Tips to Help you Maintain Your Fuel

Universal Fuel Services recommends having your fuel and your tank thoroughly cleaned to eliminate the current contamination, treat the remaining fuel with our propitiatory stabilizer and adhere to the following practices:

• Store your vessel with a full tank of fuel to avoid tank sweating
• Maintain a clean tank
• Only buy fuel from a high-volume service center
• Avoid buying fuel when the refueling tanker is filling storage tanks
• Change filters according to your engine manufacturer’s specifications
• Have stored fuel tested and cleaned at least annually; Universal Fuel Services recommends twice per year for stored fuels.
• Water contamination is a natural occurrence for ethanol blended fuels as these blends still absorb water from the air through fuel tank vents.
•  Replace fiberglass fuel tanks if using these newer blends of fuel

3 main types of fuel contamination:

1. Water
   
   Water contamination is due mostly from condensation in the tank but can be picked up over time from your fuel supplier.  Excessive amounts for water in the fuel can lead to poor engine performance, dilute lubricating oils and can lead to the formation of acids and varnish in engines as well as a reduction in the life of fuel filters, pumps and injectors.  Long-term build up of water can lead to rust in the fuel supply system causing damage to fuel pumps and injectors.
   
   
2. Foreign particulate matter
   
   Foreign particulate matter is another problem that begins with your fuel source.  Fuel refining to your tank is approx a 30-90 day process and may be stored and transported in several tanks picking up water and particulate contamination along the way to you.  Also, blended fuels will break lose particulates in your fuel system.  You can also get particulate contamination in your fuel from airborne matter through your tank’s vent tube.
   
   
3. Biological growth
   
   Biological contamination is the growth of algae and other microscopic life in your fuel and fuel tanks.  When agitated these organisms can quickly clog filters, pumps and injectors.