Episode 073 - Quick Turn v Slow Turn

In Episode 73 of the Fuel Pulse Show podcast, host Erik Bjornstad tackles a common misconception in fuel storage management: that quick turn fuel systems are immune to microbial contamination.

He explains how microbes can flourish in both slow turn (fuel stored for months or years) and quick turn systems (fuel cycled within days or weeks), as contamination resides not just in the fuel but in biofilms on tank surfaces.

The episode outlines practical steps to prevent and address microbial growth including regular sampling, biannual testing, water removal, and proper biocide treatment with EPA-registered products.

Listen to the Full Episode:

What You'll Learn:

• The difference between quick turn (high turn) and slow turn (low turn) fuel storage
• Why quick-turn fuel tanks are not immune to microbial contamination
• How microbes establish biofilms on tank surfaces regardless of fuel turnover rate
• The consequences of ignoring microbial contamination (clogged filters, tank corrosion)
• Practical steps to prevent and address microbial growth in fuel storage systems
• Why water removal alone is insufficient to eliminate established microbial contamination
• The importance of using EPA-registered biocides for effective treatment

Ideas Worth Sharing:

Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode:

• "The issue isn't just the fuel, the issue's also with the tank and the storage system itself... The chance of problems developing does not rest simply on the fact that the fuel gets used up and keeps getting changed quickly. It matters more that the tank itself does not change."
• "Microbial contamination doesn't need the same fuel sitting in there undisturbed for months... All it needs is water and opportunity, and that they're going to get that both in a quick turn and a slow turn situation." 
• "The reality is that simply removing the water out of a system will not eliminate microbial contamination if microbial contamination is established in your tank. It will not go away simply if you remove the water. That is a myth that has had been held over from multiple decades in the past." 
  
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Bell Performance testing kit
• Bellicide
• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn

Show Notes:

[00:00:00] Introduction to the Fuel Pulse Show podcast and host Erik Bjornstad
[00:01:00] Overview of businesses that rely on stored fuel (police, fire, utilities, telecoms, data centers, hospitals, fleets, agriculture)
[00:02:00] Seasonal shifts in fuel management concerns from winter to spring/summer
[00:03:00] Definition of quick turn (high turn) fuel users - fuel moves quickly through tanks
[00:04:00] Introduction to the myth that microbial problems don't affect high turn fuel
[00:05:00] Explanation of why quick turn fuel is not immune to microbial contamination
[00:07:00] Examples of businesses using stored fuel and importance of fuel quality
[00:08:00] Detailed explanation of low turn vs. high turn fuel usage patterns
[00:10:00] Discussion of common misconception about quick turn fuel and microbes
[00:12:00] Key insight: microbial contamination exists on tank surfaces, not just in fuel
[00:14:00] How biofilms form and persist regardless of fuel turnover
[00:15:00] How fuel drops can stir up and spread existing microbial contamination
[00:17:00] Consequences of ignoring microbial contamination: clogged filters and tank corrosion
[00:19:00] How to prevent microbial problems in quick turn tanks
[00:21:00] Step 1: Regular fuel sampling with proper equipment (bacon bomb sampler)
[00:23:00] Step 2: Biannual microbial testing using TP by filtration method
[00:24:00] Step 3: Water removal and biocide treatment if contamination is found
[00:26:00] Importance of using EPA-registered biocides for effective treatment
[00:28:00] Closing remarks and subscription information