Clean Diesel Explained
Why Do You Want Clean and Dry Fuel?
Diesel fuel is your engine’s lifeblood and your emergency generator will only perform as well as the quality of the fuel that powers it. Over time, your fuel is subject to aging, the formation of various organic and inorganic contaminants, bacteria and fungi as well as water which is diesel’s number one enemy. Water present in fuel is responsible for a host of destructive actions that can lead to potential engine failure, fuel tank corrosion and tank leakage. This can lead to costly repairs, downtime or tank replacement.
Dry fuel is “HEALTHY” fuel.
Maintaining dry fuel keeps it healthier much longer.
Water in your fuel starts a cascade of nasty problems:
-
Microbial growth at the fuel /water interface leading to tank corrosion
-
Organic acid formation
-
Engine damage from corrosion and metal wear leading to costly repair/replacement and down time
-
Cold weather icing
-
Sludge clogged filters and screens
-
Storage tank structural damage due to corrosion leading to repair and/or replacement
-
Reduced engine performance and increased emissions
-
Fuel oxidation and its resultant formation of acids, polymers, gums, asphaltenes, and shortened shelf life
​
Clean fuel is “FREE” fuel.
There will be some level of contaminants in all fuels. Clean diesel fuel is free of water and particulate contamination that can harm engines and fuel tanks too. Cleanliness level requirements vary for optimum life and minimum component wear according to specific mechanical systems.
​
Today, there is an increased emphasis on fuel cleanliness and particle size of contaminants with a minimum cleanliness level of 18/16/13 per ISO code 4406. Tier 4 engine emission
standards mean cleanliness requirements are even more stringent. It is important to use high quality fuel filters for engine protection but that is only a start. Filters plugged with sludge and particulate contaminants signal a systemic problem with dirty fuel. Dirty fuel can have catastrophic consequences in terms of engine failure. If you are a mission critical facility relying on back up generator power, that can spell disaster. Lab analysis by a certified lab is recommended to determine the overall health and viability of your fuel after fuel purifying.
​
Note 1: ISO Cleanliness 4406 uses three numbers that are the chosen particle size of the standard.
The particle sizes range from itty-bitty to big chunks and the shapes are irregular. It was found that, by looking at particles in three different size groups and then seeing how many of those particles were in a specific volume of fluid, we could make an evaluation of the overall condition of the fluid. The sizes chosen are 4, 6, and 14 micrometers. Micrometers are also referred to in terms of microns and use the symbol µm. The volume of fluid to be sampled is 100 ml (a little less than ½ cup). It is important to note that these are very small particles, all of which are smaller than can be seen by the unaided human eye. We can see particles that are as small as 40 µm. The stuff we are talking about is 3 to 10 times smaller than anything we can see. A red blood cell is about 8 µm in size and when was the last time you could pick one of those out in a crowd?
​
The first number represents the range of particles that are 4 µm (micrometers) or larger in 1cc (1 ml) of a sample fluid. The first number will never be smaller than the second number and the second number will never be smaller than the third number because each number includes the particles in the next group.
​
The second number represents the range of particles that are 6 µm and larger.
The third number represents the range of particles that are 14 µm and larger.
​