In any operation of farming, the use of farm oil is very significant. This is important to manage and maintain the efficiency of the machines. Various kinds of farm fuels work for the lubrication of the engines and reduction of the friction. It is also a fact that agricultural fuel usage can be effective if it is stored and handled well.

Nevertheless, there are many farmers who make mistakes while using these fuels. This can result in poor performance of the mechanism and increase in the cost of farming activities. In many of the situations using the wrong fuel can lead to failures of the equipment.

The farmers also work on making the wrong choice of fuel and not working on using them in a specific kind of engine in a specific circumstance of weather. They also create errors in making schedules of oil changes.

In this article get an idea about what are the common forms of mistakes that farmers make while using agricultural oil.

Mistakes To Avoid While Using Farm Oil

While using the farm oil farmers make various mistakes in checking the fuel delivery systems. These mistakes can fail to focus on some of the specific kinds of fuels in the activities of agriculture. Let’s cheque what the other mistakes that the farmers make are.

1. Ignoring The Level Of Temperature

The main mistake that the farmers make is they ignore the level of temperature. This can lead to the loss of crops due to excessive heat and cold.

Oil use in cold weather: In the UK several farmers use farm oil in the process of giving the backup to generators and powering other machinery. They also use this to heat livestock in the time of cold weather. They work to prevent the fuel from waxing or thickening. The fuels like HVO make the farm machines effective in the cold weather. At this time the farmers make mistakes in checking the fuel quality which result in damages of crops and livestock.

Oil use in hot weather: In the time when the weather is hot the farmers of the UK use fuels like red diesel. They use this fuel in the various harvesters and tractors. While carrying the farming goods on the road the farmers use the white diesel. In the weather that is hot farmers generally do the storage of fuel at an improper level. This led to an increase in the water stress. They also make mistakes while using the particles of herbicides and pesticides.

Ideal level of temperature: In the UK the use of agricultural oil can be checked in the time of ideal temperature. The temperature that will be ideal can be from 15 degrees C to 25 degrees C. This level of temperature helps to work better in managing the crop yields. Here the level of temperature will be selected as per the type of crops.

2. Using The Wrong Category Of Fuel

The farmers also work on using the wrong kind of fuel in activities of farming. At times the use of the wrong kind of fuel can be illegal.

Use of gasoline in diesel-powered engines: The farmers make mistakes while using gasoline in a diesel engine. This can result in black smoke releases and damage to the engine. The diesel engine carries a high level of density and it is completely different from gasoline.

Neglecting in checking the fuel level:  There should be proper checks for the farm oil levels inside the tanks and the tractors.  If the fuel level is high and/or low it can result in damage to the fuel pumps. This can happen if the fuel gauge does not work properly. The fuel pumps are based on lubrication by the correct kind of fuel.

Not checking the viscosity and density of the fuel: You need to cheque the viscosity and density of the agricultural oil. Not checking it properly can lead to inefficiency in the flow of fuel and it can create defects in its energy content.  This can also lead to an improper level of atomisation of the engine.

Ignorance in oil changes: Farmers also do not care about the facts related to oil changes. This is related to disposing of the oil that is old and inserting new oil. Not doing proper oil changes can result in an increase of blockages in the system.

FAME and sulphur content in fuel: There should be proper checks for the FAME particles in the fuel. FAME can be damaged and/or contaminated in the fuels like diesel. In the fuel, there can also be the existence of sulphur. Various processes of production of feedstock sources create sulphur in the fuel. If the contents of FAME are added with diesel it can create different ranges of sulphur.

Unnecessary use of fuel:  The farmers also at times make unnecessary usage of fuel. This can be the result of outdated processes and practices of farming, not having the proper level of awareness, and not having the understanding of the technologies of fuel saving.

3. Improper Methods Of Fuel Storage

The farm oil storage is also not proper in some of the farming operations. This results in many issues like creating damage to the environment.  

Exposure to sunlight and rain: The container of the agricultural oil should not be kept in a place which has a direct level of sunlight and/or which can be affected by the rainfall.  This can result in degradation of the oil and can increase the risk of explosions.

