The first step in guaranteeing that your fleet spends more time on the road and less in the maintenance bay is making sure that the fuel that powers it is of the highest quality possible.
By Peter J. Cochefski
Fuel-storage tanks are an indispensable link in the operational chain of any business that employs a rolling fleet. Without fuel, the transport trucks that these businesses deploy cannot deliver their products and services to demanding customers. Because of the daily challenges inherent in ensuring that the fuel keeps flowing, it鈥檚 imperative to maintain storage tanks with a regime of proper fuel tank cleaning methods and procedures.
A clean fuel storage tank ensures that the highest quality of fuel is ready for use in company vehicles. Not only does high-quality fuel keep the trucks on the road, it also reduces the costs and downtime that can be associated with engine breakdown and repairs. A fleet that is plagued by breakdowns and idle trucks can have an immediate and overwhelmingly negative impact on the fleet鈥檚 bottom line.
Contaminants
When it comes to fuel storage, today鈥檚 more expansive range of fuel formulations presents many challenges for the fleet operator. One of the most significant is that the new fuels, such as ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD), are more prone to contamination. The two most common contaminants in fuel are excessive dirt and water. These contaminants are typically introduced into fuel during the transportation, delivery, mixing or storage processes.
Water, which is the most common contaminant, may be introduced when moist air condenses on the fuel tank walls and condensation builds up within the tank, with this water working its way into the fuel mixture. Fuel that contains excessive levels of water can see a reduction in its lubricating qualities, which can cause injector seizure and engine damage, sidelining the vehicle while the necessary鈥攁nd costly鈥攔epairs are performed. In addition, fungus and bacteria live in water. When these organisms enter a fuel system, they can affect sensitive rail injectors in diesel engines and plug fuel filters, reducing their life and causing premature wear, all of which affect the life expectancy and overall on-road performance of the vehicles.
Particles of dirt, sediment and other solids have a similar effect on fuel injectors, causing them to wear out prematurely and leading to costly engine or fuel system failures. Today鈥檚 high-pressure rail injectors, which are standard components on most heavy-duty, diesel-powered transport trucks, are especially vulnerable to clogging from dirt and contaminants.
Cleaning Programs and Schedules
Fuel tank cleaning is a necessary part of fuel storage tank management. As such, the implementation of a proper fuel tank cleaning program and schedule is one of the most important things the owner or operator of an underground or aboveground fuel-storage-tank terminal can do to keep the fuel performing properly and the fleet rolling along.
Over time, fuel storage tanks can accumulate particulates and moisture from repeated filling procedures. These particulates and moisture can significantly impact the performance of the fuel and, by extension, the fleet鈥檚 engines. Ensuring that the fuel remains as clean and contaminant-free as possible also creates a series of added benefits, including improved fuel economy and longer vehicle component life. In addition to reducing the replacement frequency of fuel filters and injectors, and the need for engine maintenance, the clean fuel prolongs injector life, which allows the fleet to operate at peak efficiency for longer periods of time.
What it comes down to is the fleet needs to be available when called upon. When vehicles are not in the shop for repairs, they are at work. Less downtime means greater productivity. Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs) need to be inspected and cleaned at least once annually in order to prevent elevated levels of water and microbial contamination from accumulating in the fuel. Remember, the first step in guaranteeing that your fleet spends more time on the road and less in the maintenance bay is making sure that the fuel that powers it is of the highest quality possible. | WA
Peter J. Cochefski is a Director at Ryder Fuel Services (Houston, TX), a subsidiary of Ryder System, Inc., and a provider of fuel management programs that focus on Compliance Management, Remote Monitoring and Alarm Management, Service Management, Fuel Management and Supply, and environmental Best Management Practices. He can be reached at聽 (281) 647-8900, ext. 222 or via e-mail at [email protected].