1. Emulsifiers / Dispersants (“Water Removers”)

These break water into microscopic droplets and suspend them in the fuel. The water then passes through the system and is burned off as vapor.

Pros: Good for small amounts of water, prevents icing, avoids visible free water.

Cons: Doesn’t eliminate water—just sends it to the engine. Too much can cause wear or corrosion. Not ideal for modern high‑pressure systems.

2. Demulsifiers (Preferred for Storage Tanks)

These cause water droplets to combine and settle at the bottom as free water.

Pros: Enables true removal via drains, separators, or polishing. Reduces corrosion and microbial growth.

Cons: Requires a way to physically remove the separated water.

Key Points

•             No additive destroys or converts water; claims otherwise are marketing.

•             Best practice: Use demulsifiers + mechanical removal (drains, separators, polishing).

•             For stored diesel: choose demulsifiers and remove water regularly; avoid strong emulsifiers in bulk tanks without drainage

MORE INFORMATION

The post Why Chemical Fuel Additives Don’t Remove Water from Diesel appeared first on Dieselcraft.

Here are the key questions to investigate:

• Is the fuel clear and bright or cloudy?
• Are you using an additive? If so, which one, at what ratio, and how often?
• Is the entire fuel volume cloudy, or only the bottom around the fuel pick-up?

Fuel Sampling Steps

1. Take a sample from the water separator. Is the fuel clear and bright, or cloudy?
2. Take a sample from the top of the fuel tank. Is it clear and bright, or cloudy?
3. Take a sample from the next fuel delivery. Is it clear and bright, or cloudy?

Checking for Overdosing Issues

• Is your supplier providing a winter blend fuel?
• Is the supplier blending the additive? If so, ask for the exact ratio.
• If the fuel supplier overdosed the fuel—or if you added a cold flow improver to an already treated winter blend—you may have caused the issue.
• Water reacts to excessive additives, preventing it from being trapped by a water-blocking filter.

Understanding Additive Ratios

It’s crucial to use the correct amount of additive:

• There are 128 ounces in 1 gallon.
• If an additive treats 1 gallon per 1,000 gallons of fuel, then 1 ounce treats 7.8 gallons.
• Did you add more than the recommended amount? More is not better!

Locating and Removing the Problem Fuel

• Overdosed additives tend to sink to the tank bottom, where the engine’s fuel pick-up is located.
• Take samples from different points in the tank to determine where clear and bright fuel transitions to cloudy.
• Pump off and store the bottom fuel until the water naturally separates over time.

Testing for Contamination

To test fuel clarity, use this method: Diesel Fuel Contamination Test.
If the results are inconclusive, a lab test ($200–$400) may be required—contact us for recommendations.

Conclusion

Diesel fuel additives are a cost-effective way to improve engine performance in cold weather. They enhance cold flow without sacrificing power or performance and don’t reduce lubricity or cetane levels like kerosene.

However, excessive additive use can cause contamination issues. Based on our findings, the fuel was likely delivered with too much winter blend additive or was overdosed during treatment.

The post Troubleshooting Fuel Contamination Issues appeared first on Dieselcraft.

1. Mechanical Filtration: Most fuel filtration systems employ mechanical filtration, which involves passing the fuel through a filter medium that physically traps particles and contaminants. The filter medium typically consists of a porous material, such as paper, synthetic fibers, or metal mesh, with specific micron ratings to capture particles of various sizes.
2. Micron Ratings: Filters are rated based on their ability to capture particles of a certain size, typically measured in microns. Smaller micron ratings indicate finer filtration, meaning the filter can capture smaller particles. For example, a filter with a 10-micron rating can capture particles as small as 10 microns in size.
3. Contaminant Removal: Fuel filtration systems are designed to remove various types of contaminants, including dirt, debris, rust, water, and microbial growth. Water separation is often a critical function, as water in the fuel can lead to corrosion, microbial growth, and engine damage. Some filters incorporate water-absorbing materials or coalescing elements to separate water from the fuel.
4. Filter Media: The choice of filter media plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of the filtration system. Different materials offer varying degrees of filtration efficiency, flow rates, and compatibility with different types of fuels. Synthetic fibers, such as cellulose or glass fibers, are commonly used due to their high filtration efficiency and durability.
5. Filter Design: The design of the filter element and housing also influences filtration performance. Factors such as the size and shape of the filter element, the surface area available for filtration, and the flow path of the fuel through the filter can affect filtration efficiency and pressure drop.
6. Multiple Filtration Stages: In some applications, multiple filtration stages are used to achieve higher levels of contamination removal. For example, a primary filter may remove larger particles, while a secondary filter with a finer micron rating captures smaller contaminants.
7. Monitoring and Maintenance: Proper monitoring and maintenance of fuel filtration systems are essential for ensuring their effectiveness over time. Regular inspection and replacement of filters, along with monitoring of fuel quality and contamination levels, help prevent system failures and engine damage.
   Overall, effective fuel filtration systems rely on a combination of mechanical filtration, micron ratings, filter media selection, design considerations, and maintenance practices to remove contaminants and ensure clean, reliable fuel delivery to engines. MORE INFO

The post The Science Behind Effective Fuel Filtration Systems: How Do They Work? appeared first on Dieselcraft.

The choice of TFP80 from the other manufactures is too small. Based on its size the residence time of the fuel is less than 20 seconds. Our 5×8 because of the design will give 30 seconds of residence time. Meaning the longer the fuel is in the purifier the longer gravity works on the water to drop it out.

Using the largest possible purifier for longer residence time aka cleaning power and the more capacity to hold water before draining is recommended.

Based on 72 GPH the 5×12 has a residence time of 45 seconds where the 5×16 has a full 60 seconds.
The water sensor will trigger when water reaches the probe at approx 0.400 of 1 gallon. The system will continue to work  unit the volume reached .750 of one gallon then you run the risk of passing water on into the engine. Drain it when the alarm sound or within 3 days not 3 months and the problem will no longer exist.

By using the competitions suggestion the customer will not be happy. His knowledge of how the separation works is lacking. MORE INFO

The post Case Study May 2021 appeared first on Dieselcraft.