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Fuel Cleaning and Filtering

Curtis Engine offers fuel testing, filtering and treatment services to remove water and sediment from diesel fuel storage and day tanks. Stored diesel fuel begins to degrade within weeks of delivery and microbes begin to grow in the fuel. Water in the tank is inevitable due to condensation and venting. Contaminated fuel clogs fuel lines and filters and can harm the fuel pump due to a lack of lubrication.

Fuel related issues are the second most common failure point in emergency standby generator sets behind negligent battery maintenance. Fuel needs to be topped off regularly and agitated to prevent contaminants from clogging the system and starving the engine of fuel. Regular testing and exercise of the generator set helps get the fuel moving but fuel treatment and recirculation - diesel dialysis if you will – actually removes the water and sediment from the tanks without replacing the expensive diesel fuel.

According to NFPA 110 standards, the fuel system design for emergency and standby power systems shall provide for a clean supply of fuel to the generator set. A fuel quality test shall be performed at least annually. Additionally, fuel tanks shall be sized so that the fuel is consumed within the storage life, or provision shall be made to replace stale fuel with clean fuel.

Protect your generator from contaminated fuel. We recommend an annual tank cleaning along with the addition of fuel treatment. We have a dedicated fuel cleaning truck for larger tanks (up to 15,000 gallons) and portable filtering units for smaller tanks (less than 1,000 gallon). For tanks larger than 2,500 gallons, we recommend a stationary fuel recirculating system be installed. For more information on our fuel cleaning products and services or to schedule an appointment to have your tanks cleaned, please call 800-573-9200 or send an e-mail to Service.

Notes on Biodiesel

While Curtis Engine is a strong supporter of Green Energy and renewable fuels, bio-diesel is NOT for use in emergency or standby generators. As bio-diesel ages in storage, the acid number tends to increase and go out of specification. It becomes “gummy” and attracts moisture thereby clogging fuel lines, filters, and injectors. Even blending B100 bio-diesel with regular diesel to make B20 bio-diesel is not recommended.

• Some studies suggest that compared to B100, it appears that B20 may have a longer storage life than B100.
• Data also shows that some B20 can have good stability while others do not depending on the B100 used for blending.
• The National Bio-Diesel Board recommends that B20 be used within 6 months.
• If B20 is used, add supplements to boost cetane and to act as an anti-gel to improve stability and consider fuel cleaning at least twice per year.

Special Features

Broad Creek WWTP

Curtis Engine delivers MTU Onsite Energy generators.
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Quantico Marine Base

Quantico gets custom MTU generator installations.
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Fairfax Water

Curtis Engine meets strict emissions requirements.
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Mercy Hospital

Onsite Energy and ASCO installed at Mercy Hospital.
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We're proud to be one of the pioneers in the development of Green Energy resources.
Visit our Green Energy section