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Cause, effect and solutions for contaminated fuel
Common problems that occur when diesel fuel is in storage and becomes contaminated.
Two types of water:- A static holding tank will accumulate "FREE WATER." Free water is visible in large droplet form or as a layer found in the bottom of a fuel tank.
- "EMULSIFIED WATER." Free water is broken down into tiny partiles and emulsified with the fuel. Passing through a fuel pump will cause "FREE WATER" to break down. The result is "EMULSIFIED WATER," water particles small enough to become almost invisible.
Why is water contamination so harmful to your engine?
A diesel injection system is made up of precision tolerances that rely completely on the diesel fuel for lubrication.
"WATER" entering the fuel injection system causes all types of problems both to the fuel system as well as to the engine iself; i.e., scored pump surfaces, destruction of the injector nozzle, premature valve wear and cracked cylinder liners.
"WATER" combined with sulfur -- as high as 0.5% in todays fuel -- forms a corrosive acid that not only causes wear to the fuel injection system, but also finds its way into the lube oil resulting in premature bearing wear. "WATER" combined with diesel fuel produces "BACTERIAL GROWTH" causing fuel filters to plug prematurely.
The Process