs due to water contamination in the fuel would cost the car owner upwards of $20,000.

While this case was on the financially damaging end of the repairs spectrum, even the small costs of fixing fuel contamination damages still hurt. Another fuel customer had to pay just under $500 to replace fuel cartridge, which included labour and replacement fuel. 

Many fuel providers have been known to shirk responsibility on testing their fuels, leaving insurers and, in some cases, the consumer to foot the bill.

Signs you have diesel bugs and what you can do about it

At present, there are twenty different species of diesel bugs. They produce waste that builds up at the bottom of your fuel tank, with the worst cases found in large underground storage tanks where the ability to identify is made that much harder.  Of course, diesel bugs can occur in any kind of fuel tank and can wreak havoc on the filters, injectors and the tank itself.

Some of the signs you might have diesel fuel bugs in your tank include:

• Blocked filters
• Worn injectors
• Engine failure
• Corroded tanks

Fuel contamination testing is mighty simple. All you need to do is take an oil sample and test it using a fuel testing kit. Aside from regular testing by your mechanic, we recommend using Sierra’s Fuel Fix. In our many years in the fuel business, it’s by far the best product to eliminate fuel bugs that we’ve ever come across.

For assistance with diesel fuel contamination, fuel tank maintenance and safe, reliable bulk fuel delivery, contact the experts at Bulk Fuel Australia today on 1300 57 9990.