An Excerpt from the book "Marine Diesel Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Repair by Nigel Calder

"A fuel injection pump is an incredibly precise piece of equipment. The plungers in a jerk pump are machined to within 0.00004'' of the cylinder bores into which they fit. Unlike the pistons in the engine, no rings seal these plungers and while the pressures in the engine cylinders may reach 1000 psi, pressures in an injection pump are anywhere from 1500 to 5000 psi.

The accurate fit of the pump plungers in their cylinders is the only thing that prevents fuel from leaking past these plungers under extreme pressures. When you realize that the pump may be metering out only a few millionths of a gallon, you begin to understand how little leakage past the plungers it would take to completely destroy the smooth running and balance of the engine. If just one or two plunders are leaking by, then the other cylinders pick up more load, which leads to high temperatures, excessive wear of exhaust valves, and the danger of cracking the cylinder head or seizing a piston.

Imagine a tiny grain of sand or a little speck of metal finding its way into the pump. Even if this contamination passes through the pump without scratching the cylinder or piston, or doing any other kind of damage, it will now be on its way to an injector. Depending on engine size and type of injector nozzle (hole type or pintle) the holes in the tip of the nozzle through which the fuel sprays into the combustion chamber may no more than a few thousandths of an inch in diameter. It takes the merest piece of particulate from contaminated fuel to plug up an injector.

Water can be just as harmful to an fuel injection system. When the engine is shut down for  periods of time, as is the norm for most generators or boat engines, rusting of critical parts will occur, which rapidly destroys the effectiveness of the system. When the engine is running, the super heated air in the culinders under compression will instantly turn into steam. This steam can generate enough explosive force to blow the tip clean off the injector.

Nothing plays more havoc with generator engines or boat diesel engines than water contaminated, bacteria contaminated dirty fuel. If right from the start the owner gets rid of particulate and water in the fuel, then 90% of potential engine troubles will be avoided.

The damage done by dirty fuel is concentrated on all the most highly machined and therefore expensive pieces of equipment in the engine. Damage to fuel injection pumps and injectors cannot be repaired by the user."

Winter Cruising

The days of summer are gone for this year. It was a great summer for nice hot weather and the best boating season for awhile. 

Now its time to winterize and make sure that if you cruising the winter season that you have on board what you need.

Good fuel and a clean tank is a must.

Although it is great cruising in the winter you really want to make sure that your engine is running well, the filters are changed and no problems will arise. Winter boating is more serene with fewer tourists to take up all the favorite anchorages.

Its my favorite time to cruise. There's no one around and basically you have the best places to yourself.

You really need to be self sufficient in the winter. Make a list of what you need in the way of filters. A good 10 micron filter can get you back home if you run into bad fuel, a dirty fuel tank or weather that makes the fuel wash all the bacteria from your tank interior into the fuel - shutting you down.

We can help if you run into problems.

Call us at 1 877 794 3016 and we will come out to you wherever you are on the coast.

Fuel Filtration - Water in Fuel

Water is the most damaging contaminant found in fuel.
Water destroys the lubricating properties of fuel and can quickly scour or blow injector tips and pumps.
Water can freeze and stop fuel flow.

Water can be present in your fuel as free water and or emulsified water.

Free water gets into your fuel as storage tanks condensate while dispersing or receiving fuel. Dissolved water can turn to free water as the temperature changes.

Diesel fuel has a saturation point and as the temperature goes down the fuel will hold less dissolved water. Water will fall out as free water.

Emulsified water is what causes fuel to appear milky and will not allow fuel to look like apple juice.  Water, within limits, can be removed from fuel by absorption, coalescing or by stripping.

Types of Filtration

Absorption of water from fuel takes place when the media (usually corn paper) within the filter absorbs the water passing through it. If there is significant water contamination, the filter’s media will swell and block the fuel flow. The fuel delivery rate then slows or stops entirely. This will signal the user to change the filter. Typical uses for this type of filter would be on storage tanks for Aviation fuel, where you do not want any free water to pass from one tank to another during fuel transfer.

Coalescing is the method that uses gravity and low flow rates to let water droplets drop out of your fuel and collect at the bottom of the fuel filter.