Type of the fuel tank: The type of fuel tank also matters. The tank should be selected as per the quantity of the oil. They can be either made up of plastic and/or steel. They can also be single and/or double-layered.  If the tank has a large amount of fuel it should have double layers.

Improper maintenance of the tank: The farmers also make mistakes while maintaining the work capacity of the fuel tank. The tank of fuel should be checked for any kind of spills and/or leaks by having proper maintenance within the time-frame of 6 months and/or 12 months.

Inadequate level of tank bunding: If the fuel is hazardous the tanks should have the proper level of bunding. The height of the barrier of bund should be from 0.5 metres to 1.5 metres. If the bunding is not proper it can lead to various forms of explosion and even incidents of fire. The bunds should carry 110% of the aptitude of the tank.

Not using approved containers: Farmers also at times not use the containers that are approved. The containers that will be approved and/or well-recognised can be helpful for efficient inclusion of oil and saving of cost. They work for a standardised level of handling.

 4. Improper Check-ups For Farm Machinery 

The machine that uses agricultural oil should be checked within a particular time frame. Farmers make the mistake of not checking such machines frequently.

Inadequate level of lubrication: As a farmer, you may make the mistake of an inadequate level of lubrication of the farm machine. The process of lubrication is a must for the various components of the engine. Without a proper level of lubrication the engine can have a high level of wear and tear.

Not cleaning the filters properly: At times the farmers do not work to clean the fuel filters. This can result in hard starting of the engine and engine stalling. If the fuel filters are blocked it can disturb the flow of the fuel.

Errors in operations: While using the farm oil the farmers make the mistake of not checking the fuel dispensers and creating defects in the whole operation. This can lead to large levels of noises and vibrations in the machine. The flow of fuel can also be slow. The problems can also be seen in the belts and valves.

Not considering the type of fuel pumps: While using the fuel pumps the farmers should cheque their types. There are various kinds of fuel pumps as per the concerns and applications. The fuel pumps should be adjusted as per the ratio of flow of the fuel.

Not using the fuel management systems: There are various forms of fuel management systems in the process of using agricultural oil. They are used to keep track of the level of fuel and have control over it. These systems can be in the form of  on-site, networked and card-based systems.

Negligence in boiler services: The boiler of farm oil also needs to be checked. Each part of this machine like the burner, the heat exchanger, and the combustion chamber with the whole system of fuel supply should be verified well.

Long idling of machine: At times the farm machines and engine face long idling. This has a lot of negative results. It can increase the usage of fuel and friction in the engine. It can also lead to high releases of CO2 emissions.

Improper level of selection of gear: Farmers conduct mistakes in the selection of the machine gear. The gears should be familiar with some of the specific operations and activities like loading and unloading with arranging the speed.  

5. Mistakes Made In Farming

There are some of the mistakes made in the process of farming that lead to the high use of farm oil.

Excessive level of tillage: Excessive levels of tillage can result in numerous disturbances for the soil. It can also lead to soil erosion and loss of organic substances. It also reduces the infiltration of the water.

Not managing the crops and soil: The use of agricultural oil can be disturbed if the farmers do not manage the crops and the soil properly. The poor management of soil and crops can decrease soil health and crop yields. It can also increase the cost of farming input.

Over-fertilisation: The farmers also do over-fertilisation of the crops and soil. This makes the excessive existence of potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the soil. It has a negative and unfavorable impact on the health of the crops.

Not checking the tire pressure of the tractor: At times the farmers do not cheque the pressure of the tires of the tractors.  This can lead to a reduction in the tire life and a poor level of traction. The fuel can also be used at a high level here.

The Bottom Line

You need to avoid making various common mistakes when you go to use farm oil. This will be helpful to increase the performance of the farming machinery. You also need to work on selecting the correct level of oil and storing it in a proper way.

Keep an eye on those strategies and methods that will lead to wise use of safety equipment and monitoring of the tank. Follow those initiatives that will reduce the occasions of costly repairs of the machine due to unpredictable breakdowns in using agricultural oil.

Also, you should follow the guidelines of the manufacturers when you go to buy the fuel. Having the checks for the concerns of the environment and concerns of legalities also matter. Nowadays, farmers are also finding the probabilities of using renewable fuels and/or bio-fuel alternatives. Proper level of training for the farmers will be very essential for this.