Contact Us:

Clean Fuels of Indiana Inc.
clean@cleanfuelsindiana.com
4620 East 900 South
Keystone, Indiana 46759
260-410-0153 or 260-346-2500
Fax: 260-346-2400

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What is Clean Fuels of Indiana, Inc.?
We are an A.S.T., U.S.T., and a fuel cleaning company.

Question 2: Who is Clean Fuels of Indiana, Inc.?
We are a family owned and operated corporation with over 81 years combined experience in being on time. 81 years combined experience in showing an outstanding degree of honesty, integrity, and love for our customers, friends, and neighbors. This is Clean Fuels of Indiana, Inc. and we care!

Question 3: How often should I be changing the filters at the pump?
Every 10 to 12 months, of course this can vary depending upon the stations monthly volume, but should not vary much.

Question 4: Why am I plugging filters so often?
Various things could be causing this; however there are a few principle culprits; dirt or rust that has reached an unsightly level, tank wall deterioration, H.U.M. bugs and their by-products "waste", recent use of biocide without tank cleaning, switching from neat fuel to an ethanol blend, or poor tank maintenance. (See preventative maintenance section) In any case, if you are plugging filters at an unusual rate contamination is that much closer to the customer's automobile and that much closer to making you pay dearly.

Question 5: Don't the filters catch all of the contamination that may be in the fuel?
Most engine damage in our newer automobiles is caused by particles between 15 and 10 microns, very small, filters become plugged and begin to pass these particles. Your standard pump filter is 10 microns, we filter your fuel to 9 microns and smaller.

Question 6: Why should I clean my tanks?
You should have your tanks cleaned to ensure a quality product to your customers, without the customer, we have no purpose in business. Also, we can avoid frequent filter expense, replacing valuable pump and meter equipment, fines, lawsuits, and ill-will.

Question 7: What if I don't own the tanks?
You should talk to the company that owns the tanks and ask them what steps you should take. This question needs to be answered with another question though - Who will the customer blame when his or her car doesn't make it off the lot? I have seen it happen - it's real.

Question 8: Is a VAC truck an option?
Of course it's an option, so is doing nothing at all. A VAC truck is valuable when used properly, but it's not a tank or fuel cleaning option.

Question 9: How does your company clean a tank?
This is accomplished through aggressive agitation of the tank contents. Your fuel is ran through multiple filters and separators, then returned to your tank under pressure.

Question 10: Will I lose product during the cleaning process?
No, only contaminate and unusable fluids are lost.

Question 11: What else is done during the cleaning process?
All tank accesses are inspected and cleaned. Your monitoring equipment is cleaned, the S.T.P. is inspected, cleaned and the seals are replaced.

Question 12: When should my tanks be cleaned?
Your tank should be cleaned when a dangerous level of contaminate is present, or when problems occur. The last mentioned is not suggested since reacting to a disaster means that preventative maintenance procedures and a proactive policy were not followed. Unseen damage may be present as a result. Either way Clean Fuels of Indiana, Inc. will be there for you and will help to fulfill your needs.

Question 13: How long does the cleaning process usually take?
2 and 1/2 hours is our average time to clean a tank, however, different contamination ratings could either speed up this time or slow it down.

Question 14: How often should my tanks be cleaned?
When they have reached an unacceptable level of contamination, or every 1 to 2 years as a preventative maintenance measure.

Question 15: Can new tanks be contaminated?
ABSOLUTELY, having new tanks in the ground does not mean you don't have contamination - no one is immune.

Question 16: Where did the contamination come from?
Leaky tank entrances, plugged vents, broken vent covers, caustic fuel, H.U.M. bugs, neglect, and fly-by-night bargain carriers.

Question 17: How is contamination located?
Clean Fuels of Indiana, Inc. uses a "bacon bomb" or "sample thief" to take a bottom sample from your tanks at all accesses.

Question 18: What level of contamination is unacceptable?
I feel that any level of contamination is unacceptable, however, we use a scale developed by some well known major oil companies, a common sense approach, our experience and our customer wishes.

Question 19: How often should my tank bottoms be tested?
Every quarter, your tanks should be tested. Some lower volume stations can go longer without inspection, and this is not suggested.

Question 20: Is Clean Fuels of Indiana, Inc a maintenance company?
No, However, we can point you in the right direction for your area.

Question 21: How do I know if my tank is clean when you are done?
We will continually take bottom samples of your tank until clean samples are retrieved - of course, this is done in front of the customer, manager, or approved employee.

Question 22: If contamination is on the bottom of my tanks and the motor is not on the bottom, what does it harm?
Some contamination does not settle but stays suspended in the fuel. Every time you receive a delivery, your tank bottom becomes part of the fuel supply.

Question 23: What water level in my tank is unacceptable?
Bear in mind, it takes less than 1mm of water to support microbiological life. Keep a dry tank, water at any level is unsatisfactory.

Question 24: How can water be in my tank if the monitor detects zero water?
Easy, the monitor checks one 4" opening, you need to check at all accesses to the tank with water paste or for ethanol SARgel, this includes under the S.T.P. Also, water at lower levels will not always show at the monitor.

Question 25: What exactly is microbiological growth, algae, bugs, or H.U.M. bugs?
H.U.M. bug - yes, more than Ebenezer Scrooges well known statement of negativity and I am sure Dickens didn't realize it. Hydrocarbon Utilizing Microorganisms are a natural occurrence in nature. Some are fungus or bacteria, the on thing they all have in common is that they are destructive. These living organisms use the water in your tank to breathe, consume your fuel and with all organisms, they produce waste - but in the form of acid. This acidic waste eats seals, corrodes metal and makes fuel unusually caustic. H.U.M. bugs enter your product supply through vents, fills, and transports; if you have water you will have bugs. It seems that algae are a recent issue, the last 10 years, and experts are divided on the issue of the cause. It's best to research this subject yourself and form your own educated opinion. I am sure there are many contributing factors.

Question 26: What kills H.U.M. bugs?
There are many brands of biocide on the market but with anything you have to look at the products track record and pedigree and weigh the difference between price and cost. We are also a Kaython 1.5 distributor and along with the multitude of maintenance companies and major oil distributors, Kaython 1.5 is what we use and the biocide we stand behind as one of the best H.U.M. bug killers on the market. You can fight back, start with a dry tank.

Question 27: How do I get biocide?
Give us a call.

Question 28: What is Preventative Maintenance?
See our Preventative Maintenance Section, or handout.

Question 29: What is Clean Fuels of Indiana, Inc.'s service area?
East to West coast, some trip allowances may apply.

Question 30: What is your policy on the customer's right to privacy?
Your site and tank information is only discussed in detail between us and you, your privacy is held in the highest regard.