{"id":11147,"date":"2021-05-17T13:37:25","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T11:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=11147"},"modified":"2021-05-17T13:37:26","modified_gmt":"2021-05-17T11:37:26","slug":"fuel-tanks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2021\/05\/17\/fuel-tanks\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep bulk fuel tanks free of water and contaminants"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Water and contaminants in fuel tanks accelerate fuel degradation and can cause equipment breakdown. If these contaminants make it through the filter and into engines, it can lead to fuel pump failure or fuel injector plugging.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"content-body-21702529\" class=\"page-contents__content-body\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">What do water, rust, dirt, dust, bacteria and algae have in common? You don\u2019t want them in your bulk fuel storage tank.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Draining and cleaning tanks regularly is the only way to keep water, which attracts these other items, from accumulating.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Water and contaminants in fuel tanks accelerate fuel degradation and can cause equipment breakdown. If these contaminants make it through the filter and into engines, it can lead to fuel pump failure or fuel injector plugging.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Water also creates an environment for the growth of algae and microorganisms. The black slime from dead algae builds up at the bottom of the tank and can plug pumps and filters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">You don\u2019t want this stuff in your equipment, especially newer tractors, which are even more sensitive to fuel contaminants.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Preventing water from entering the tank<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">It\u2019s important to establish a process for monitoring and removing water. Common practices for preventing water-related problems include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Make it a habit to monitor and check for water at the bottom of your storage tank. Install an automatic tank gauging system or manually measure with alcohol-compatible water paste on a gauge stick.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Remove any water found at the bottom of the tank or around fuel tank openings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">The tank fill area should be raised above ground and placed away from areas where rainwater and contaminants could flow in.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Inspect gaskets, hatches, vents and fill caps for damage. Replace if necessary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Inspect product spill containment buckets. If water is present, do not drain it into the tank. Remove and properly dispose of it instead.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Ask your fuel supplier what measures are taken to ensure fuel is delivered without water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Hire professional contractors to examine and maintain the inside of the tank and remove water and sludge.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Have the tank drained and cleaned by professionals in the spring and summer.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Checking for water in the tank<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Storage tanks should be checked for water as frequently as possible. At a minimum, it should be after each fuel delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">If you\u2019re not sure about the type of monitoring equipment installed for your tank, contact your fuel supplier. They may be able to provide information about equipment and guidance for using the system.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">An automatic tank gauging system is ideal, as long as sensors are maintained regularly to ensure functionality. You can also manually measure with alcohol-compatible water paste on a gauge stick. The paste changes color in water, but not fuel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Samples should also be pulled from the inside of the tank and inspected periodically. Your fuel supplier or equipment dealer can provide details on sampling devices and procedures.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Cleaning the tank<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Have the tank professionally cleaned if a large amount of sludge or contaminants are found. Monitor the tank closely after cleaning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><sub>Sources: \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.steeltank.com\/Portals\/0\/pubs\/KeepingWaterOutofYourStorageSystem_updated%20_2_.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Keeping Water Out of Your Storage System<\/a>,\u201d Steel Tank<\/sub><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>By <span class=\"page-attribution__content-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fleetowner.com\/home\/contact\/21704650\/ron-jessen\">Ron Jessen<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"posted-by\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fleetowner.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.fleetowner.com\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/consultancy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CUT COTS OF THE FLEET WITH OUR AUDIT PROGRAM<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/consultancy\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-5377 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/04\/nueva-ley-auditoria.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/04\/nueva-ley-auditoria.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/04\/nueva-ley-auditoria-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/04\/nueva-ley-auditoria-1024x682.jpg 1024w\" alt=\"\" width=\"858\" height=\"572\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The audit is a key tool to know the overall status and provide the analysis, the assessment, the advice, the suggestions and the actions to take in order to cut costs and increase the efficiency and efficacy of the fleet. We propose the following fleet management audit.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/consultancy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>FLEET MANAGEMENT AUDIT<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Water and contaminants in fuel tanks accelerate fuel degradation and can cause equipment breakdown. If these contaminants make it through the filter and into engines, it can lead to fuel pump failure or fuel injector plugging. What do water, rust, dirt, dust, bacteria and algae have in common? You don\u2019t want them in your bulk&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11148,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[423],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11147"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11147"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11149,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11147\/revisions\/11149"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}