Stripping  uses a silicone treated medium in the filter that limits the flow of water though it, while allowing free fuel flow through the filter and on to the injectors.

Using fuel filtration wisely on fuel tanks or any type of equipment and understanding the principles of filtration and how it removes water you will be able to prevent water in your fuel and equipment.

We can install pre filtration to suit your needs after we clean your tank and your fuel.

Call us at 1 888 713 1090 to speak to a Fuel Tech today.

Nozzles Used in Power Washing Inside of Fuel Tanks

Nozzles like this one used inside a fuel tank remove bacteria, scale and other contamination growing on the inside of the tanks. There's lots of cleaning action using the nozzles we have created. 

There are many nozzles in use for cleaning tanks. All the other nozzles are for use when cleaning tanks with water. 

Fuel polishing is only part of the job. If you don't clean the tank then you have only done half of the job. 

Next time you need a clean tank call us at 1 888 713 1090.

Fuel Polishing Demo

Good representation of chunks of bacterial contamination coming out of a fuel tank.
Normally we would use a fuel rated hose but this is just a demo to show the junk being picked up by the hose into the tank.

After it comes out of the tank it goes through filters of ever decreasing micron until the fuel is clean. At the end of the hose inside the tank on the return is one of our specially designed nozzles power washing the inside of the fuel tank.

If you have a tank that needs attention just give us a call at 1 877 794 3016 or 1 888 713 1090 for a free consultation and quote.

Why should I clean my tanks and my fuel? We never did that 20 years ago!

I often hear building property managers, engineers, mechanics, and others who manage fuel and have been involved with fuel storage over many years ask this question. Why do we need to fuel polish and clean tanks? We never did that 20 years ago!

There are many reasons and I will try to cover a few of the reasons we need to fuel polish and clean tanks today.

1. Contained Tanks - The fuel tanks today are double walled and protect the environment from accidental spills of oil, gasoline and diesel fuels. If the inner tanks  fails the outer tank catches the product before it goes into the environment. 20 years ago single walled tanks were common and a single walled tank had a spigot or valve at the bottom of the tank to let the water, sludge, algae in diesel and bacteria collected on the bottom to run out of the tank. Environmentally that wasn't safe because if you forgot to close the lever all the fuel in the tank would run into the ground creating a spill. It was also a weak point in the tank.


Today the only way to access the tank to fuel polish and remove the water, algae in diesel, bacteria and sludge is to access the tank bottom from the top of the tank. This requires specialized equipment to clean fuel and that’s where a fuel polishing company like Fueltration Inc. comes in. We can take the contamination out of the tank and clean the fuel removing the algae in diesel, water and bacteria before it gets into your equipment.

2. Sulphur - Today in the interest of reducing pollution our diesel fuels are low sulphur making them susceptible to bacteria, algae in diesel and other organisms. Bacteria, algae in diesel and fungus thrive in the low sulphur environment. There is more contamination with the sulphur removed as the bacteria create a friendly environment by  darkening the fuel, causing more condensation and therefore more water to be removed.

3. Ethanol - Ethanol was introduced to lower emissions in gasoline. Billed as clean fuel one drawback to Ethanol is that it attracts water.  When you have water you have the chemicals ( that the refineries put in the gasoline) dropping out of the fuel and running around the bottom of the tank like a big black blob. This can foul filters. There is also a fungus in fuel today that wasn’t there 20 years ago. Fuel polishing is necessary to remove all of these new contaminants.

4. Bio Fuels - Biofuels are very attractive to living organisms like bacteria and algae in diesel. The biofuels are friendly to the environment and are a food source for bacteria. Add water and you have the makings of a healthy colony of algae in diesel and bacteria.

Call Today for a FREE Sampling of your tank and fuel. 1 888 713 1090

Good Grief! Fungus in my Gas?

Fungus on the bottom of the Veedor root

Yes fungus is now growing in gasoline!

When we started out in the fuel tank cleaning business in 1983 there was lots of water and additives dropping out of fuel but now in 2015 we see fungus.
Fungus will plug up your filters and shut down your pumps whether it is in a service station, back up generator or your boat. It just isn't  a good thing to have in your fuel.

