For fleet operators, depots, farms and plant hire businesses, an on-site diesel tank is one of the most valuable assets on site. It keeps vehicles and machinery moving, protects you from forecourt prices and gives you control over how fuel is used. But the fuel is only as good as the tank it is stored in.
Over time, water, sediment and microbial growth can build up inside even a well-run tank. Rust, dirt, degraded fuel and dead microbial matter can settle on the tank floor as sludge. Left alone, that contamination finds its way into filters, injectors and engines, and putting it right costs far more than preventing it in the first place. The bigger cost, though, is usually downtime. A vehicle that loses power on the road or a machine that stops mid-job means missed deliveries, idle drivers and delayed work.
Contamination can also mean lost fuel. Badly affected diesel may need treating, filtering or, in the worst cases, disposing of altogether. With diesel prices where they are, that is money no business wants to write off. Meanwhile, water and microbial growth attack the tank itself, shortening its working life. A tank or bund in poor condition raises the risk of a leak, along with the clean-up costs and liability that follow.
Set against all of this, planned maintenance is a modest and predictable cost. Regular cleaning and maintenance protects your fuel, your equipment and your business.
Merridale can arrange professional diesel tank cleaning and maintenance for your site, so you do not have to find and manage a specialist yourself. We already supply the fuel storage tanks, pumps and fuel management systems that many fleets, depots and farms rely on every day, and arranging tank care through us gives you one point of contact for your fuel equipment.
A professional clean usually starts with testing the fuel for water, sediment and microbial contamination. Water and sludge are then removed from the bottom of the tank, and the fuel can be polished, filtered and returned, so usable fuel does not have to be thrown away. Where needed, the inside of the tank is cleaned to remove residue from the floor and walls, and the tank, bund, fittings and pipework are inspected, with any defects reported.
Work is coordinated around your operation to keep disruption to a minimum, whether you have a single tank on a farm or several sites across the UK. Protect your fuel and your fleet. Call Merridale on 01902 350 700 or request a callback to arrange diesel tank cleaning and maintenance.