Corrosion Timelines

1900 – 2006, few issues with diesel, fuel kept usable with basic housekeeping of cleaning the tank bottom of freestanding water and sludge
2006 – Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) introduced, sulfur reduced 500 ppm to 15 ppm
Chemistry of the fuel changed: immediately noticed excessive engine wear/failure, fixed with additives and biodiesel blends
InterFacial Tension (IFT) dropped: IFT ability of two fluids to repeal each other
High IFT, diesel and water do not mix; water collected on the tank bottoms: 1900-2006
Low IFT, emulsified water absorbed and bonds with the ULSD biodiesel blends, 2006+
2007 - Corrosion first noticed. Intense study begins.
2010 - SAE J1488 updated to reflect lower IFT. Tests filtration efficiency of removing bonded water from ULSD and biodiesel blends
2012 - Battelle report “Severe and rapid corrosion has been observed in systems storing and dispensing ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) since 2007”. “MIC suspected” (Microbial Influenced Corrosion)
2016 - EPA’s final report on corrosion report states 83 percent of the USTs studied have moderate to severe corrosion. Since corrosion continues over time, this will reach 100 percent severe