Episode 041 – Microbe Myth – Sampling

Quite a few myths are going around the fuel industry when it comes to microbes in fuel and how to deal with them properly. In previous episodes of this series, I tackled myths connected to things like filtering, cold weather, and more. In this episode, you will hear all about the myths surrounding the testing and sampling of microbes in fuel.

We all need to know more about microbial contamination in our fuel—what causes it, how to fix it, and how to keep it from returning. Listen in as I share where people often get caught up and make mistakes along the way, as well as what kinds of sampling can be done, the effectiveness of different types of samples, and what to keep in mind when sampling fuel.

Listen to the Full Episode:

What You'll Learn:

• Why sampling and testing are so critical to being able to fix microbial problems.
• The danger of becoming overconfident in taking care of your fuel.
• The value of certain kinds of checks and where they fall short.
• Where you should be taking samples from and the different results you may get.
• What you’re looking for in a sample and how to read the sample results.
• Different types of sampling procedures.
• Filtration tests vs. culture tests.
• Important things to keep in mind when sampling fuel.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “When all the microbes are concentrated down at the bottom of the tank, taking a sample at the top will not pull any of those microbes in. It’s not going to have good diagnostic value.” - Erik Bjornstad
• “Sampling and testing are pretty critical for both fixing microbial problems, but also staying on top of those problems from a preventative standpoint.” - Erik Bjornstad
• “You have to check your fuel regularly and you have to know what to look for when you are doing that.” - Erik Bjornstad
• “There are things from a housekeeping standpoint that do reduce the risk of microbial contamination. Even the most diligent housekeeping practices won’t keep microbes completely away.” - Erik Bjornstad
• "Checking your fuel visually is the easiest thing you can do that has the most diagnostic value. Still, visual checks won’t get you enough information for you to really know if you have a problem developing." - Erik Bjornstad

Resources:

• Erik Bjornstad: LinkedIn