How to Detect Water in Diesel Storage Tanks

How to Detect Water in Diesel Storage Tanks and Engines

Diesel fuel is prone to water contamination, especially as the rainy season approaches. Water-contaminated diesel can negatively impact the performance, efficiency, and reliability of diesel engines. Water in diesel fuel can also cause corrosion, fuel injector failure and overall engine damage.

In most cases, the first indication of water in a diesel tank will be a slight loss of power or deceleration, as well as an intermittent misfire. If you suspect that water has contaminated your diesel tank, there are several steps you can take to verify the problem and resolve it without any damage to your engine.

Water can find its way into the fuel tank of your diesel engines in numerous ways, the major of which is condensation. Condensation, which is a natural process, is one of the major ways through which water available in the atmosphere gets into diesel tanks in the fuel tank. Water can get into the fuel tank when outside, or due to a poorly sealed filler cap. It can also get in through a faulty breather system or leakage through the fuel tank itself.

Easy detection and treatment of water in diesel can help save a lot of money and time associated with damaged diesel engines. Listed below are ways you can detect water in diesel fuel.

• Visual inspection

Check your fuel filter for signs of water. If you see any bubbles or discoloration, it is likely that there is water contamination in your tank.

• Engine Stalling

If there is water present in the tank, then it will be very difficult for your engine to start up. You may even experience engine stalling during operation or when idling.

• Use a Diesel Care kit

A diesel care kit can help in separating water from diesel. There are numerous options available in the market but Aquafighter stands out due to its numerous benefit and features. Aquafighter has a simple operation mode:

• You insert it into your diesel tank (make sure you get the right size for your engine)
• When Aquafighter makes contact with the fuel-bound water, it immediately separates (water molecules) and captures it. This process leaves your diesel fuel pure – remaining clear, bright, and water-free – and your tank will remain free of bacteria growth as long as Aquafighter is kept active in your tank.

•  Contact a professional

In some cases, there might be a need to drain and clean a diesel tank, and the best way to find out is to bring in an expert. Contracting and Technical Services, an industrial technical services provider offers a robust storage tank care module that is targeted at keeping your fuel tanks clean and dry. This solution allows for remote inventory management/level monitoring of all your tanks.

• Inspect your tank regularly

Rust on the inside of the tank can flake off in rust-colored particles that contaminate the diesel fuel inside a tank. Rust on the outside of the tank can indicate a breach in the wall that could allow water into the fuel supply. Although properly treated diesel fuel can last for years without degradation, however even treated fuel will eventually succumb to contamination and need to be replaced with fresh diesel.

Applying a water removal solution like Aquafighter will eliminate water directly in diesel tanks and keep it bacteria-free.