Most people only realize they’ve been using poor-quality fuel when their equipment breaks down. And as you may imagine, this is the last thing you need if your operations rely on fuel – or worse yet, your equipment runs on something critical like, say… jet fuel?

The good thing is you can easily save yourself from the expensive equipment repairs and treatment costs that follow by conducting a simple fuel test. Wondering how?

Here is all you need to know about fuel tests. We will cover the different types of tests as well as their benefits.

What is diesel fuel quality testing?

Diesel fuel quality testing is the process of inspecting and testing fuels to ensure their properties are balanced. This includes petroleum products in their different grades, such as gasoline-ethanol blends, automotive gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, racing fuel, and E-85 ethanol.

Fuel quality testing is mainly done by determining the cetane number. This unit of measurement showcases how fast and efficiently the fuel combusts – the higher the cetane number, the better the fuel combusts within a vehicle’s engine.

Some other fuel tests measure the contamination levels and stability of the fuel. These properties need to be balanced for your engine to perform optimally under different operating conditions.

What fuel testing options are available?

You can tell that your fuel quality is good by three main properties: its purity, how fast it lights, and how thoroughly it burns. Therefore, the major fuel tests aim at finding the speed and efficiency of its combustion (by getting the cetane number) and its purity by measuring its contamination levels.

What is the importance of fuel testing?

Most tests look at essential factors affecting how usable the oil is. Some significantly affect your machines’ fuel economy and how efficiently they burn. Some popular fuel tests include:

Oxidative stability

This test is meant to ensure that the fuel is safe and functional. Usually, a fuel sample is run through an accelerated stability test case, and the quantity of varnish and sludge formed is measured. More sludge deposits translate to less oxidative stability.

Lower oxidative stability usually indicates that the oil will leave more sludge deposits inside your fuel systems or storage tanks. In the most dire cases, fuel with excess sludge deposits can lead to engine failure

Cetane rating

The fuel is tested here for its burning efficiency. Diesel fuels with low cetane ratings can lead to equipment breakdowns. Also relevant to note is that the cetane rating is influenced by environmental conditions and is, therefore, likely to degrade over time. For this reason, it’s important to conduct regular cetane rating tests.

Moisture content

Water molecules can cause your fuel to break down through a process called hydrolysis. Moisture can also encourage microbial growth resulting in sludge. Eventually, it might lead to equipment malfunctions as well.

A water content test is conducted to ensure moisture is at a safe maximum. If not, a fuel/water separator can be used to remove excess moisture.

Microbial contamination

This is when organisms like fungi and bacteria pollute the fuel. This can occur due to the production of sludge, which clogs filters and ultimately damages equipment. In this process, a fuel test kit is used to detect any microbes present in the fuel.

Vapor pressure

Vapor pressure will show you how volatile the fuel is and the degree to which it vaporizes at a specific temperature. When it comes to gasoline, a fuel pressure test can help determine how well the fuel will perform. In contrast with petroleum, it can guide transportation facilities as to which facilities to use.

Sediment build-up

This includes everything from small sand, dust, and other tiny dirt particles building up inside the fuel. Left unchecked, these particles can cause friction between the moving parts of your machine, causing eventual equipment failure.

The test for solids is called an insoluble test or a spectral exam. This checks whether any elements are present in the fuel. Ideally, there shouldn’t be any other elements than boron, commonly found in gas samples.

Sulfur content

As per the Environmental Protection Agency Regulations, the maximum sulfur content limit in fuel should be 15 parts per million (ppm). This keeps the ecosystem safe from fuel pollution and your company safe from compliance violations.

Signs of degraded fuel

There are a few telltale signs of degraded fuel. If the fuel has microbial content, for instance, it can form sludge, which will cause blockages or restrict fluid flow in your fuel pump and equipment.

You might notice your machine’s engine stalling or producing black smoke. The machine might have trouble starting.

The best way to prevent degradation is through proper storage techniques, fuel tank servicing, and regular fuel testing. Another trick is to keep the fuel tank full through regular refills. By doing so, contaminants will be limited in their ability to thrive.

When to test your fuel

Unless you use electric vehicles and equipment as your main tools of operation, there’s no escaping the need for regular fuel testing. Most importantly, it will allow you to spot degradation or contaminants early and keep them from building up.

And this will allow your machine to reach its full lifespan. That said, you should take a fuel sample for testing at least once a year – twice if it’s used as backup fuel.