The Fuel Pulse Show

This episode explores proper fuel sampling techniques as part of effective fuel maintenance. Erik Bjornstad discusses the critical aspects of where and how to take fuel samples to ensure accurate testing results. He explains that sample location significantly impacts test outcomes, with different tank depths containing varying levels of contaminants.

The episode covers specific sampling depths, proper port selection, and why dead bottom samples should be avoided. Bjornstad emphasizes that sampling technique directly affects the reliability of test results and their representation of the overall fuel quality in a tank.

• The relationship between sampling technique and test result accuracy
• Optimal sampling locations within fuel tanks
• Why choosing the right sampling port matters
• Proper sampling depths for top, middle, and bottom samples
• Common pitfalls in fuel sampling
• How contaminants distribute throughout fuel tanks

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• "Test results really are only true of the sample submitted for testing."
• "The bottom of the fuel tank is where most of the particulate and the microbial contamination... that's where most of those things are concentrated."
• "Bottom sample does not mean a dead bottom sample right at the very bottom."

• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

[0:00] - Introduction and episode overview [1:00] - Importance of proper sampling techniques [2:00] - Sampling locations and their impact on test results [3:00] - Bottom tank contamination considerations [4:00] - Middle and top sampling implications [5:00] - Port selection for sampling [6:00] - Defining sample depths [7:00] - Bottom sampling best practices [7:30] - Closing remarks

In this episode, Erik Bjornstad explains the comprehensive process of fuel polishing. He covers when to polish fuel based on test results, particularly the ASTM water and sediment test. The episode details two main methods: inline and off-site polishing, with a focus on the sweep, treat, and circulate methodology.

Bjornstad provides specific guidance on chemical treatments, filtration systems, and the importance of proper timing and sequence. He emphasizes the need for multiple passes through the filtration system and proper documentation before and after samples.

• How to determine when fuel polishing is necessary
• The difference between inline and off-site polishing
• The sweep, treat, and circulate methodology
• Proper chemical treatment timing and sequence
• Three-stage filtration system components
• How to calculate the required polishing duration
• Best practices for sampling and documentation

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• "The goal for fuel polishing is to remove contaminants and restore the fuel quality."
• "Different people do have different ways of doing this. There is no one true best way to do this."
• "Effective fuel polishing usually requires multiple turnovers of the entire fuel volume to get that thorough cleaning that you're looking for."

• ASTM D975 (fuel specifications)
• Tank Treatment SDF
• DFS Plus
• Biocide treatments
• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

[00:00:00] - Introduction and topic overview [00:01:00] - Discussion of fuel testing methods [00:02:00] - Types of fuel polishing methods [00:03:00] - Best practices for fuel polishing [00:04:00] - The sweep, treat, circulate procedure [00:06:00] - Water scavenging chemicals [00:07:00] - Filtration system components [00:09:00] - Duration and number of passes [00:10:00] - Process recap [00:11:00] - Closing remarks

In this educational episode, Erik Bjornstad explores the relationship between biodiesel and corrosion in fuel systems. He explains that while pure biodiesel (B100) can have corrosive properties, the common low-percentage blends (B2-B20) used in today's diesel fuel don't pose significant corrosion risks.

The episode clarifies that modern fuel systems using materials like stainless steel and aluminum are well-equipped to handle these blends. The real concerns with biodiesel additions center around increased water retention and potential microbe growth, rather than corrosion issues that are more commonly associated with higher-concentration blends.

• The definition and composition of biodiesel blends
• Why biodiesel is added to conventional diesel fuel
• The truth about biodiesel's impact on fuel mileage
• Water retention properties of different biodiesel blends
• How biodiesel affects modern vs. older fuel systems
• Real concerns vs. common misconceptions about biodiesel
• Impact of different biodiesel concentrations on corrosion

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• "Virtually all the diesel fuel that you get has some amount of biodiesel in it, usually between two and 5%."
• "A B5 blend can hold 70 percent more dissolved water than what they call a B0 fuel without any bio in it."
• "Studies have shown that lower level biodiesel blends like B5 and B20 generally do not exhibit the same level of corrosiveness as a B100 does."

