Diesel Fuel Testing and Analysis

Fuel testing and analysis has become an important part of engine maintenance and repair operations. The cost of diesel fuel is minimal when compared to the problems that may develop.  Knowing the quality of your diesel fuel ahead of time will enable you to take action and institute preventative action to avoid costly and premature engine failure.  Providing a history of fuel quality through fuel analysis will help track down a problem to the source before and even after it happens.

Generally speaking, most fuel is within grade.  However, on occasion a fuel delivery may be substandard. Fuel will also degrade and become contaminated in storage and transfer.  Long term storage will also cause diesel fuel deterioration and contamination.

Diesel Fuel Test Methods
In a perfect world you should test the fuel at each delivery.  This provides a steady record of the quality of fuel that is delivered from your supplier.  If this is not practical the supplier may opt to leave the delivery container on-site until testing is complete.  You can also take delivery of your fuel in a separate tank prior to filling your primary tank until testing is complete.  In any case you need to know the quality of your diesel fuel.

Sampling Techniques
It is important to pull a representative and accurate sample to obtain the full benefit of the fuel analysis. Sampling methods will be different but all are necessary.

In order to evaluate the concentration of sludge, water, and debris on the bottom of the tank, you will want to take a sample at the tank bottom.  This can be done in most cases by dropping a "Bacon Bomb" or "Sample Thief" down the fill pipe to the bottom of the tank.  If access is extremely difficult you can use a PVC pipe with a sample tube strapped to the side and lower this into the tank until it touches bottom.  The tube is then connected to the sample pump where a diesel fuel sample is drawn off for testing.

For tanks larger that 10,000 gallons it may be required to pull two samples.  One would be taken from the tank bottom and the second from half depth in the tank.  The tank bottom sample will allow for sampling water and contaminant along with sludge and particulate.  The middle tank sample can then be tested for fuel quality.

No matter who you choose to send your fuel sample to for analysis, be sure they are a fuel lab and not an oil lab testing fuel.  The results in some cases will be the same but not in every ASTM test method.

Sample Volume
It is important to send the proper amount of diesel fuel for testing.  In most cases we will require 16 ounces.  In some rare cases we will require 32 ounces.  All of our test kits are complete with the sample container, a shipping outer container, cushion wrap, and shipping labels.

Diesel Fuel Analysis Types
We offer two tests; the Mission Critical Test and the Screen Test.  Below are the breakdown of the tests. 

The Results of the Screen Test

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