In a side-by-side 18-month jar analysis conducted at an independent laboratory, a quality distillate conditioning competitor product was tested for corrosion inhibiting performance against Technol Corrosion Inhibitor and Technol STR-2+® Distillate Conditioner.  The overall purpose of the test to was measure metal (tank) corrosion as it naturally occurs over an 18-month period and observe how these three products prevent such corrosion from occurring.

Items used in this test were: four clear glass quart jars with lids, four solid-steel L-shaped coupons,  and cheesecloth.   The jars were labeled as follows:
Control - This jar represents a storage tank NOT using ANY type of conditioner
Competitor - This jar represents a storage tank conditioned with the competitor's product
STR-2+® - This jar represents a storage tank conditioned with  Technol STR-2+® Distillate Conditioner
TCI - This jar represents a storage tank conditioned with Technol Corrosion Inhibitor
         
One inch of water was placed in each jar, the steel coupon placed in the water, then each jar was filled to quart level with standard No. 2 Home Heating Fuel Oil.  Each jar to be conditioned then had the appropriate conditioner and dosage applied and the jar lids were sealed.   The sealed jars were stored in room temperature and away of sunlight for 18 months.  Below are the visual results at the conclusion of the test:
         
Click on any image to
view enlarged		 Control Competitor STR-2+ TCI
       
Jars Front View CONTROLSIDEVIEW1.jpg (2525 bytes) FUELRIGHTSIDEVIEW1.jpg (2228 bytes) STR224SIDEVIEW1.jpg (2341 bytes) TCI18SIDEVIEW1.jpg (2407 bytes)
  No conditioner - rust and corrosion is visually evident Rust and corrosion is visually evident No rust visible rust or corrosion No visible rust or corrosion
         
Looking into jar from top CONTROLTOPVIEW.jpg (2625 bytes) FUELRIGHTTOPVIEW.jpg (2403 bytes) STR224TOPVIEW.jpg (2366 bytes) TCI18TOPVIEW.jpg (2421 bytes)
  Steel coupon not visible due to rust and corrosion Steel coupon barely visible due to rust and corrosion Steel coupon visible due to reduced rust and corrosion Steel coupon visible due to the prevention of rust and corrosion
         
         
Steel coupon removed from jar CONTROLSTEELCOUPON.jpg (2572 bytes) FUELRIGHTSTEELCOUPON.jpg (2312 bytes) STR224STEELCOUPON.jpg (1938 bytes) TCI18STEELCOUPON.jpg (1983 bytes)
  No conditioning - evidence of severe metal corrosion Evidence of forming rust and corrosion on metal Rust and corrosion completely inhibited on metal Rust and corrosion complete inhibited on metal
         
         
Remaining jar contents strained through Cheesecloth CONTROLCHEESECLOTH.jpg (3455 bytes) FUELRIGHTCHEESECLOTH.jpg (3834 bytes) STR224CHEESECLOTH.jpg (2617 bytes) TCI18CHEESECLOTH.jpg (2895 bytes)
  Rust and corrosive filaments remaining in fuel Evidence of rust and corrosive filaments remaining in fuel No rust or corrosive filaments remaining in fuel No rust or corrosive filaments remaining in fuel
Amplify this trial: one inch of water in a 32oz jar equates to 2.6oz, or about 8%.  The average home fuel storage tank is 275 gallons; 8% = 22 gallons of water - totally feasible and possible by virtue of continual refueling and water settlement at the bottom of the tank.  If your storage tanks haven't been conditioned with Technol in the past year, you face the Control or Competitor conditions illustrated above.