A diesel engine uses only some of the fuel it pulls from the tank. All of that fuel goes to the high pressure fuel pump and to the injectors operating under enormous pressure and high temperatures. The surplus fuel the engine is not using goes back to the tank. The fuel is continuously re-circulated and Read More
Ask the Captain Categories
Is “dark” fuel the same as “bad” fuel and can I still use it?
This is a question that many of us have asked more than once. And what we really want to know is, “Will the stuff damage my engines?” Engines are expensive, ruining an engine is costly and operating an engine on bad fuel is not wise. We all know that most engine failures start in the Read More
What is “bad” fuel?
Fuel is made to certain ASTM specifications. When it does not meet these specs, we could refer to it as “bad fuel”. However, we tend to refer to fuel as “bad fuel” when we see symptoms such as: Dark, hazy fuel Filter clogging Sludge build up in tanks Poor engine performance Excessive smoke and emissions Read More
How does fuel stability affect me?
Fuel stability is a serious concern to the diesel fuel user. The chemistry of diesel fuel instability involves the chemical conversion of precursors to species of higher molecular weight with limited solubility. The conversion process often involves the oxidation of the precursors. We all realize that fuel is an unstable, organic liquid that goes “bad”. Read More
Can diesel fuel clog my filter?
Written by Captain Jeff Werner Yes, it can. The stuff that clogs your filter is actually fuel in some way, shape or form. In excess of 90% of this organic debris is fuel breakdown products. It is not sand, dust, stones, rust or inorganic matter that blocks your filter. The inorganic material like sand, dust Read More