Extend Engine Life by Keeping Fuel Clean
Did you know allowing dirt and dust to enter an engine can reduce its life by up to 50%?
In fact, dirt and dust cause 85% of fuel system failures. Keeping your fuel and fuel system clean should be a high priority for anyone who wants to protect the value of their equipment investment.
Maintain fueling equipment
Replace the nozzle on the pump every time you refuel your equipment. Never let the nozzle dangle where it may pick up dirt and dust.
Check vent tubes and fuel tank caps
Ensure vent tubes and fuel caps are always sealed tight, especially while on the job.
Service machines indoors
It’s easy for dust and dirt to enter your machine while it’s being serviced. Change filters, refuel, and make engine repairs indoors wherever possible.
Check the manual
Change filters at the manufacturer’s recommended interval. Failure to do so can mean filters become clogged and incapable of preventing dirt from circulating through your engine. Follow the instructions provided in your operator’s manual when changing both the main filters and the prefuel filters so that dust does not enter the system at any point during this process. Check seals for possible leaks.
Fill the fuel tank at the end of each day
Dust and dirt aren’t the only contaminants you’re contending with. Water should be kept out of the fuel at all costs. Condensation is one of the most common and overlooked routes for water to reach the fuel tank. When fuel tanks are only partially full, warm, moist air condenses on the cooler, inside the wall of the tank. Eventually they mix with, and deteriorate, the fuel. Filling up the tank at the end of the day avoids this problem.
Drain water and sediment every day
You should drain water and sediment from the bottom of the tank before you begin work each day. You should drain it again about ten minutes after refueling at the end of the day.