Fuel Polishing

Fuel Polishing simply means the process of progressively filtering contaminated fuel several times to remove any water, sludge, microbes and sediment.

Sampling and restoring

Fuel Polishing begins by sampling the fuel at various depths in the tank. This is because different contaminants appear at different depths due to their varying densities. For the most part, the higher up in the tank that you detect contaminants, the more likely it is that you will also require a tank cleaning service.


After this multi-step filtration process, it is also necessary to restore the additive properties. The Fuel is tested again and additional additives and enzymes are frequently combined with the fuel. These additives are added to improve the fuel quality to ensure fuel stability. When the whole process is finished, your fuel is back to industry specifications.


Fuel polishing is a process of filtering and purifying the fuel in a storage tank to remove contaminants such as water, dirt, and microbial growth. The process usually starts with sampling the fuel at various depths in the tank to determine the level of contamination and to identify any potential issues.


When sampling the fuel, it is important to take samples from different depths in the tank because contaminants tend to settle at the bottom of the tank. By taking samples at different depths, you can determine the level and distribution of contamination throughout the tank.


The sampling process usually involves using a sample probe or a specialized sampling tool to extract a fuel sample from each depth. The sample is then analyzed to determine the level of contamination, such as water or sediment, and the type of contamination, such as microbial growth or particulate matter.


Based on the analysis results, the fuel polishing process can then be designed to address the specific contaminants and issues identified. This may involve using a combination of filtration, chemical treatments, and other processes to remove contaminants and purify the fuel.


Overall, sampling the fuel at various depths in the tank is an important first step in the fuel polishing process, as it provides critical information about the level and type of contamination present, which can then be used to design an effective fuel cleaning strategy.

fuel polishing

Our Recommended Process

Sampling Fuel at Various Depths to Detect Contaminants

Restore the Additive Properties to Improve the Fuel Quality

Remove the Fundamental Causes of Contamination from the Tank

Advise on Subsequent Fuel Sampling

Tank Cleaning and Further Sampling

Be aware however, that when fuel has been contaminated it can become recontaminated more easily as its stability has been compromised. This is why frequent subsequent fuel sampling is the best way to be sure any further contamination is detected as quickly as possible.


Therefore, at the same time you polish the existing fuel it is also best practice to clean the tank to remove the fundamental causes of contamination there. This way the microbial contamination is also removed and recontamination is avoided.


This is particularly important in commercial contexts in which you are reliant on the fuel for applications such as backup power in facilities management applications and other mission critical applications. So when choosing us to undertake your fuel polishing, ask about our tank cleaning services at the same time.

Plastic Bunded Oil Dispensing Tank

Ensuring Fuel Quality

We provide our Fuel Polishing services to many large operations running mission critical processes such as data centres and facilities management organisations. Our preventative measures help ensure your vital fuel quality in these times of escalating fuel costs.


Ask us at Britteco to advise you about your fuel polishing needs and we’ll deliver a process that will get you the right service, designed to meet your specific commercial needs.

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