Diploma in Fuel Supply and Fuel Contamination Diagnosis
600-hour online postgraduate diploma in fuel system diagnosis: pressure, flow and suction, water, microbial and particle contamination, injection damage and storage management, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Fuel Supply and Fuel Contamination Diagnosis — studying from Ireland
Ireland's regulated industries, including aviation, medical devices, energy, transport and food, require rigorous safety, reliability and compliance processes. Engineers in regulation, safety and homologation roles prepare certification evidence, perform reliability and risk analysis and manage conformity assessment. Key regulators such as the Health and Safety Authority, the Irish Aviation Authority and the Health Products Regulatory Authority set requirements that span multiple sectors. National standards are maintained by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, which represents Ireland within European and international standardisation.
Fees for Ireland: €1,290 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies handle regulation and homologation, and does this qualification relate to them?
In Ireland, regulatory and safety matters involve bodies such as the Health and Safety Authority and the National Standards Authority of Ireland for standards work. Professional engineering status is typically pursued through Engineers Ireland. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so they do not grant registration, approval or homologation rights.
How do Irish employers in RAMS and safety-critical sectors regard private online qualifications?
Employers in safety-critical industries in Ireland usually require verifiable competence and recognised certifications for RAMS and homologation roles. A private online qualification may complement your experience, but whether it counts is entirely at the employer's discretion. There is no guarantee of recognition or of any role.
How much time does the programme take, and can I pay in instalments?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from Ireland at your own pace. Durations are 300, 800 or 1,900 hours depending on the course. Fees can be paid in instalments, employer sponsorship is possible if your company agrees, and each student receives an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the architecture of a low and high-pressure fuel circuit with its filters and returns.
Measure pressure, return flow and suction depression and compare them with reference values.
Detect and quantify contamination by water and by microbial growth.
Assess fuel cleanliness by ISO 4406 code and its stability in storage.
Apply a cause tree to distinguish a mechanical fault from a fuel fault.
Bench-test injectors and document damage caused by particles, water or cavitation.
Design a storage management and supply quality control programme.
Who it's for
- Diesel and petrol engine diagnostic technicians at workshops and dealerships.
- Fleet maintenance managers in transport, construction or agricultural machinery.
- Marine engine and generator set mechanics.
- Managers of fuel storage and supply facilities.
- Laboratory technicians who analyse fuels and issue reports.
- Mechanical, chemical or marine engineering graduates who want to specialise in fuel systems.
What you'll work with
- EN 590 (automotive diesel fuel specification)
- EN 228 (unleaded petrol specification)
- EN 14214 (fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel) specification)
- ISO 4406 (fluid cleanliness code by particles)
- EN ISO 12937 (water content by coulometric Karl Fischer titration)
- EN 12662 (total contamination in middle distillates)
- EN 116 (cold filter plugging point)
- ISO 8217 (marine fuel specifications)
- ASTM D6469 (guide to microbial contamination in fuels)
8 modules
1.1Tank, pick-up and breather1.2Lift pump and high-pressure pump1.3Water-separating pre-filter1.4Final filter and nominal filtration rating1.5Return, cooling and recirculation1.6Rigid lines, hoses and fittings1.7Non-return and relief valves1.8Priming circuit and air bleeding1.9Layouts in marine engines and generator sets1.10Direct versus indirect injection
2.1Compound gauge fitted on the suction side2.2Maximum permissible depression upstream of the filter2.3Return flow measured per cylinder2.4Rail pressure and its regulation2.5Delivery of the lift pump2.6Leak test of the low-pressure circuit2.7Oscilloscope on the regulator signal2.8Detecting air ingress by bubbles2.9Reading parameters from the control unit2.10Log sheet with reference values
3.1Free, emulsified and dissolved water3.2Centrifuge test and water-finding paste3.3Microbial growth at the interface3.4Biocides, dosing and precautions3.5Microbiologically influenced tank corrosion3.6Filter blocking by biomass3.7Standardised sampling and sampling point3.8Water content by Karl Fischer titration3.9Tank cleaning and disinfection3.10Preventive tank monitoring programme
4.1Cleanliness classification to ISO 44064.2Automatic particle counter4.3Gravimetry by membrane filtration4.4Gum and lacquer formation by oxidation4.5Fuel stability in storage4.6Biodiesel content and ageing4.7Cold filter plugging point4.8Wax and winter operating problems4.9Transfer and clean-up filtration of the tank4.10EN 590 and EN 228 specifications
5.1Extended cranking due to loss of prime5.2Lack of power due to a blocked filter5.3Black smoke from poor injection5.4Knocking due to air in the rail5.5Hot stalling due to vapour in the line5.6Abrasive injector wear from particles5.7Internal corrosion from accumulated water5.8Analysing the used filter as evidence5.9Cause tree on a real symptom5.10Distinguishing mechanical failure from fuel failure
6.1Testing injectors on a high-pressure bench6.2Injection delivery and return flow6.3Internal leaks and loss of sealing6.4Needle and seat wear6.5Plunger seizure from hard particles6.6Cavitation and erosion in passages6.7Circuit cleaning protocol after a failure6.8Criteria for replacing the complete system6.9Damage report for the warranty case6.10Prevention through additional filtration
7.1Tank design and floor slope7.2Drain points and draining routine7.3Stock rotation and shelf life7.4Receiving deliveries and incoming inspection7.5Interpreting the certificate of analysis7.6External laboratory and contracted tests7.7Training refuelling staff7.8Recording incidents by batch7.9Raising complaints with the supplier backed by evidence7.10Fuel quality indicators
8.1Defining the scope and the chosen installation8.2Tank inspection and sampling8.3Analytical plan with justified tests8.4Pressure and flow measurements in service8.5Joint interpretation of the results8.6Determining the probable root cause8.7Corrective and preventive action plan8.8Cost and timescale estimate8.9Technical report reviewed by the tutor8.10Defending the conclusions before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PicoScope, Excel, Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real failures in vehicles, marine engines and generator sets, with laboratory certificates of analysis and used filters as evidence. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrated project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 600 hours over 6–9 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with PicoScope, Excel and Power BI, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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