PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-697
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 697
DECEMBER 2010
45
PS 697
DEC 10
A small amount of contamination is normal, but it needs to be removed just the same.
If contaminants are not removed, they’ll accumulate in the bottom of your fuel tank. You
won’t know it right away because the fuel pick-up tube for your fuel system is a few inches
above the tank bottom and the fuel will float on top of most contaminants.
The problem becomes noticeable when the contaminant level rises to the level of the
pick-up tube. By then, you have severely contaminated fuel!
In a diesel system, fuel transfer pumps, injection pumps and fuel injectors have parts
that rely upon lubrication. Water and other contaminants can permanently damage
these parts.
Most TMs don’t tell you to check generator fuel tank contaminant levels. But anytime
you find water or other contaminants in the fuel-water separator or the fuel system filter
sump, here’s what to do:
•±
Open the fuel tank drain cock and drain a small amount of fuel into a container that will
let you see the fuel. Close the drain cock.
•±
Water contamination will appear as various-sized beads in the container bottom. If
contaminants or water appear in your sample, continue drawing samples of the fuel until
they no longer show contamination. Then, close the drain cock. Handle the drained fuel as
hazardous waste and recycle it as prescribed by your SOP.
•±
Change the fuel filter at the recommended PMCS interval. The filter elements accumulate
contaminants that can’t always be seen or measured.
That contamination had to come from somewhere and you need to find out where.
It could be a fuel truck or an external fuel tank or anything else in your fuel pumping
chain. Get other users to help you. It’s in their best interest to find the source of the
contamination, too.
Dirty Fuel Tank
Clean Fuel Tank
Generators…
Clean Fuel
is the Only Way They’ll Go!
if I found
contaminants in
the fuel-water
separator or
fuel tank
and
I get rid of
them, then I’m
done, right?
too often,
this is not
being done!
to prevent dirty fuel,
the pmcs in your tms
call for checking the
fuel-water separator
for water and other
contaminants and to
drain them.
the engine in your
generator will run
poorly—or not at all—
with dirty fuel.
here’s
why!
wrong!
697.44-45.indd
1-2
11/1/10
5:42 PM
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