If your fuel becomes contaminated with dirt, dust, and other particles, it can reduce your engine life by up to 50%. These contaminants are the primary causes of fuel system issues, and they are the ultimate reason for over 85% of engine failures. To help you avoid this situation, we’ve put together some key tips and best practices for keeping your heavy equipment fuel as clean as possible and your fuel system working smoothly.
What we cover in this article:
Dirt, dust, and other particles can be introduced into the fuel system in several different ways. The most common routes of contamination are through dirty tank spouts, dispensing funnels, or when you remove a dirty fuel cap. However, they can also be introduced into gas or diesel while it’s being transported, transferred, and stored.
Dirt and dust will accelerate component wear and cause damage wherever quick sliding movements occur. Although small, these particles lead to increased friction and interfere with movement in the engine. Parts like inner and outer valves, nozzle needles and seats, command piston sliding portions, and the injector barrel and plunger on the control valves are particularly vulnerable to damage caused by tiny dirt and dust particles.
The most important thing you can do to ensure clean fuel is to take steps to keep harmful particles out. When you refuel your machine, always be sure to replace the nozzle on the pump as quickly as possible, never let it dangle where it will attract dirt and dust. When working in dirty and dusty conditions, tightly seal the vent tube and fuel tank caps. To keep particles from entering your engine while it’s being serviced, always try to change filters, refuel, or make any type of engine repair indoors, if possible.
It’s important to replace filters at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals. If you leave filters on too long, they will become clogged and will not be able to keep dirt from circulating through your engine. Carefully follow the instructions provided in your equipment operator’s manual when changing both the main filters and the prefuel filters, so that contaminants don’t enter the system.
In addition to dirt and dust, water is another primary enemy of your fuel system. It can be introduced to your fuel system through various routes, but the most common way is through condensation. If your fuel tanks aren’t full, then moisture in the air within them can condense on the sides of the tank. Before long, droplets of water mix with the fuel, causing the deterioration of the gasoline or diesel and hurting machine performance.
We recommend filling the fuel tank at the end of each day as part of your regular fuel system maintenance routine. Plus, you should always drain the water and sediment that has accumulated at the bottom of the tank before starting work each day.
We recommend hiring a professional cleaning and inspection service to check and wash your tanks about every six months as part of regular fuel system maintenance. A clean storage system will go a long way to keep harmful particles and water out of your fuel.
Regular diesel testing is also an essential part of fuel system maintenance and ensuring clean fuel is running through your engine. If you store diesel for regular or emergency use, we suggest testing it at least once a year. Poor quality fuel will lead to inadequate performance and can damage equipment. In extreme cases, poor quality may lead to equipment failure. Sending samples to a certified lab for testing will reveal important information like combustion speed, efficiency, and contaminant build up. Armed with that data, you’ll understand if you have to replace your diesel, or if you have to make changes to your storage and fueling methods.
It’s important to listen to what your equipment is telling you, whether it’s related to clean fuel, fuel system maintenance, or something else. Modern machines are full of sensors and electronics that will alert you to a lot of different issues, including if there is water in the fuel system, if you need to change a filter, or if something else is wrong. Paying attention to these engine error codes can help you save thousands of dollars by catching problems and fixing them as soon as possible.
If you have any questions about track tension or heavy equipment tracks in general, contact our team today!
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