The Fuel Pulse Show

This week, I’ll be continuing the conversation about microbial myths that are common in the fuel industry—and that can cause expensive mistakes. In this episode, you will hear about how microbes work in cold weather. Microbial growth does tend to happen more in the warmer months, so it is often thought that microbes can’t grow in cold weather, but that isn’t true. Listen in to hear about how adaptable microbes are, where the microbes tend to be found in cold weather, the role of water and condensation in cold temperatures, and more. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/038

Today, we’re going to continue our discussion about the properties of your stored fuel, including why those properties matter, what problems could arise if any of those properties fall out of line, and what (if anything) you can do about it. When it comes to the health of your diesel fuel, acidity can be a great thing to test for, so in this episode, I’ll be sharing some key misconceptions about fuel acidity, how to test for it properly, what to do when you find higher acidity levels, and more. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/037

Anyone who deals with stored fuel knows that microbial contamination is something they’re probably going to have to handle. Some know this is important, while for others, it’s more of an afterthought. Even so, it can be hard to sift through all of the information out there and know what to do and when to do it, so in this episode, I’ll talk about some of the most pervasive microbial myths that persist in the fuel community. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/036

Knowing when to treat your fuel to avoid temperature-related gelling is key. In this episode, I’ll explain what you need to know about temperatures, timing, and components involved in deciding when and how to treat. You will learn about what cloud point is, how to find that for your fuel, and what that means for your treatment process. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/035

When checking on your stored fuel, you can’t just take a look in the tank. You’ll have to take a sample from the tank to examine. In today’s episode, we’ll be talking about the fact that taking care of today’s fuel involves more things than it used to. I’ll refresh you on the hybrid fuel care approach and discuss how tank sampling is a key element to proper stored fuel care. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/034

On today’s episode, we’re going to be talking about the weather and the relationship between seasons with extreme temperatures. In the last episode, I discussed weather as it relates to hurricanes, but those don’t necessarily affect the entire country as temperature does. Temperatures, especially on the extreme side, have quite an impact on most parts of the country, so it’s important for us to take a look further into it and understand what we need to do to prepare and protect ourselves from future fuel issues. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/033

Are you ready for hurricane season—and do you know how to find and use the hurricane data that’s out there? It’s important to understand how hurricanes work and how to interpret the data around them, so today I’m sharing the new storm predictions, what has changed, and what it all means for you. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/032

Is a little D975 all you need in order to know the status of your fuel? In this episode, I’ll be talking about this thing called ASTND975, or the standard specification for diesel fuel oil. There’s a common myth associated with D975, and you will get a chance to understand what that myth is and why you need to be careful to not fall into the trap that many people fall into in this area. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/031

Today we are continuing our exploration of fuel testing, focusing specifically on water and sediment analysis. Annual fuel testing is crucial to ensure your fuel meets the required specifications for safe usage. In this episode, I'll share the implications of failing water and sediment tests and the common causes behind such failures. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/030

Whether you're a fuel professional or just curious about the intricacies of fuel specifications, this episode will explain everything you need to know about this topic, specifically focusing on flash point. We unravel the mysteries of annual fuel testing and explore which tests are essential for different situations. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/029

Electric vehicles offer numerous benefits over traditional gas-powered cars and trucks, including lower maintenance and fuel costs. Imagine never having to pay for gas again, as electric vehicles eliminate the need for frequent refueling. This transformative shift in the automotive industry is becoming increasingly evident, with the year 2023 potentially marking a pivotal tipping point. On April 12, the EPA introduced new mobile source regulations, primarily targeting tailpipe emissions in various vehicle classes. These stringent rules are expected to have a profoundly positive impact on the environment and human health. In this episode, we will break down this new proposal and the significant changes that will be required, prompting a transition away from diesel vehicles and towards zero-emission electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/028

Welcome to part 2 of our series on solving microbe problems. In this episode, we delve into the crucial steps that follow water clean up in your tank, as discussed in part 1. The focus now shifts to effectively eliminating as much biomass and biofilm as possible. Understanding the significance of these terms becomes paramount, as biofilm harbors its own diverse microbial community that can contribute to tank corrosion. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/027

Fuel is the lifeblood of many industries, but with great power comes great responsibility. Unfortunately, keeping microbial contamination at bay is one of the biggest challenges that businesses and professionals in the fuel industry face today. Due to changes in fuel composition over the years, it has become easier than ever for microbial contamination to develop in storage tanks. And when that happens, the consequences can be dire. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/026

In this episode, we're continuing our discussion on oxygenates and their important role in fuel. With concerns about air quality in the United States, the federal government began implementing requirements to reduce emissions and clean up the air. One of the solutions that gained traction was adding oxygenates to gasoline, which increases the oxygen content of the fuel and results in cleaner burning and fewer emissions. Listen in to learn about the issues that ultimately led to the discontinuation of one of the most popular oxygenates, MTBE, and the important role of oxygenates in fuel and their impact on the environment. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/025

As environmental concerns continued to grow just a few decades ago, the impact of fuel on air quality was a topic that gained increasing attention. Introducing oxygenates like ethanol and MTBE has improved combustion efficiency and reduced emissions. However, this shift was not without its challenges. So, in this episode, we uncover the secrets behind the changing landscape of fuels, the impact on the air we breathe, and how oxygenates became such an essential tool in this shift. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/024

Today we’re exploring the fascinating world of microbial testing in fuel and how it has evolved to become more accurate. In our previous discussion, we talked about the importance of microbial testing and the options available for testing fuel on-site, as opposed to sending it to a lab, which can result in inaccurate results. We also highlighted the significance of knowing the appropriate testing method to confirm the exact problem you have. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/023

In this episode, we will delve into the world of fuel contamination and explore the testing options available for detecting and preventing microbial growth. We'll discuss the reasons for the increase in microbial problems in recent years, the importance of testing your fuel sample quickly and thoroughly, and the various types of microbial tests available. We'll also provide tips for taking larger fuel samples and using biocides to combat microbial issues. Whether you have fuel in storage or simply want to learn more about this growing problem, this episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about fuel contamination. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/022

Are you ready to dive into the remainder of the top 10 fuel tests to consider for maintaining the health of stored fuel? Then don't miss part two of my guide to fuel care. Today I’ll discuss why fuel testing is often overlooked, as well as how to ensure your fuel is always in good condition when you need to use it. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/021

We know that maintaining stored fuel health is essential to ensure that it is still in good condition and safe to use. Taking care of stored fuel properly requires a combination of three elements: chemical, mechanical, and testing. However, many people don’t have the right equipment or don’t know where to begin with this testing. So, in this episode, I will be sharing the top 10 fuel tests that you should consider if your goal is maintaining the health of any stored fuel that might be under your care or responsibility. You can find show notes and more at: https://www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/020

Previously, we spoke about microbial problems in fuel and why they happen so much more often these days. We also touched on what will actually solve microbial problems and what will not. In this episode, we are continuing our conversation about biocides. Specifically, we will be diving into why biocides are so heavily regulated, what it takes for a biocide to become registered and how to decide which biocide to purchase. You can find show notes and more at: www.bellperformance.com/fuel-pulse-show/019