May 2018 | VehicleServicePros.com 33
“You can get fungus, yeasts and molds growing
inside of those tanks if the water isn’t dealt
with,” Whiddon says. “Regular fuel samples will
help identify these issues. You may need to have
the fuel polished.” Fuel polishing is the process
of removing the fuel from the tank, running it
through an advanced fi ltration process, and then
returning the fuel.
Maintaining fuel
equipment
Th e ongoing maintenance of
fueling equipment is relatively
straightforward, but very
important nonetheless.
“A monthly walk-around
visual inspection is a good
practice,” Envirosafe’s Evans
says. “Th ere are some items that
are wear items: hoses, nozzles,
breakaways and fi lters. Th ey
tend to wear out within a
couple years of service, and
likely much sooner than that.
We advise fl eets to keep these
items on-hand in case something
needs replacing.”
Check nozzles and hoses for
breakage and leakage points.
Storage tank fi lters are also
important to watch.
“Filters tell you when they
need to be changed because
the fl ow rate starts slowing
down,” Whiddon says. “Beyond
an obvious warning sign like
that, it’s a good idea to change
the fi lters at least once a year.”
While UL-listed tanks are
very durable, problems can
still occur over time. Atlas
Oil’s Whiddon says a tank
will oft en reach the end of
its life within 20 years. Even
on a much newer tank, fl eets
should regularly inspect for
signs of rust or corrosion. On
that note, drivers should be
trained on what to look for and
how to report their fi ndings.
“If you’re in an environment
where there’s a lot of salt in the
air or on the roads, your tank
could wind up having some
corrosion issues,” Evans says.
“When you start seeing signs of
corrosion, you need to touch up
the tank. Th at’s why we recommend
keeping some touch-up
paint on hand in addition to
those common wear items.”
A local regulatory body (i.e.
municipality or fi re department)
will dictate the inspection
procedure. As pointed out
earlier, regular inspections
and maintenance are part of
a fl eet’s overall SPCC plan.
Whiddon recommends that
a spill kit be kept on-hand that includes absorbent
rags made for petroleum spills, along with
containment booms to wrap around puddles.
“If your tank is near any drains, you also want to
keep some drainage mats handy,” Whiddon adds.
“It’s also important to align with a fuel supplier
that has a contract with a hazmat company that
can respond quickly should a more signifi cant
spill take place.”
Conclusion
Th ere are many benefi ts to bringing fuel on-site.
Partnering with a reliable supplier that can
streamline and simplify the installation and
management of a fl eet’s on-site fueling operation
can help fl eets take advantage of these benefi ts.
Th ere is also a lot that can go wrong. A good supplier
will help to ensure that it all goes right.
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