Fungus in the bottom of the sample

Almost every living thing on planet earth requires water and oxygen to survive. Fungus is no different. If you allow an environment to be created in your fuel storage then you will have critters.

Bacteria & Algae

The secret to clean fuel is managing and preventing water from condensation from taking over your tank. If you do not remove the water bacteria and fungus will move in and set up a colony since you are providing the basics of life for them. They will eat the paraffin wax out of your fuel and breather the oxygen in the water. When they run out of oxygen they will warm up the fuel and the tank and cause more condensation. Have you ever seen a terrarium? It is similar to that - living things can create a habitat that is just right for them to grow.

You can remove the water mechanically by cleaning your tank annually or you can put up with
fungus, bacteria and sludge. Changing filters every 10 days from sludge in the tank will cost you approximately $5,000 per year in filters, downtime and labour. Annual fuel polishing and tank cleaning is around $1500.00 per year a fraction of the cost of changing filters especially in a gas station where replacing a customers fuel pump due to water is running around $5,000 a pump installed.

Maintenance of your fuel tanks is just good engineering practice and will save you money.

Call us at 1 888 713 1090 for a fuel sampling and assessment of your fuel tanks.

YOU ARE TOO EXPENSIVE! I CAN GET MY BOAT DONE FOR $400.00!

Many boat owners need to have their boat fuel cleaned but it isnt something that you need every year so they are not sure what to look for in a service. They hear of low prices, and boats that still have the same problems after being cleaned. I would like to show you what to look for:

1. Does the company explain their process?  

2. Are they aware that the tank needs to be cleaned and not just the fuel?

3. Do they give you an explanation of the costs involved?

I hear people say wow that's expensive and go find a guy who will do the job for $400.00. If you find someone for that kind of money I can guarantee that they do not have any intention of cleaning your fuel tank. They are processing your fuel only. It takes time to clean a fuel tank and you need a pump and equipment that will use the fuel to power wash the inside of your tank. 2 gallons per minute just isn't enough force to accomplish that. 

Cleaning the fuel is the easy part. Most of the time it is not the fuel that is the problem. It is a build up of bacteria, water and particulate in the tank bottom that when you get into rough conditions starts to suspend into the fuel shutting down your filters and starving your engine of fuel. 

Bacteria will grow on the side and bottom of a fuel tank. Usually they like one tank better than the other. This is because bacteria are living organisms and they know where to set up to get the food to flow past them so that they can conserve energy. This is usually in the tank that has the most temperature changes; the tank where the hot fuel from the diesel engine is returned to the tank. 

In gas tanks we are seeing a lot of fungus. Something in the formula of gas is either encouraging the growth of fungus or the additives are not killing it. 

Wet fuel is also a problem and with the very hot weather in BC we are seeing a lot of water in tanks. The condensation is high and if the tank is not vented well the water just pours off the top of the tank. 

To check for water just take the cap off the fill and flip it over. If it is wet then you have condensation in your tank. 

Call us today at 1 888 713 1090 to get a quote for your boat.

WIPE OUT & KNOCK IT OFF - New Cleaning ProductS For Your Boat

Before Using KNOCK IT OFF

After using KNOCK IT OFF

The first picture is a boat leg that has just been pulled out of the water. Usually your mechanic is faced with this scene and he uses bathroom cleaner or just elbow grease trying to take off the calcium from being in the water before he can work on the engine. He always runs the risk of taking the paint off or damaging the leg surface by trying to scrape off the calcium.

Now there is a product called KNOCK IT OFF that is just a spray and wipe.

No more damage to the paint or the surface of the equipment.

KNOCK IT OFF also works on removing mold and calcium on paint, fiberglass, canvas, boat bottoms etc.

It also works great in boat toilets with adding just a few ounces per day you can prevent calcium buildup. We use it on our saltwater toilet and it gets rid of the smell. I can get rid of my Muriatic Acid now.

The best part of this is that KNOCK IT OFF is a natural product. It is safe for the environment. Unfortunately you wont find it at your favorite marine store yet!

Give me a call and I can hook you up for around $30.00 retail plus shipping or get your marine store to give me a call and I can sell by the case.

1 888 713 1090