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Case Study: 25 Pounds of Contamination from “Clean” Diesel Fuel — One Tank, One Month

Client: Regional Fleet Using Bulk Storage
Service: Permanent Installation of Bromac TwinCore Fuel Polishing System
Objective: Maintain fuel cleanliness and reliability in a freshly cleaned bulk diesel tank
Duration: 30 days post-installation

Background

A regional fleet operator had just completed a full professional cleaning of their on-site diesel storage tank. Following the cleaning, Bromac installed a TwinCore fuel polishing system — a dual-stage filtration unit designed to operate continuously and capture any new contaminants introduced through regular fuel deliveries.

Because the tank was confirmed to be clean at the time of installation, this gave us a unique opportunity to isolate and study the contamination introduced by the incoming fuel supply alone.

Test Methodology

After 30 days of operation, both filter elements from the TwinCore system were removed for analysis. Each filter had been used exclusively to service a single tank during that time.

To ensure the weight readings reflected only solid contamination (not trapped fuel or water), the used filters were thoroughly dried over the course of three weeks. This drying process allowed all residual diesel and captured water to fully evaporate, leaving behind only the solid particulates caught by the media.

Weights were then measured using a calibrated digital scale and compared against an unused filter of the same type.

Results

  • Dry weight of new, unused filter: 7.3 lbs

  • Used filter #1: 17.35 lbs

  • Used filter #2: 22.39 lbs

  • Total solids captured from one tank: ~25 lbs

Because the tank was clean at the start, this contamination was introduced entirely through delivered diesel fuel.

Key Implications

✅ Fuel Deliveries Aren’t Always Clean
Even with reputable suppliers, contaminants can enter your tank during transport or storage. Without filtration, that contamination heads straight into your equipment.

✅ Polishing Works — Even in “Clean” Tanks
The TwinCore system doesn’t just protect the tank — it protects every injector, filter, and DPF downstream by stopping solids at the source.

✅ Contamination = Real Cost
Unfiltered solids like these contribute to:

  • More frequent DPF regens

  • Premature injector wear

  • Filter plugging

  • Poor winter performance

  • Lower MPG and reliability

Conclusion

This case study shows that even a brand-new or freshly cleaned tank can accumulate massive levels of solid contamination in just 30 days. Without permanent filtration, these solids go straight to your engines — increasing wear, reducing fuel economy, and driving up maintenance costs.

Our TwinCore fuel polishing system is your insurance policy at the tank level, stopping the problem before it starts.

Protect Your Fleet

If your operation relies on bulk diesel storage, don’t assume your fuel is clean — prove it.

Bromac Reliability offers comprehensive tank-to-tailpipe solutions that include:

  • Permanent filtration systems

  • One time tank cleanings

  • Free fuel tank condition assessment 

  • Monthly fuel inspections

  • Additive optimization

  • Data-backed reporting

Book a fuel site inspection or consultation today.

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