Unleash the Power of Pure Diesel: How to Test for Quality

Diesel fuel systems are becoming more sophisticated day by day aiming to maximize fuel economy and meet emission regulations. So, the new reality is emphasizing the quality and cleanliness of diesel fuels used in today's engines.

Frequent diesel fuel testing during storage or handling assures engine manufacturer compliance will save you from costly fuel contamination or degradation issues. Let’s take a look at what Redlines Diesel, one of the top diesel trading companies in Dubai talks about testing diesel quality.

Defining Diesel Fuel Quality 

Diesel fuel quality testing is required regardless of why or how you use diesel fuel. Also, It's critical to understand how fuel quality affects performance and equipment function. Inadequate performance and equipment damage might be the result of poor diesel quality. 

This also means poor quality can lead to equipment failure in extreme circumstances, which is why regular testing is critical.

The assessment of fuel quality indicates combustion speed and efficiency, as well as stability and pollutant buildup. It should be noted that each of these parameters has an impact on fuel performance.

Higher quality fuel means it will burn more thoroughly. Furthermore, clean gasoline protects parts and equipment from damage. The basic approach to assess fuel quality is to calculate its cetane number, which indicates the rate and efficiency of combustion. 

According to the top diesel fuel suppliers in UAE, Additional tests include the assessment of stability and contaminant levels, which influence how effectively it performs. Sending samples to a gasoline testing laboratory may be necessary for some circumstances for proper measurement.

In certain circumstances, sending samples to gasoline testing can be done for proper measurement.

Impurities in diesel fuel can lower its quality and affect its performance. This can be avoided by proper storage technique and fuel tank maintenance  some of the contaminants in diesel fuel include 

Water molecules

Water molecules break down diesel fuel through a process called hydrolysis, which results in a breeding ground for microorganisms.

Microbial life

Even Fungi and bacteria interfere with diesel fuel in multiple ways. Unbelievable right? eg producing corrosive acids, clogging filters and restricting fluid flow.

Dirt 

Sand, dust, and other dirt particles in diesel fuel will affect engine performance and can cause equipment failure.

Diesel Fuel Testing 

Diesel fuel quality testing can unearth very different factors. Here are some of the factors you can measure with diesel fuel testing. 

Cetane Rating

Considered a fundamental measurement, the cetane value of diesel fuel impacts its performance — how quickly and fully the fuel burns. 

Cetane is a chemical component found naturally in diesel that rapidly ignites under pressure. 
Cetane number is the technical term for this measurement. Consider it similar to gasoline octane ratings. The distinction is that a good octane rating indicates that a fuel does not ignite too quickly, whereas a good cetane number indicates that a fuel ignites as soon as feasible.

Oxidative Stability

Keep in mind that due to environmental variables and impurities, the cetane rating of stored fuel might decrease over time. As a result, periodical cetane rating testing for stored fuel is critical.

Water content 

Testing fuel for water content is equally important since water molecules can cause fuel to deteriorate and microbial life to grow. Excessive water content can cause equipment to fail and perform poorly. Water in fuel makes it susceptible to impurity buildup. It can also induce freezing in fuel tanks, lines, pipes, and filters. So, having a safe maximum water content in fuel is critical.

Sulfur content 

Sulfur content measurement assures compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules. The EPA has set a maximum sulphur content standard of 15 parts per million (ppm) for diesel fuel. The restriction protects ecosystems as well as human safety – excess fuel sulphur content was formerly a serious environmental concern. Sulfur content checks can now help you avoid liability by ensuring compliance.

Sediment content

Checking for sediment content is quite essential when it comes to diesel fuel quality.
While a visual inspection can detect excessive accumulation, a more thorough test can disclose performance quality.

Degradation

Diesel fuel degrades over time due to environmental variables, which has an impact on performance. Degraded fuel can cause black smoke, difficulty starting, and engine stalling when used. Appropriate storage practises, regular fuel testing, and storage tank servicing can all help to extend the useable life of diesel fuel. Keeping storage tanks full with scheduled tank refills, for example, reduces the amount of space available for contaminants to accumulate.

Microbial content 

Microbial content should be also tested in fuel. Remember that microbial life needs water to survive, therefore limiting water buildup can also minimise microbial formation. Microbe testing is required since their accumulation damages fuel and clogs equipment. These can cause engine failure in extreme circumstances.

Bottom line, if you store diesel fuel, make sure that you run quality tests. If you are interested in knowing more about quality diesel testing, reach out to our experts at Redlines Diesel, one of the finest diesel fuel suppliers in Dubai.