How to Maintain Your Fuelchief DC Series Tank

When it comes to maintaining your Fuelchief DC Series Tank there are few steps to remember. We have listed these below for you:

STEP ONE – CLEAN/ REPLACE YOUR VENT

It is important on an annual basis to ensure your vent is clean. To do this you need to follow the below steps;

• * Remove the vent assembly from the top of the vent pipe.
• * Remove the 3 x screws in the top of the vent, this will allow the vent to be disassembled.
• * Clean each individual part with a suitable cleaner, rinse with water to ensure no residue left from the cleaning process, dry and re-assemble.
• * Refit the vent on top of the vent tube

STEP TWO – INTERSTITIAL (BUND) ALARM BATTERY

The 9-volt bund alarm battery inside the DC Series Fuel Tanks, will require replacement every 12 months to ensure that the alarm is operational in the event that the tank is overfilled. To change the batteries please do the following steps;

• * Remove the 2 x Philips head screws from the face of the Bund Alarm
• * Disconnect the battery lead from the battery
• * Replace battery and dispose of the old battery appropriately.
• * Re-assemble the Bund Alarm by performing the reverse of the above steps.
• * Test operation by pressing the green button once. If the bund alarm is functioning correctly a short series of beeps will sound and the light will flash.

For more information regarding the Bund Alarm and its indicator alerts, please refer to the Bund Alarm manual supplied with your tank.

STEP 3 – CHECKING FOR WATER

Checks for water should be made monthly and should be checked via the dip stick (during a normal dipping procedure). To do so:

• * Remove the dipstick and apply a small amount of water finding paste onto the bottom front face of the dipstick. Smear the paste evenly over the lower 100-150mm of the dipstick
• * Insert the dipstick ensuring it touches the bottom of the tank, then remove it and check to see if the paste has changed colour from green to vivid purple (This indicates the presence of water in the bottom of the tank)
• * If more than 10mm of the paste has changed colour, perform a water drain on the tank to remove the water

STEP 4 – REMOVAL OF WATER

Water can be removed from tanks via the water removal drain. Water removal from tanks requires the use of Personal Protective Equipment similar to bulk product handling, i.e. safety footwear, eye protection and PVC gloves.

• * Connect a small electric, air or manually operated pump to the water drain point
• * Place bucket under the pump outlet and operate pump.
• * Continue pumping until no water is found.
• * Record that the tank has been inspected and drained, and record the quantity drained.
• * Dispose of drained product into site approved waste oil disposal system.

STEP 5 – BUND EMPTYING

On all models of the DC range of tanks, the presence of diesel in the secondary compartment (bund) is not immediately obvious and the bund alarm that is fitted will sense the presence of diesel

• * Connect a small electric, air or manually operated pump to the bund drain point
• * Place bucket under the pump outlet and operate pump.
• * Continue pumping until all diesel has been removed.
• * Record that the tank has been inspected and drained, and record the quantity drained.

The front cabinet bund area can also be drained at the same time using the above “Bund Emptying” procedure with the addition of a small length of suitable hose attached to the suction side of the pump to reach the bottom of the bund.

To prevent fuel contamination, it is advised that the fuel removed from either the interstitial space or front bund not be returned to the tank but be disposed into site approved waste oil disposal system.

If you have any questions about servicing your DC tank contact Fuelchief (Australia and New Zealand) on  support@fuelchieftanks.com or 1300 899 038 (AUS) | 1300 03 384 2380 (NZ)

Blog article by Praneel Lal