7th August 2025
Yes, we know it’s August…
But now’s the time to ensure your backup systems are prepared for winter! As temperatures drop, the risks to stored diesel fuel rise. For industries relying on standby generators or diesel-powered equipment – such as transport, data centres, agriculture, and emergency services – fuel quality is critical. But cold weather introduces unique threats that can degrade diesel and compromise operations.
Key Cold Weather Risks:
Wax Formation: Low temperatures cause paraffin wax in diesel to crystallise, clogging filters and fuel lines.
Water Contamination: Condensation builds inside tanks, diluting fuel and encouraging microbial growth.
Fuel Stratification: Fuel can separate over time, leading to inconsistent quality and system issues.
Microbial Activity: Even in cold conditions, bacteria and fungi can thrive in water-contaminated fuel, creating sludge and corrosive by-products.
These factors lead to increased maintenance, but more importantly reliability issues, which could result in your generators failing when you need them the most.
Fuel polishing is a vital preventative maintenance strategy designed to maintain the integrity of stored diesel. Unlike simple filtration, fuel polishing is a multi-stage cleaning and conditioning process , restoring it to optimal quality.
A Fuel Polishing System from WASP can help protect your backup generator’s fuel supply during the winter. By regularly filtering and polishing your fuel, you can rest assured it will be ready to power your generators during an outage.
How It Works…
Water Separation: Removes free and emulsified water, preventing microbial growth and rust formation.
Particulate Filtration: Eliminates sludge, sediments, and wax build-up that can block filters and fuel lines.
Microbial Removal: Filters out microbial contamination and biomass, which degrade fuel and damage tanks.
Fuel Circulation and Homogenisation: Keeps the fuel moving to prevent stratification and ensure consistent quality.
The Benefits…
Reliable Performance: Ensures generators and equipment start when needed.
Lower Maintenance Costs: Prevents damage to filters, pumps, and fuel systems.
Extended Fuel Life: Keeps stored diesel usable for longer, reducing replacement costs and environmental impact.
Compliance & Safety: Helps meet fuel standards and reduces environmental risk.
Tips for safeguarding your backup generator…
Ensure it’s ready to spring into action when power outages strike by following these simple yet effective winterisation practices:
Fuel Polishing is essential to keep your fuel in optimum condition.
Opt for Winterised Diesel Fuel: Choose diesel fuel specially formulated for cold weather conditions. This fuel contains additives that prevent gelling and maintain fluidity during extreme temperatures.
Minimise Fuel Storage: If possible, reduce the amount of diesel fuel stored in winter. This reduces the risk of large volumes of fuel gelling and affecting the generator’s performance.
Maintain Fuel Tank Ventilation: Proper ventilation of your generator’s fuel tank prevents condensation and the formation of ice crystals that can clog fuel filters.
Regularly Check and Replace Fuel Filters: Regular inspections and timely replacement of fuel filters are essential to maintain optimal fuel flow and prevent clogging, especially during cold weather.
Use Fuel Additives: Consider adding a fuel stabiliser or anti-gel additive to extend the shelf life of your diesel fuel and enhance its cold weather performance.
Don’t Wait for the Freeze
Proactive fuel maintenance is far more cost-effective than emergency repairs or system failures. As temperatures fall, ensure your diesel storage tanks are winter-ready with professional fuel polishing.
Whether you operate a fleet, manage critical infrastructure, or simply store diesel as part of your contingency planning – fuel polishing is not just a maintenance task; it’s a smart investment in uptime, efficiency, and peace of mind.
Safeguard your fuel. Protect your operations. Polish your performance.
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