• ASTM D975 (fuel specifications)
• Renewable Fuels Standard Legislation
• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

[00:00:00] - Introduction and episode overview [00:01:00] - Definition of biodiesel and blending basics [00:02:00] - Reasons for biodiesel addition in fuel [00:03:00] - Addressing common misconceptions about biodiesel [00:04:00] - Water retention properties of biodiesel [00:05:00] - Microbe problems and corrosion concerns [00:06:00] - Chemical properties and metal interactions [00:07:00] - Effects on rubber and plastic components [00:08:00] - Analysis of different biodiesel blend impacts [00:09:00] - Real concerns vs. theoretical problems [00:10:00] - Episode summary and outro

This episode explores the critical role of fuel stabilizers in maintaining stored fuel quality. Host Erik Bjornstad discusses why petroleum fuels naturally degrade over time, the chemistry behind fuel degradation, and how stabilizers work to prevent deterioration.

The episode provides practical advice on when and how to use fuel stabilizers effectively, including best practices for application and testing.

• Why fuel naturally degrades over time
• How chemical reactions affect stored fuel
• The role of stabilizers in preventing fuel degradation
• Best practices for applying fuel stabilizers
• How to determine when to retreat fuel with stabilizers
• The importance of oxidative stability testing
• Proper timing for stabilizer application

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• "The ugly truth is, petroleum fuels start to degrade from almost the start of their refined life."
• "The best way to stop a chain reaction is to stop the links in that chain as far up the chain as possible."
• "Stability is the concept of resisting change. Fuel stability refers to a fuel's ability to resist change in its essential properties."

• Oxidative stability testing + Water and sediment testing
• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

[00:00:00] - Introduction and episode overview [00:01:00] - Explanation of fuel degradation process [00:02:00] - Introduction to fuel stabilizers [00:03:00] - How stabilizers work to prevent fuel degradation [00:04:00] - Chemical composition of stabilizers [00:05:00] - Best practices for stabilizer application [00:06:00] - Frequency of treatment and testing [00:07:00] - Recap of key points [00:08:00] - Closing remarks and subscription information

This episode continues the Back to School series, focusing on identifying and treating microbial contamination in fuel systems. Erik Bjornstad discusses both indirect and direct methods for detecting contamination, emphasizing the importance of proper testing and treatment.

The episode provides practical guidance on addressing contamination through water removal and biocide application, while also educating listeners about legitimate biocide products versus questionable alternatives.

• How to identify signs of microbial contamination in fuel systems
• The difference between direct and indirect testing methods
• Why removing water alone isn't sufficient to solve contamination
• How to properly treat microbial contamination
• How to identify legitimate biocide products
• The importance of EPA registration for biocides
• Best practices for applying biocide treatments

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• "Biocides are chemicals that kill living microbial organisms, but they can't kill what they can't get to."
• "Microbes are very adaptive. They don't need very much water to grow."
• "Step one is, remove as much of the free water as you can. Yes. But you can't stop there."

• EPA Registration Numbers (referenced as verification tool)
• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

[00:00:00] - Introduction and recap of previous episode [00:01:00] - Indirect signs of microbial contamination [00:02:00] - Additional contamination indicators [00:03:00] - Direct testing methods [00:04:00] - Solutions: What not to do [00:05:00] - Proper contamination treatment [00:06:00] - Discussion of biocides [00:07:00] - How to identify genuine biocides [00:08:00] - EPA registration requirements [00:09:00] - Episode summary and closing

In this episode of the Fuel Pulse Show's Back to School series, host Erik Bjornstad discusses the increasing problem of microbial contamination in modern stored fuels. He explains why today's ultra-low sulfur diesel fuels are more susceptible to microbial growth than older fuels, highlighting the role of water accumulation and fuel composition changes.

The episode covers the types of microbes found in fuel systems, where they thrive, and the problems they cause, including fuel degradation, corrosion, and filter plugging. Bjornstad emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment of microbial contamination to prevent widespread issues in fuel storage and distribution systems.

• Why modern stored fuels are more susceptible to microbial contamination
• Types of microbes commonly found in fuel systems
• Factors contributing to microbial growth in fuel storage tanks
• Problems caused by microbial contamination in fuel systems
• The importance of water management in preventing microbial growth
• How microbes contribute to fuel degradation and system corrosion
• The potential for microbial contamination to spread throughout fuel systems

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• "The stored ultra low sulfur diesel fuels of today are markedly different from the fuels of decades past. And nowhere is that more evident than the realization that today's stored fuels are much less resistant to microbial contamination than they used to be."
• "If you have a storage tank and you find a water phase of almost any size, then if you find that, then if you don't already have microbe contamination already, it's only a matter of time until you do."
• "Microbes cause problems because unless you kill them, they have the potential to spread just about anywhere the fuel goes."

• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

[00:00:00] Introduction to the Fuel Pulse Show and the Back to School series [00:00:30] Discussion on how modern stored fuels are more susceptible to microbial contamination [00:01:00] Overview of microbes in fuel systems: bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and molds [00:02:00] Reasons for increased microbial problems in today's fuels [00:03:00] Where microbes thrive in fuel storage systems [00:04:00] Problems caused by microbial contamination: fuel quality degradation and corrosion [00:05:00] Issues with biomass/biofilm production and the potential for contamination spread [00:06:00] Teaser for the next episode on detecting microbial contamination [00:06:30] Closing remarks and call to action for subscribers and reviews

In this episode, Erik Bjornstad interviews Matt Leuck from Neste about renewable diesel. They discuss the properties, production process, and potential benefits of renewable diesel compared to conventional diesel and biodiesel.

Matt explains that renewable diesel is a drop-in replacement for fossil diesel, with superior performance in areas like cetane rating, cold flow properties, and emissions. They also explore the market outlook, policy considerations, and future developments in renewable fuels.

• The chemical differences between renewable diesel and biodiesel
• How renewable diesel performs in terms of cetane, cold flow, stability, and lubricity
• The production process and feedstocks used for renewable diesel
• Environmental benefits and emissions reductions from using renewable diesel
• Challenges and opportunities for widespread adoption of renewable diesel
• Future developments in renewable fuel technology

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• Matt Leuck: "Renewable diesel with the right additives and chemistry, it's not going to be the issue. It's not going to be the cause of any problems for customers. And in fact, you probably get some better protection because of that extra dosing."
• Matt Leuck: "We can reduce that life cycle carbon emissions by up to 75% compared to like at the fossil diesel baseline."
• Erik Bjornstad: "Petro, petroleum fuel usage is not going to just magically go away after 2030. There's going to have to be phased in solutions to get us to the place where everybody wants to be are going to have to be phased in."

• Neste website
• California Low Carbon Fuel Standard
• Federal Renewable Fuel Standard
• ASTM D975 diesel fuel specification
• Blender Tax Credit (BTC)
• Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z program)
• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

[00:00:00] Introduction and guest background [00:04:00] Explanation of renewable diesel vs biodiesel [00:11:00] Properties of renewable diesel (cetane, cold flow, stability) [00:22:00] Lubricity and additives in renewable diesel [00:26:00] Production process and feedstocks [00:31:00] Policy and legislation discussion [00:35:00] Emissions and environmental benefits [00:39:00] Market outlook for renewable diesel [00:44:00] Future of renewable fuels and closing thoughts

In this episode of the Fuel Pulse Show, host Erik Bjornstad continues the "back to school" series, focusing on preventing winter gelling problems in ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. He discusses two main solutions: anti-gel chemical packages and kerosene dilution.

Bjornstad explains how cold flow improvers work by keeping wax crystals dispersed and suspended in the fuel. He compares the costs and effectiveness of both methods, providing guidance on when and how often to treat stored fuel based on temperature forecasts. The episode emphasizes the importance of proactive treatment to avoid operational shutdowns due to fuel gelling, especially given increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.

• The basics of winter gelling problems in ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel
• Two main solutions for preventing gelling: anti-gel chemical packages and kerosene dilution
• How cold flow improvers work to keep wax crystals dispersed in fuel
• Cost considerations for both anti-gel treatments and kerosene dilution
• When and how often to treat stored fuel based on temperature forecasts
• The importance of monitoring temperature trends for effective fuel treatment
• Considerations for retreating fuel during the winter season
• The potential consequences of not treating fuel and the value of proactive measures

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• "Now, we wouldn't be talking about all these problems if there weren't solutions to help with them. The common options to prevent gelling problems from happening that we see out there in the world, The real world, so to speak."
• "Treating your fuel to protect against gelling is relatively inexpensive to do compared to the financial cost of having a gelling problem that shuts down operations of whatever kind of engine you're in charge with."
• "We've all seen that the weather is more and more unpredictable in recent years, and you don't want to get caught unprepared."

