Modern engines and plant equipment are designed to offer increased efficiency, reduced emissions and longer service intervals. As a result, they are also more sensitive to fuel and oil contaminants. In particular, higher operating pressures within fuel systems to achieve a more complete combustion process leads to closer tolerances between moving parts, causing even smaller particles to have an effect on the clearances between these components. Modern ULSDs and biodiesels also pose an increased risk of microbial contamination, which left undetected, can seriously degrade the quality of the fuel and introduce other problems including reduced fuel filter life and accelerated corrosion of tanks, pipes and other metal system components.
