What is the "stuff" that clogs my filters?

Filter plugging can have several causes. Low temperatures cause waxes that are part of the fuel solution to  crystallize (AKA-cloud point), which can lead to filter plugging. An example would be using summer diesel in cold weather. Wax or paraffin is part of the diesel fuel. Cold temperatures cause the wax to turn into crystals.  These crystals stop the flow of fuel through the filter.  A use of an anti-gel or heated filter will help with this problem.

Chemical incompatibility may cause dramatic filter plugging. This may happen when fuels with incompatible additive packages are mixed.

Contaminant build up resulting from excessive microbial growth and bio-degradation of fuel can cause filter plugging. Micro-organisms, bacteria and

What are problems related to long-term fuel storage?

Fuel stored in tanks for long periods (6 months and more) requires special attention.  This fuel suffers from multiple problems that influence it's quality.  One of the biggest concerns is water.  Some water is delivered with your new fuel.  This is emmulsified water and is suspended in the fuel.  Some of this entrained water will fall free but not all.  Free water is a different animal.  This water is introduced from changes in temperature, a poorly designed vent, leaking fittings and more.  The presence of free water provides the medium for microbiological growth that results in the formation of slime and acids causing

Fuel Treatment

With winter fast approaching it is important to speak with your fuel supplier about the additive package they use in your winter fuel.  We have seen problems in the past with additive packages.  The problem seems to be more pronounced when your engines are of the common rail type.  These engines use extreme pressure on the supply fuel side prior to the injectors.  In several cases (found in the mining community) there has been a thick brown residue on the injector tips and on the piston crown.  In all of these known cases the engine suffered serious power loss and in some instances downtime.  We do however know that on vehicles where we have installed the fuel conditioner the engine suffered no injector related problems or downtime.  To learn more go to http://www.cleanfuelmanagement.com/ and click on mining.  To learn more about our complete fuel catalyst go to www.cleanfuelmanagement.com/p_fcatalyst.html.

Tim
Engines1

Portsmouth, VA

Isn't my filter supposed to keep my fuel system clean?

Well, filtration simply cannot and will not do that. At best, filters, separators and centrifuges remove debris suspended in the fuel before the fuel reaches the engine. Stopping, preventing or reversing the process of fuel breakdown is a completely different matter that can be addressed and resolved with ALGAE-X® Fuel Conditioners. It is not very likely that filtration, (either the filter on the engine, or an external filtration system) will remove the sludge coating from the walls and baffles of your storage tank and the use of biocides will almost always aggravate the situation. Filtration has no effect on

How do we protect stored fuel?

Good housekeeping and purchasing clean, dry fuel from a reputable supplier are definitely step one.
In applications, such as emergency power generation, we recommend installing a fuel re-circulation/filtration system like the fully automated ALGAE-X® STS Fuel Conditioning and Filtration System.

These commercial high capacity systems typically have the following basic components: a pump, an ALGAE-X® Fuel Conditioner, a filter/water separator, a water block or fine filter, a timer, and an

What is Diesel Fuel?

Diesel fuel is a very complex mixture of thousands of individual compounds with carbon numbers between 9 and 23 (number of carbon atoms per hydrocarbon* molecule) Most of these compounds are members of the paraffinic, naphthenic or aromatic class of hydrocarbons (HC). These three classes have different chemical and physical properties.

White Papers Now Available On-Line

Good News to All of Our Fans Past, Present, and Future!!!
Since we live in the information age I find it important to share the knowledge we have amasses from various sources with you who may make use of it for your benefit.  So this morning I have added a page to our website at http://www.cleanfuelmanagement.com/ for the sole purpose of listing white papers.

These reports have been written by various persons.  Where we can we give full credit to these people for their hard work and conviction.  We feel very fortunate that they have chosen to share this knowledge with us for our better understanding of fuel, the problems associated with fuel, and methods by which we can maintain the quality of our stored diesel fuel.

This link is not yet available on the site.  Click Here for these tidbits of very useful information.  And feel free to comment or offer suggestions for future blogs by signing in to the right or registering.  I will answer or blog any and all questions.

Keeping Fuel Clean....................It's What We Do!

Why Is My Diesel Fuel Clogging My Filters

Did you know, your diesel fuel is spoiling while you sleep?


Diesel fuel quality issues are creating a heightened level of concern for consumers worldwide. Fuel deterioration is a primary cause of clogged filters, loss of engine power, and worst of all, engine failure. By educating yourself, and preparing your equipment for this inevitable failure, you can avoid emergency problems and insure a continuous flow of clean, clear and optimal diesel fuel to your equipment.

Why Should We Start A Blog About Fuel Maintenance?

It has been over 10 years.  That's right 10 years.  During that time we have sold products that clean diesel fuel, help preserve the integrity of diesel fuel, and resurrect spoiled diesel fuel from certain discard.  So during this period my colleagues and I have learned much about preventing fuel oxidation and reversing the oxidation that naturally occurs from long term diesel fuel storage.  We now operate a profitable business providing our clients with the tools to do what we are passionate about.....keeping fuel clean and preventing engine downtime.  This small but extremely important function saves money.  Saves money by reducing or eliminating engine downtime, save money by reducing the risk of engine failure, save money by