A leading cause of generator failure during an actual outage isn’t mechanical. It’s fuel. Most generators pass routine tests just fine. They start. They idle. They look like they’re working. But during a real outage — when the power is out and your facility is depending on that generator under full load — the fuel […]
Most generators pass routine tests just fine. They start. They idle. They look like they’re working.
But during a real outage — when the power is out and your facility is depending on that generator under full load — the fuel delivery system tells a different story.
Here’s what happens: Diesel stored in a tank begins to degrade within 6–12 months. Moisture enters through tank vents. Microbial growth develops at the fuel-water interface. Oxidation creates sludge and sediment that settles at the bottom of the tank.
During a no-load test, your generator draws a small amount of fuel from the top of the tank. Clean enough. Passes.
During a real outage, under full load, it draws heavily — pulling contaminated fuel from the bottom up through the fuel system and straight into the engine.
The three most common fuel problems we find in Michigan facilities:
Bacteria, fungi, yeast, and mold thrive at the fuel-water interface. They produce acids and sludge that destroy fuel injectors and clog filters.
Summer-blend diesel used in cold Michigan winters partially crystallizes. Fuel lines and filters clog at exactly the moment you need your backup power most.
Diesel oxidizes over time, producing varnish and sediment that coats tank walls and accumulates at the bottom. Eventually it clogs the entire fuel delivery system.
New EPA regulations have made modern diesel fuel more chemically unstable than it was a decade ago — shortening the effective shelf life even further.
If your generator fuel hasn’t been tested in the past 12 months, you don’t actually know what you’re working with.
WPS fuel polishing removes water, microbial contamination, oxidation byproducts, and sediment — cleaning diesel down to 1 micron. Cleaner than new fuel off the truck.
We test first. We treat every tank individually. And we can service any size tank — no minimum, no maximum.
When did your facility last have a fuel quality test?
#GeneratorMaintenance #FuelPolishing #BackupPower #FacilityManagement #Michigan #DieselFuel #CriticalFacilities
