Before reading, watch a video with a filter that separates water from diesel oil:
Agricultural and forestry operations are subject to many climatic and terrain storms. Factors such as sun, wind, rain, difficult to reach terrain, bad roads interact to make the activity in the field even heavier and more complex. In this context, the risk of water contamination in oil in tractors is increased.
With some care, however, it is possible to get around these difficulties and turn them into opportunities for improving the workflow and the consequent gain in productivity. See how filters can collaborate with managers in this task.
Main problems caused by the presence of water in the fuel oil
Contaminated diesel oil water is highly harmful to machines, as it compromises the functioning of the engine as a whole, affecting it in several ways. Let’s see:
- Engine power compromise.
- Wear on the fuel pump.
- Saturation of filters before programmed
- Oxidation / corrosion of metal parts
- Imbalance of internal pressure in the system
- Injector nozzle malfunctions
- Injector nozzle malfunctions
- Startup difficulties
- Increased activitymicrobial
- Increase in fuel consumption due to inefficient combustion
- Alteration of the physicochemical characteristics of diesel
The origin of water in oil in tractors
Water is a major oil contaminant in combustion engine vehicles. To separate the water in the oil in tractors, it is necessary to know where the contamination comes from, and then take maintenance measures. See some points of water source in oil.
- Condensation inside the tanks: with the wide temperature variation that tractors are subject to, this process can also occur in storage locations or even during use.
- Poor quality fuel oil: despite ANP regulations, some suppliers may mix more water than recommended with diesel oil
- Transport and storage tanks not properly washed: when the reservoirs are cleaned, they must be dried well, to prevent the oils stored there from being contaminated by residual water.
How to avoid water in oil in tractors: short manual of good routine practices
Every oil contains a certain degree of contamination. However, these levels must be maintained within acceptable standards. The limits, in turn, are regulated by specific rules and depend on the type of oil. Check out some practices that can help extend your tractor’s fuel life.
- Make periodic oil analyzes to know the degree of degradation of the engine fluids and create a good maintenance routine on your machines.
- At night, when the air humidity is higher, keep the tank full, preventing the diesel from absorbing water from the environment.
- Before starting your daily activities, do thefilter drain.
- If your tractor tank has a water separating container, remember to clean it once a month.
- Choose the rightdiesel water separator filter. A quality filter will preserve the engine of your machines for longer. This device can be installed at the tank inlet (pre-filter) or at the end.
- Read the Owner’s Manual for the period of overhaul and change of oils and filters on your tractor. Forestry and agricultural tractors usually have this shorter period, as they travel on dirt roads and make a lot of mechanical effort in their daily activities. This can cause wear on the engine. That is, tractor filters are in great demand, and special care must be given to them. Do not wash the filters, as this may damage them and compromise their filtration. The system must be replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- It is recommended to clean the fuel tank annually and replace it every three years or when there are signs of corrosion or other damage.
- In case you have installed a filter system with sedimentator, remove it and clean it periodically, also analyzing the quality of the fuel.
- Pay attention to the origin of the fuels to avoid the acquisition of contaminated oils; even oils mixed with biodiesel must follow proportions established by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) in order to ensure that there is no damage from water contamination in your engine.
- For fuels with additives, make sure they come from refineries. This will guarantee the quality of the oil, since it will have been manufactured according to the standards. This will ensure that the same goes for filling stations. Oil quality, since it will have been manufactured according to the standards.
- When filling the reservoir, be careful with the seal at the mouth of the tank, as well as with the level marker fitting.
- Care of the storage tank:
- Drain them daily, as the presence of water in fuel oils favors the proliferation of microorganisms.
- Choose tanks that are not made of metal alloys that contain copper, brass and bronze, as these accelerate oxidation and the formation of impurity.
- See the entrances and exits well.
- Do not expose the tanks to high temperatures. Heat accelerates chemical reactions that cause degradation and the formation of contaminants.
- Clean the tanks every two years.
- Avoid storing the oil for a long time, as it may undergo a natural degradation process over time. This compromises its physical-chemical properties by forming sediments that can clog the filters.
Gain quality when taking care of filters
Choosing the right filter for your system will ensure that there is no loss of engine power when separating water from oil in tractors. For this reason, one should choose filtering systems recommended by the manufacturer, which match or are better than suggested. This will provide the quality of maintenance service provision, in addition to improving your workflow and reducing water in oil in tractors.
As we have seen, separating water from oil in tractors is an essential activity that must be conducted carefully, in a systematic and routine manner. Water contamination, which can originate from different sources, can compromise the physical and chemical properties of diesel oil, in addition to favoring the proliferation of microorganisms.
The installation of a filtration system, on the other hand, prevents numerous problems that could arise from the presence of water in the oil. Thus, separating the water in the oil in tractors is essential, due to the intense work and the daily weather conditions suffered by this type of equipment.
Find out the best filter for your tractors by making a freepricefrom POC Filters.