FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is Diesel?
A: Diesel, named for Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the Diesel Engine is a fuel, which like gasoline, is refined from oil. It is heavier and oilier than gasoline, and has a higher energy density. It is generally cheaper, too, because it needs less refining than gasoline. Diesel should always meet ASTM standards (American Society for Testing and Materials).
Q: What is fuel contamination?
A: Even high-quality fuel if left stagnat for a few months is likely contaminated. Surprisingly, the most common contaminant is water derived from tank condensation. The water molecules infiltrate the fuel leading to a blockage of the filters and/or a reduction in the fuel performance. Water also provides a feeding-ground for microbes, bacteria and even fungi which multiply into a sticky sludge and residue within the fuel. This bio-slime may drop to the bottom of the tank or it may suspend in the fuel.
Q: How does fuel contamination affect my generator?
A: Statistics show that 75% of generator malfunctions are due to contaminated diesel. Fuel sludge (bio-slime) and water clogs filters and corrodes injectors, pumps, and tanks resulting in the breakdown and malfunction of generators and pitting of metal fuel tanks that could lead to leaks. In short, when you try to run the engine with contaminated fuel, there will be an overload of carbon and smoke in the engine and ultimately, the engine will shut down.
Q: Is fuel contamination a widespread problem?
A: Yes, and fuel contamination is more prevalent today than ever. The EPA has instituted new clean air standards, which force refineries to reduce the amount and type of fuel enhancers and stabilizers added to diesel. Moreover, up until about 20 years ago, refineries used only about 50% of a barrel of crude oil to make diesel. As a result of regulations, refining techniques, and additive packages, refineries use 85% or more of the same barrel of crude oil. Stretching the crude oil in this way clearly has consequences for quality and stability. Thus, diesel today has a shorter useful storage life as it quickly breaks down and leads to contamination. Moreover, diesel is an organic based fluid and thus naturally deteriorates and oxidizes with age. The fuel decay typically commences 30-days after manufacture and will begin to impact engine performance.
Q: What can I expect when a Vital Engineer reVitalizes my fuel?
A: Trained Vital engineers will sample your fuel and inspect your tank to devise the treatment plan right for your tank size and quality of fuel. Then Vital Power Solutions will use its systematic approach and proprietary machinery to reVitalize your contaminated fuel by removing the sludge, excess water, and bio-slime. Once the fuel is contaminate-free, we will add VitalPure, which is a specialized blend of stabilizers and biocides used to delay the reappearance of bio-slime. As today’s fuel degrades quickly, many of our customers take advantage of our VitalClean Fuel Quality Assurance Program to ensure that their fuel is always fit for its purpose.
Q: How can I tell if my fuel is contaminated?
A: Some early stages of contamination are difficult to detect. Call us for a testing and sample analysis and we will provide you with a report regarding your fuel quality. Besides formal testing, if your engine begins to idle, hesitate, becomes harder to start, stalls and/or excessively smokes, fuel contamination is the culprit. Another way to decipher fuel contamination is to check for increasing amounts of water in your filters. Your filter should last for 600-1,000 hours of run time before needing replacement. If your filter clogs in less time – fuel contamination is likely your problem.
Q: What does Vital Power do differently than other fuel processing companies?
A: Many fuel filtering companies clean gasoline and diesel, and service small tanks. Vital Power is equipped to handle industrial-size large tanks and we focus on revitalizing diesel – so we can be the industry leader in this niche. Also, most of our competitors apply a bandaid to the problem – they just filter the diesel fuel and sometimes add a biocide chemical. While that may solve the short-term problem (the symptoms) the sludge could reappear within as little as a few weeks. At Vital Power Solutions, we not only filter and clean the fuel, but we add our proprietary chemical blend to help remove excessive water and keep the fuel stable and contaminate free for an extended period of time. Moreover, to keep fuel fit for its purpose, a systematic approach to preventative maintenance should be adopted. Vital Power, unlike its competition offers an annual maintenance plan, The Vital Clean Fuel Quality Assurance Plan. On this plan, we will periodically, test and exercise your fuel to keep it at ASTM standards all year long.
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