Why do I sometimes detect heavy microbial contamination but no evidence that it is causing problems to my fuel system?

Explanations that I’ve provided in the last three articles provide some of the answers to this question. In this post I’ll address another issue – microbial activity. The various microbiological test methods I’ve described in this blog series have provide information about either whether microbes are present or what sorts of microbes are present. General culture…

Refresher from Parts 1 and 2: What do Microbiology Test Results Mean?

In my January and February Fuel & Fuel System Microbiology articles, I addressed two reasons why microbiology data do not always agree with other indicators of fuel or fuel system biodeterioration. Part 33 covered dilution effects. Although direct degradation of fuels can easily be demonstrated in 1 L jars with fuel over water, when a tank has more than 1 m3 (264 gal) of fuel over traces of water, the impact that…

Refresher from Part 1: What do Microbiology Test Results Mean?

In January’s Fuel & Fuel System Microbiology article I led with this question and commented that it is actually a double question. In one sense, it is asking: “Do my microbiology test results tell me conclusively whether microbes are damaging my fuel or fuel system?” In another sense, the question means: “Why don’t the results from different fuel microbiology test kits always agree?” I am then asked why often,…

What do Microbiology Test Results Mean?

This is actually a double question that I hear quite often. In one sense, I’m asked: “Do my microbiology test results tell me conclusively whether microbes are damaging my fuel or fuel system?” In another sense, the question means: “Why don’t the results from different fuel microbiology test kits always agree?” Today’s post is the first of three in which I’ll write about how to make sense of microbiology data.

Do My Microbiology Test…

Questions from a colleague

Today’s post was inspired by a text message I recently received from a colleague. His message contained two questions. First, he asked whether fuel tank microbicide treatment could select for resistant microbes. Second, he asked about how best to treat microbially contaminated fuel systems.

I addressed microbicide selection in Part 21 (July 2018) and treatment strategies in Part 22 (August 2018). Today’s post will include some content from these two…