DIESEL FUELS & DIESEL FUEL SYSTEMS

Diesel Fuels & Diesel Fuel SystemsApplication and Installation Guidelowest part of the fuel tank can beaccessed with cleaning equipment.Fuel Tank GroundingFuel tanks, both bulk and auxiliary,need to be grounded. This is toimprove personal safety and reducethe fire hazard of sparks dischargedfrom static electricity build-up duringrefueling operations.If the auxiliary tank is mounted tothe base of the engine, it will begrounded at the same time as theengine. If the fuel tank is placedaway from the engine, the tankmust be grounded separately.Fuel Tank MaintenanceFuel has a storage life ofapproximately one year. This periodmay vary widely depending uponinitial fuel quality, contaminant levelsand storage conditions.To remove water, scale andbacteria growth, periodic exchangeof fuel and filtering/treating isrecommended to extend fuel life.Water contamination of fuel duringlong-term storage provides a mediumfor bacterial growth, forming a darkslime which:• Plugs filters• Deposits on tank walls andpipes• Swells rubber products that itcontactsSulfur compounds are naturalantioxidants, so low sulfur fuels(0.05 percent by weight) degradequicker in storage.Diesel fuels oxidize and form gumsand varnishes which can plug fuelfilters and injectors.Page 18Because microorganism growthoccurs in the fuel/water layer, thetank should be designed to minimizethis interface, and water bottomsshould be drained regularly.Microbiocide additives, eitherwater or fuel soluble, can be addedto fresh fuel to inhibit microorganismgrowth. Consult your local fuelsupplier for recommended additives.In warm climates, large bulkstorage diesel fuel requires fullfiltering every six months to oneyear.Every two years the fuel should becompletely changed to removewater, scale, bacteria growth,oxidized gums/resins, and minimizefilter clogging due to fuel separationinto components such asasphaltenes.Fuel Transfer SystemsThe diesel engine fuel supply,delivery and governing systems aredesigned to deliver clean fuel in theprecise quantity and time needed toproduce the required engineperformance.All connection lines, valves andtanks should be thoroughly cleanedbefore making final connections tothe engine. The entire fuel systemexternal to the engine should beflushed prior to connection to engineand startup.Caterpillar supplies the engine witha transfer pump and the secondaryfilter. The customer must providethe primary filter and, if needed, anauxiliary transfer pump. The auxiliarytransfer pump is required when thedistance, vertically or horizontally,©2005 Caterpillar®All rights reserved.