A system includes an emulsification device, a processed fuel tank, an emulsification recirculation line, and a control module. The emulsification device is configured to selectively receive a liquid mixture of water and hydrocarbon fuel and produce batches of emulsified fuel. The processed fuel tank is configured to selectively receive and store the emulsified fuel. The control module is configured to monitor one or more operating parameters and execute one or more operating modes. The operating modes include a bypass mode configured to provide the engine with the hydrocarbon fuel, an emulsification recirculation mode configured to continually recirculate emulsified fuel through the emulsification device and the processed fuel tank via the emulsification recirculation line, a run mode configured to operate the engine with emulsified fuel, and a suck back mode configured to return semi-stable emulsified fuel back to the processed fuel tank.