Content written and submitted by Meg Corp 

It has been a long, cold winter and it often seems like spring will never get here. Before you know it, planting season will be upon us. As you prepare, take a few moments to perform some routine maintenance on your fuel tanks, equipment and filters to prevent down time.

Spring is also a great time to use B10 or B20 (20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent petroleum diesel). The biodiesel industry positively impacts every Wisconsin soybean producer. Recent industry studies indicate that the biodiesel, and now the renewable diesel industries, add anywhere from a $1.65 to $2 of value per bushel of soybeans. Biodiesel blends up to 20 percent can be used in existing diesel engines with little change in fuel economy and performance. Biodiesel adds much needed lubricity to today’s ultra low sulfur diesel, protecting against wear and tear on engine parts.

Whether you use biodiesel or not, routine maintenance is the key to avoiding fuel related problems. Take a few moments to run through the following checklist.

Routine Maintenance Tips for Your Fuel Equipment:
• Check for water and sediment in tanks PRIOR to fuel delivery by looking at a sample from the bottom of the tank. Remove any free water so that it doesn’t get stirred up into your fresh fuel.
• Check all hoses, caps, gaskets and vents for leaks. Make sure everything is in proper working order.
• Install a 30-micron dispenser filter on your storage tank to prevent any contaminants from getting into the vehicle tanks.
• Change your dispenser filter before every planting season and again before every harvest. Make it part of your routine.
• Check vehicle fuel filters and change if necessary. Follow OEM specifications.
• Check vehicle fuel caps to make sure they are secured tightly.
• If you have a water separator, monitor and drain if it contains water.

One last thing – Remember to fill your fuel tanks after planting and harvest to eliminate tank headspace. By doing this, you will reduce the amount of air in the tank which will reduce the chance of developing moisture-related fuel trouble. If you do suspect an issue, please call the Diesel Helpline at 800-929-3437 and a fuel quality technician will walk you through the steps to troubleshoot the issue.

The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board invests checkoff dollars in Meg Corp to assist with biodiesel education across Wisconsin