INFORMATION REGARDING CURRENT FUEL ISSUES

F.A.M.E – Fatty Acid Methyl Esters, is the generic term for biodiesel, derived from renewable sources. This is used as a replacement or extension of gas oil or mineral diesel, which we use in; on and off-road vehicles as well as static engines. Manufactured mainly from recycled cooking oils, F.A.M.E is a powerful solvent. Whilst current pump diesel can contain up to 7% F.A.M.E, it is not uncommon for higher levels of F.A.M.E.

How can this biodiesel cause problems?
Petrol-derived fuels are able to shed moisture as a layer of water at the bottom of storage tanks, and because F.A.M.E is hygroscopic, it can absorb considerably more moisture than petrol-derived diesel – which is held in suspension. When water is able to contaminate diesel, the conditions become ideal for diesel bugs, mould, yeasts and bacteria to form, and as F.A.M.E is bio-degradable, it provides a source of nutrients for microbes.

Left untreated, this can damage fuel permanently!

How to spot contamination

• Issues with your equipment or engine when you have just topped up the fuel
• Cracks and signs of erosion on the fuel tank
• Visible water droplets in the oil tank

Leymans Terms
F.A.M.E – biodiesel – absorbs moisture which is ideal for diesel bugs, moulds etc to form.

The Solutions
Quick Fix – Cheaper initially
By setting up a Donaldson bulk fuel filtration system on your tank you can remove the dirt as well as the water from your fuel before it reaches your machines. This is the best option for a quick solution to fuel issues.

Long term fix – More expensive initially
To stand the best chance of protection from fuel issues, we would recommend having your tank cleaned by a professional before installing a Donaldson Bulk Fuel system. Whilst the quick fix would be to just install a Donaldson bulk fuel filtration system, this will only filter the fuel going from the tank to the machine, so without having your tank properly cleaned first, the Donaldson Bulk Fuel filters may get blocked more often.