Fuel stored in tanks for long periods (6 months and more) requires special attention. This fuel suffers from multiple problems that influence its quality.
One of the biggest concerns is water. Some water is delivered with your new fuel. This is emulsified water and is suspended in the fuel. Some of this entrained water will fall free but not all. Free water is a different animal. This water is introduced from changes in temperature, a poorly designed vent, leaking fittings and more. The presence of free water provides the medium for microbiological growth that results in the formation of slime and acids causing corrosion of metal surfaces such as storage tanks, pumps, injectors, etc. Left unattended this water layer will trap sludge and become the breeding ground for microbes, fungus, yeast and more. This toxic mix produces acids that compromise the integrity of your tank, lines, pumps, fittings and 
worse, diesel machinery.
Other key factors leading to fuel deterioration, polymerization, and stratification in storage tanks are chemical incompatibility and stress caused by heat and pressure of pumps, centrifuges, and heaters. Since most diesel engines return considerable amounts of fuel back to the tank, it is easy to see that the engine itself contributes to fuel deterioration.
Last but not least for today is natural degradation. Fuel is in fact inherently unstable. Given enough time diesel fuel will revert back to crude. Asphaltines and paraffins fall out of solution and settle to the tank bottom only to mix with those other components like water and sludge. this cocktail is toxic and can cause serious problems for you, maintenance, and life of your equipment. Left unattended this concoction will certainly cost you money and downtime.
Maintenance on your fuel is as important as maintenance on your engine. Test your fuel to alert you to problems before they get out of hand. Have a reputable firm polish your fuel annually and treat with stabilizers to keep your fuel in spec. Install permanent automated systems to continually filter, condition, and remove water. In the long run you will benefit and save large sums of money.
For more information visit us on the web at http://cleanfuelmanagement.comor call us at 757-673-7200 or email us at sales@cleanfuelmanagement.com. Clean fuel…..it’s what we do!