• Cold flow improver
• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

00:00:00 - Introduction to the Fuel Pulse Show and topic overview 00:00:40 - Recap of previous discussions on winter gelling problems in diesel fuel 00:01:13 - Introduction to two main solutions: anti-gel chemical packages and kerosene dilution 00:01:40 - Explanation of cold flow treatment and how it works 00:03:00 - Discussion on keeping wax crystals suspended in fuel 00:04:00 - Introduction to kerosene dilution method 00:05:00 - Cost considerations for anti-gel treatments and kerosene dilution 00:07:00 - Comparison of costs between anti-gel and kerosene methods 00:08:00 - Guidance on when to treat stored fuel 00:09:00 - Importance of temperature forecasts and trends 00:10:00 - Considerations for retreating fuel during the season 00:11:00 - Conclusion and recommendations for protecting stored diesel fuel

In this Fuel Pulse Show podcast episode, host Erik Bjornstad delves deeper into the complexities of diesel fuel gelling. Building on previous discussions about cloud point and cold filter plug point temperatures, Bjornstad explains how temperature patterns, not just absolute temperatures, affect fuel gelling.

He presents four common temperature scenarios and their impacts on diesel fuel, highlighting the importance of sustained cold periods and sudden temperature drops. The episode emphasizes that while typical cloud points for diesel fuels are around 16-17°F, individual fuel compositions and temperature change rates play crucial roles in gelling behavior. Bjornstad concludes by previewing the next episode on prevention strategies.

• How temperature patterns affect diesel fuel gelling
• The impact of sustained cold periods on wax formation in diesel fuel
• The difference between gradual and sudden temperature drops on fuel gelling
• Why individual fuel compositions matter in predicting gelling behavior
• The importance of understanding cloud point and cold filter plug point temperatures
• How uncertainty in exact fuel properties affects preparation strategies

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• "Diesel fuel clouding and gelling doesn't just have to do with how cold it's getting, it's affected a lot by how the temperature goes up and down."
• "Steep and quick temperature drops actually make paraffin waxes come out of the fuel to a greater extent than a gradual or steady decline, even if you're talking about going down to the same temperature in both scenarios."
• "You do not know that short of having it tested. And this margin of uncertainty is going to impact the recommendations for how and when you should prepare for these problems."

• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

[00:00:00] Introduction and recap of previous episode on diesel fuel jelling [00:01:00] Explanation of how temperature patterns affect fuel jelling [00:02:00] Introduction to various temperature scenarios [00:03:00] Scenario 1: Temperature drops and rises above cloud point [00:04:00] Scenario 2: Temperature stays close to cloud point for days [00:05:00] Scenario 3: Temperature drops steadily below cloud point [00:06:00] Scenario 4: Sharp temperature drops and their effects [00:07:00] Review of key points and preview of next episode [00:08:00] Closing remarks and call to subscribe

In this episode of the Fuel Pulse Show podcast, host Erik Bjornstad explores diesel fuel's behavior in cold temperatures. He explains the fuel's composition, focusing on paraffin wax molecules and their role in cold weather problems.

The episode covers key concepts such as cloud point and cold filter plug point, detailing how paraffin wax crystallization occurs and affects fuel performance. Bjornstad provides typical temperature ranges for these phenomena and discusses factors influencing fuel gelling. The episode concludes with a preview of future content on temperature patterns and prevention strategies for cold weather fuel issues.

• The composition of diesel fuel and the role of paraffin wax molecules
• How temperature affects the solubility of paraffin wax in diesel fuel
• The concept of cloud point and its typical temperature range
• The process of wax crystallization and its impact on fuel performance
• The definition and importance of cold filter plug point
• Factors influencing the difference between cloud point and cold filter plug point
• Why gasoline and kerosene don't have the same gelling problems as diesel fuel

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• "Diesel fuel is actually a mixture or a blend of a bunch of different petroleum hydrocarbon molecules of varying sizes and shapes."
• "The temperature at which enough of these crystals have come out of solution that you can see them in the fuel, that is called the cloud point of the fuel."
• "Cold filter plug point temperature, when you're looking at that, it's not just the fuel, you've also got the factor of the filter that's involved."

• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

[00:00:00] Introduction to the episode's topic: What happens to diesel fuel in cold temperatures [00:01:00] Explanation of diesel fuel composition and paraffin wax [00:02:00] Discussion of how paraffin wax becomes insoluble as fuel cools [00:03:00] Introduction to the concept of cloud point [00:04:00] Typical cloud point temperature for ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel [00:05:00] Explanation of wax crystallization process as temperature drops [00:06:00] Discussion of what happens when temperature stays cold or drops further [00:07:00] Explanation of how wax buildup affects fuel filters and engine operation [00:08:00] Introduction to cold filter plug point temperature [00:09:00] Comparison of cloud point and cold filter plug point temperatures [00:10:00] Recap of key points learned about diesel fuel in cold temperatures [00:11:00] Preview of next episode's content [00:12:00] Closing remarks and call to action for listeners