Are Your Tanks Ready for Winter?

As winter approaches, the chilling temperatures can wreak havoc on your fuel storage tanks, putting your operations at risk. Are you ready to ensure your fuel remains reliable during the cold months ahead? Preparing your tanks is essential not only for maintaining fuel quality, but also for preventing costly disruptions.

As temperatures drop, you may notice that your fuel undergoes significant changes, including the risk of gelling. This can lead to the frustration of your fuel system shutting down unexpectedly. In today’s article, we will explore how to prevent fuel gelling and prepare your tanks for winter.

Winterizing your Fuel

Ultra-low sulfur diesel #2, or diesel, contains natural paraffin wax. These tiny wax molecules float in the fuel with carbon and other substances. While wax isn’t always a problem — small wax particles can pass through filters and even help your engine run better — cold weather can cause issues. As temperatures drop, these wax molecules tend to clump together, causing the fuel to become cloudy, also known as the Cloud Point. The colder the weather, the more paraffins drop out of the fuel and gel together. Larger paraffin chunks clog filters, preventing fuel from flowing through. The point at which your filter plugs and operations cease is called the CFPP – Cold Filter Plug Point.  The CFPP is the most important metric for fleet operators, since that’s the point at which operations are disrupted.

Using winter additives is effective in preventing and addressing gelling incidents. These additives, also known as cold-flow improvers, are essential for stopping fuel from gelling or clogging in cold conditions. They lower the Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) of diesel, ensuring smooth fuel flow through engines and filters. Click here to learn more about how to winterize your fuel based on your region.

Preparing Storage Equipment

Developing a comprehensive winterization strategy is essential to prevent winter-related failures, and you should start by establishing a preventative maintenance plan.

Have you considered testing your fuel for cold filter plugging point (CFPP)? As we mentioned before, this is one of the most important metrics for fleet operators to monitor during winter. Therefore, you should aim for pre-season and post-season fuel tests, along with monthly checks throughout the winter months.

Additionally, cold air holds less moisture, what can result in condensation inside tanks. This moisture can promote microbial growth and corrosion, leading to further complications. Actively managing the risk of water in your tanks and pumps can prevent frozen water from also damaging your system.

Best Practices for Fuel Management during winter

• Establishing a Testing Schedule – Implementing a regular testing schedule starting in October and continuing through the winter months can help detect early signs fuel gelling (CFPP), along with water or microbial growth inside the tank. An EPA study shows that 83% of fuel tanks have corrosion or microbial growth, yet many tank owners remain unaware.

• Implementing a Treatment Plan: After analyzing your fuel condition, you will be able to identify the treatment needed. If everything is in good conditions, adjusting treatment rates and winter additives blends according to specific regional weather forecasts may be enough to ensures optimal fuel performance. However, if the tank already presents corrosion or microbial growth, other measures such as biocides or fuel polishing may be necessary to eliminate water and sediment from the fuel system. Ensuring storage tanks are in good condition is crucial for preserving fuel quality during winter.

• Emergency Additives – Everything may look good, your tanks are in top condition, and winter seems manageable. however, if temperatures drop unexpectedly and your pre-treatment isn’t enough to prevent fuel gelling, you might find yourself in a tough spot when trying to fuel your fleet—especially if no fuel is coming out of the pump. What should you do? Having on-site emergency kits can make a difference between shutting down or keeping your fleet running. These kits usually will include essential winter additives, such cold flow enhancer, emergency de-icers, and water dispersants, to address any unexpected fuel issues.

• Collaborating with Experts – Engaging with fuel experts, such as Mansfield Energy, can help fleet owners and operators determine the best approach to managing fuel quality, prepare and maintain storage tanks, and prevent issues related to the cold weather.

Pre-Treated Fuel

Switching to winterized diesel can make a significant difference in your operations during the colder months. Pre-treated fuel not only helps maintain efficient engine operation but also reduces the risk of gelling, as you will be receiving the fuel with the right treatment recommended for the forecasted region you operate in. If you haven’t made the switch yet, consider how it might benefit your winter fuel management strategy. Starting in October, Mansfield Energy switch customers in applicable regions to ColdPRO winterized fuel to safeguard their fuel supply.

Mansfield’s Arsenal ColdPRO is a program to improve your fuel’s cold-weather performance, offering consistent and accurate treatments, minimizing kerosene cost, and performing nationwide fuel testing. Don’t wait for winter to hit—take the time now to evaluate your regional needs and adjust your blending practices accordingly.

With the right strategy in place, you can keep your fleet running smoothly throughout the winter season, regardless of where you operate. Contact us today!