Guide to generator fuel management

Regular generator service and maintenance programmes are fairly standard for businesses, but it’s important to remember to check on the fuel as well as the actual parts and components of the generator set.

Here’s a quick guide to generator fuel management from the team at Vital Power, designed to help you save money on fuel costs and keep your standby generator system in full working order for whenever you need it.

Image: generator + fuel

Why is fuel management important for diesel generators?

Any fuel for any device needs to be checked and managed regularly. Backup generators have particularly important fuel management needs, since they’re not used as often or as frequently as other engines. Think of the petrol in your car’s engine – if it sat idle for weeks or months on end, you’ll need to give it a little TLC to make sure it was all working perfectly.

Another reason fuel management and fuel quality checking is vital for standby generators is that there isn’t much – or any – room for error. You turn to your standby generator in an emergency – such as a weather event, power outage or mains issue. You need to know that your backup power supply is ready to go at a moment’s notice to ensure your business stays online and that you don’t lose any supplies or have any potentially catastrophic downtime.

Does diesel go off?

Any substance – particularly a fuel that will be used to power an engine – will have an expiration date and a length of time it can safely be left out. For optimal performance and safety, diesel fuel shouldn’t be stored for longer than 6 months to a year – though it should be noted that conditions and storage facilities can vary and can potentially elongate the shelf life of your diesel. If you’re not sure how long to keep your diesel fuel stagnant before changing, get in touch with our team of diesel fuel management specialists.

Ideally, diesel needs to be stored at around 21℃ for the best performance. It will also need to be polished, treated and kept clean. When any of these conditions aren’t met, issues like oxidation and contamination can occur.

Any condensation from the fuel tank’s lid or external water source can cause microbial growth, which contributes to fuel breakdown and can cause clogs in the fuel tank. Oxidation – when diesel is in contact with oxygen – can increase the acidity and lead to build ups and clogs in the tank.

This is why regular refuelling is important to make sure you’re always ready for a power outage.

Top tips for diesel generator fuel management

So, it’s important to regularly check and maintain your fuel as part of overall generator maintenance. Here are some of the most important steps to take as part of good diesel management.

Fuel tank maintenance

Keeping the actual fuel tank clean and in good condition is the first step to making sure the fuel inside stays primed and ready to use. As well as scheduling regular fuel tank cleaning from professional generator experts, it’s a good idea to give the tank area a regular check to ensure it’s dry, free from debris and generally clean.

Checking tank components like the vents, seals and valves regularly is another way to ensure contaminants can’t get to the fuel. This will also help prevent clogs or build-ups for the engine, which can help protect the system’s overall maintenance.

Regular fuel services

At Vital Power we offer several fuel management services to ensure the diesel in your generator is always in top condition. These include:

• Fuel polishing – removal of sediment and contaminants from diesel
• Fuel quality testing – cleaning and refreshing of diesel fuel
• Refuelling – top ups and refills of the fuel tank
• Fuel sampling – check-ups and tests to review fuel quality

For a helping hand with generator fuel management, contact Vital Power for a quote.