The Importance of Fuel Quality in Bulk Delivery

Fuel keeps your business moving. Whether you’re running a fleet, powering heavy equipment, or keeping farm machinery running, the quality of your fuel makes all the difference. 

Low-quality fuel can clog filters, wear down engines, and leave you dealing with breakdowns at the worst possible time. On the other hand, clean, high-quality fuel keeps your equipment running smoothly, cuts down on maintenance costs, and helps you get the most out of every gallon. 

Travis Skar, Branch Manager at Farstad Oil, says:

“The quality of the fuel you’re using is crucial—it saves time, money, and reduces wear on your equipment. When you’re using high-quality diesel fuel or gasoline, it helps lubricate the engine, provides cleaner emissions, and ensures smooth operation.” 

Let’s break down why fuel quality matters in bulk delivery and how you can make sure you’re getting the best.

What Defines High-Quality Fuel?

Not all fuel is created equal. When you rely on bulk fuel deliveries, quality isn’t just about price—it’s about performance, efficiency, and protecting your equipment. 

So, what makes one fuel better than (or worse) than another?

• Purity & Contaminant-Free Fuel: This goes without saying; fuel should be clear and free of water, dirt, and microbial growth. Contaminants clog filters, reduce combustion efficiency, and can even lead to engine failure. Water buildup is especially dangerous in diesel fuel, as it can promote microbial growth that creates sludge and can corrode fuel systems.
• Proper Cetane & Octane Levels: Cetane (for diesel) and octane (for gasoline) determine how efficiently your fuel burns. Higher cetane levels help diesel engines ignite smoothly, reduce emissions, and improve fuel economy. With gasoline, the right octane level prevents engine knocking and misfires. Using fuel with the right combustion properties means better performance and longer engine life.
• Consistent Refining & Blending Standards: Fuel quality starts at the refinery. A good bulk supplier works with refineries that follow strict production and blending standards, ensuring every gallon meets industry regulations. Consistency is key—poorly refined or improperly blended fuel can vary from batch to batch, leading to performance issues.
• Meet Quality Standards and Regulations: Regulations from organizations like the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) set strict guidelines for cetane levels, sulfur content, and contaminant limits in diesel and gasoline. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) also enforces fuel standards to reduce emissions and improve air quality. Working with a trusted bulk fuel supplier ensures your fuel meets or exceeds these regulations, preventing compliance issues and keeping your operations running efficiently. 

The Risks of Low-Quality Fuel in Bulk Delivery

Fuel quality isn’t something you can afford to overlook. Skar says: 

“Fuel may seem like just another expense, but choosing the cheapest option can lead to issues down the road—like injector clogging, fuel system failures, or poor emissions performance. Spending a little more upfront on quality fuel can help save money in the long run.”

Here are more ways how low-quality fuel can hurt your operations and why choosing the right supplier matters.

1. Engine Wear & Damage

Dirty or low-grade fuel contains impurities like water, dirt, and microbial growth that clog injectors, corrode fuel lines, and wear down engine components. Over time, this leads to rough idling, loss of power, and even engine failure. 

In winter, improper fuel blends can cause fuel gelling or filter waxing, leaving you stranded when you need your equipment. 

1. Decreased Efficiency

When fuel doesn’t burn cleanly, your equipment works harder and burns through more fuel to maintain power. Poor combustion reduces efficiency, leading to higher fuel consumption, lower mileage, and increased operating costs. 

Over time, spending a little more on high-quality, properly blended fuel is far more cost-effective than constantly refueling because your equipment isn’t running efficiently.

1. Operational Downtime

A stalled engine or fuel system failure can bring your entire operation to a standstill. In industries like construction, agriculture, and transportation, every hour of downtime means delayed projects, missed deadlines, and lost revenue. 

A single instance of fuel contamination or poor-quality delivery can lead to widespread breakdowns across multiple vehicles or machines. Investing in clean, high-quality fuel ensures your equipment runs reliably and keeps your business moving.

