         |
What the experts are saying about fuel-tank maintenance
With higher fuel prices affecting tank system owners and managers, employing the best in-tank inspection methods becomes increasingly important. OpticSweep provides the inside information that tank owners need through the unprecedented use of fiber-optic technology.
American
Petroleum Institute
Before returning to service any tank systems
affected by floods…
- Check dispenser filters and submersible check-valve screens for plugging with dirt or mud
- Check tank bottoms for water and debris (due to surface infiltration)
Steel
Tank Institute
"Poor operations and maintenance procedures for
water monitoring and removal from storage systems can
lead to a number of problems, from degradation of fuel
quality and subsequent vehicle performance, to microbial
contamination and damage of the entire storage system.
"This pertains to all storage systems, both underground and aboveground, constructed of any material and storing nearly any product - gasoline, diesel, residential and commercial heating oils, aviation jet fuel and others."
National
Ethanol Vehicle Coalition
"Most operating
problems with ethanol-fueled vehicles have
been traced to contaminated fuel."
American
Petroleum Institute
Ethanol
Fuel Blends Require Good Housekeeping?
"Pump out tank bottoms. If water is left in the tank bottom, phase separation can occur when the ethanol blend enters the service-station tank. With phase separation, an ethanol-water solution settles to the tank bottom. Depending on the amount of water present and the location of the pump suction near the tank bottom, the ethanol-water solution may or may not be delivered to the customer. An engine will not run properly if this solution flows into a vehicle's tank. Because the ethanol separates to the bottom of the tank, the octane level of the fuel is reduced and some of the front-end volatility is reduced-- thereby causing problems for the engine."
Steel
Tank Institute on Tank Maintenance
"The
primary tank should be inspected monthly
for the presents of water. Inspections
should take place at the lowest possible
points inside the primary tank. Remove
any water found. Water and sediment
in fuel can cause plugging of filters, also
bacterial growth originating from the fuel
can cause filters to plug and corrosion of
the tanks and lines"
EPA logo designed to promote regular maintenance and tank inspections
Copyright 2005 Optic Fuel Clean, Inc
This site designed by:
