Fuel is to cars what food is to humans. It keeps your engine running and most systems sufficiently powered to run as they should. However, not all fuel will do. When the quality of the fuel you put in your car is poor or compromised, your car’s performance will equally be wanting.
It is for this reason that fuel contamination is such a pertinent issue. It can result in significant damage and cost you an arm and a leg to resolve. On the other hand, if you own a fuel station contamination is terrible for business.
So, in light of all this, here are the key facts you need to know about fuel contamination and how to avoid it.
What Is Fuel Contamination?
Fuel can be said to be contaminated when the integrity of its chemical composition is tainted by foreign matter. Such contaminants include water, algae, sediment, or microbial properties such as yeast which often occurs in diesel.
How it Happens
The supply of fuel is a chain that starts at the refinery and proceeds to pipelines and finally to local distributors. Contamination can occur at any of these points due to several reasons including:
Poor Fuel Pipeline Management
If there are leaks in a fuel pipeline, it allows dirt and water to seep into the system and taint the fuel. Additionally, after years of use, pipelines are bound to accumulate sludge and other kinds of residue buildup. If pipeline maintenance is neglected, the residue begins to break away into the fuel especially during sessions of high-pressure flow.
Storage Tank Challenges
When fuel settles in a storage tank, foreign particles settle at the bottom as sediment. Each time there is significant movement in the tank, such as during fuel refills to the tank, the sediment disperses. As a result, while the fresh fuel deposited may be pure, it comes contaminated by the existing sediment.
Some storage tanks in fuel stations also tend to not be completely sealed off. When it rains or if there is a car wash service at the station, runoff water is bound to seep into the tanks.
How Does Fuel Contamination Affect Your Car?
The devastating part about a bad batch of fuel is that it spreads throughout your fuel transmission system. There is also not just one fixed type of damage to expect. It is a mixed bag of fortunes depending on the contaminants in the fuel.
That said, in most cases after an unfortunate fuelling incident, you may notice car trouble symptoms such as:
- A sputtering engine
- Difficulty starting your car or the car not starting at all
- An engine-check light warning
- An unusual increase in fuel consumption
- Abrupt engine stalling
Important Steps to Take
If you suspect that your car is acting up due to bad fuel, get a professional mechanic to check it out immediately. The longer you wait, the more corrosion or gum residue wreaks havoc in your fuel transmission system. Prompt action will save you from more repairs and higher costs. Further, if you take too long to establish whether the fuel was the problem it will be harder to pursue a claim against the fuel station.
Speaking of which, as you have your car systems evaluated, it is best to notify the fuel station. They may prefer to have a representative present to take their own samples for verification. You may also need records of your fuel transaction as proof that you fueled at their outlet.Can Fuel Contamination Be Prevented?
Yes. The challenge, however, is that it is a double-ended effort. There are precautions that you can take as a consumer while the rest is incumbent on the suppliers. Let us address both aspects.
The Consumer
Your choice of fuel stations is paramount. Aim more for reputable outlets as opposed to convenience. Plus, if you stick to particular outlets, it will always be easier to trace the source of any fuel problems you may encounter.
Timing could also save you from fuel heartaches. The day after a major storm may not be the best time to fill up your tank, water contamination is rife at such times. Similarly, if you find the fuel station being refilled, proceed with caution. You might end up with more sediment in your tank than you bargained for.
When all else fails, the fuel filter in your car is your last line of defense. It could make the difference between devastation and minor repairs after an incident of fuel contamination. Make an effort to replace it regularly and insist on quality brands.
The Supplier
Maintaining pipelines and storage tank integrity is the true mark of a trusted fuel supplier. Invest in regular stringent inspection to ensure that both tanks and feed pipes are in proper condition. Where necessary they should be replaced or debris cleared out.
Flow control is equally essential. It allows you to maintain the integrity of different lines of fuel from contaminating each other. Consider installing well-sealed tanks with an independent top entry trunnion mounted ball valve for each supply line. This will enable you to safely open and shut fuel flow as required while keeping external contaminants at bay.
Conclusion
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of fuel quality that is often forgotten is safety. There is so much that can go wrong when such a combustible source of energy is impure. Suffice to say, fuel contamination is something we should be wary of and it should be handled with more caution. Now that you know what to look out for, be more careful at the pump.