1. Increased Maintenance Costs

Low-quality fuel doesn’t just hit you at the pump—it drives up maintenance costs over time. Contaminants clog fuel filters, damage injectors, and create buildup in fuel lines, leading to frequent repairs, costly system cleanings, and unexpected part replacements. 

What seems like a small cost saving on cheaper fuel can quickly turn into thousands of dollars in repair bills. 

1. Environmental & Compliance Risks

Low-quality or off-spec fuel can produce higher emissions, violate compliance standards, and even result in fines or penalties if your business is found to be using non-compliant fuel. By choosing clean, properly blended bulk fuel, you reduce emissions, improve air quality, and ensure your fleet and equipment meet regulatory requirements.

How Farstad Oil Ensures Superior Fuel Quality

Not all bulk fuel suppliers are the same. If you’re trusting a company to fuel your fleet, heavy equipment, or farm operations, you need fuel that’s clean, consistent, and free of contaminants—every single delivery. 

Here’s how we guarantee superior fuel quality from refinery to tank:

1. Strict Quality Control from Start to Finish

Farstad Oil sources fuel from reputable refineries that follow industry-leading standards. But we don’t stop there. Every batch undergoes rigorous testing to check for water content, sediment, and microbial contamination before it’s delivered. 

“We partner with third-party companies to test and clean larger storage tanks. Right now, for instance, we’re cleaning one of our million-gallon tanks in the Minot area. But we apply the same strict standards whether it’s a 560-gallon farm tank or a massive commercial storage site.” 

– Travis Skar, Branch Manager, Farstad Oil

1. Advanced Filtration & Water Removal

Contaminants like dirt, water, and microbial growth can quietly destroy fuel quality. That’s why we use advanced filtration systems that remove impurities before fuel reaches your equipment. Water is one of the biggest threats to diesel performance, especially in cold weather. 

We routinely probe bulk storage tanks for water buildup and remove it before it causes problems like injector damage, corrosion, or fuel gelling.

1. Optimized Fuel Additives for Better Performance

Sometimes, it takes more than just refining to get the best results. That’s why we customize fuel additive packages based on the season and your specific needs. Our performance-enhancing additives help:

• Improve lubricity to reduce wear on injectors and fuel pumps.
• Boost cetane levels for smoother diesel ignition and better fuel economy.
• Prevent fuel gelling in extreme cold with anti-gel and de-icers.

“We use what we believe to be a high-quality additive that helps maintain the proper cetane level, allowing trucks to run efficiently and get good mileage, whether in winter or summer,” says Skar.  

1. State-of-the-Art Storage & Delivery Processes

From transport trailers to final delivery, we take every precaution to ensure that fuel stays clean and uncontaminated. Our fleet of modern bulk fuel trucks is regularly maintained, drained, and steam-cleaned before every delivery. 

We’ve also transitioned many of our sites to bottom-loading systems, which minimize exposure to dust, moisture, and outside contaminants. 

Travis Skar explains:

“In the past years, it was considered standard practice to load tank wagons from the top, which exposed the fuel to environmental contaminants. We’ve converted to bottom-loading, which is already standard at our other facilities. It significantly reduces contamination risk.”

The Bottom Line: Fuel Quality is Non-Negotiable

Fuel quality isn’t just about what goes into your tank—it’s about keeping your business running without setbacks. 

Travis Skar elaborates, “I take a lot of pride in being out in the field, meeting with customers, and ensuring they get the fuel and service they need. Whether it’s delivering tanks, addressing concerns, or troubleshooting any issues, I treat my customers’ businesses as if they were my own.”

When you partner with Farstad Oil, you get more than just bulk fuel—you get clean, high-performance fuel backed by rigorous quality control and expert support. 

Don’t let poor fuel slow you down. Contact Farstad Oil today to ensure your fleet, equipment, and operations stay powered with fuel you can trust—delivered when and where you need it. Let’s keep your business moving, no matter the conditions.