Fuel-related problems rarely announce themselves. You might spot filters clogging early, see a drop in engine response, or notice the generator struggling after start-up. When fuel is stored across tanks, moved between locations, or exposed to Australia’s heat and humidity, even clean deliveries can degrade over time.
Fuel quality testing is how you catch those changes before they cause damage. It gives you visibility into the condition of what powers your gear, whether that’s pumps, generators, mobile plants, or backup systems. If you’re working with stored diesel, it’s one of the simplest ways to prevent downtime without waiting for a failure or breakdown.
Where problems tend to start
In mining, agriculture, water infrastructure, and construction, on-site storage is often unavoidable. But it’s also where quality issues build up quietly. Our team at Interfil regularly sees:
- Water entering through vents, loose seals, or condensation
- Sludge forming in the base of older tanks
- Bacteria growing in diesel left sitting over wet months
Once that fuel is transferred or burned, it doesn’t just stay in the line—it moves through filters, pumps, and injectors, often wearing down equipment long before you realise the cause. Testing makes it easier to catch these shifts early and prevents reactive maintenance that disrupts planned schedules.
What to test – and when
A standard fuel quality testing process identifies four main issues:
- Free and emulsified water
- Suspended solids or sediment
- Fuel stability (oxidation, layering, phase separation)
- Microbial growth in storage tanks
How often you test depends on the setup. Some of our clients test monthly during wet seasons, while others check after switching suppliers or before critical loads. Testing becomes more than a precaution if your fuel is stored for more than 60 days or comes through multiple handling steps. It’s a control point that supports long-term reliability.
Check before filters start clogging
If filters block faster than usual or engines feel underpowered, the issue may be the fuel, not the hardware. Reach out via our contact form for practical guidance on testing schedules and filtration options suited to your operations.
What Interfil supplies for industrial conditions
Interfil works with industrial operators across regional infrastructure, asset depots, generator-based facilities, and agricultural machinery yards. We supply:
- Diesel coalescers and water separators for inline or portable use
- Filter systems for large generators, heavy plants, and storage tanks
- On-site test kits for spotting microbial or water issues early
- Filtration trolleys for high-volume cleaning or fuel polishing
Each system is tailored to how fuel is handled, not just how it’s meant to perform on paper. Our setups are designed for use even in remote or high-dust areas where access, storage conditions, and fuel turnover vary.
What poor fuel does to your equipment
Most early wear looks like normal ageing – until you test. Unstable diesel increases exhaust output, stresses injectors, and leads to uneven combustion. All of this builds up and may cost you filter stock, service time, and lost productivity.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water outlines how poor fuel quality contributes to engine deposits and higher particulate emissions. That aligns with what Interfil sees across Australian sites using stored or seasonal fuel systems.
One test shows what’s flowing through your system
Fuel quality testing gives you important feedback before problems escalate. Interfil supplies test kits, diesel filtration systems, and water separation gear for long-term fuel storage, mobile generators, and bulk transfer setups. Browse our Fuel Purifiers & Fuel Water Separators to narrow down the right category, and speak with our team about what fits your tank configuration, fuel volume, and on-site conditions.