Alert over suspect diesel for tractors
Despite what could be termed the relatively low cost of agricultural diesel, supplies of the fuel from dubious sources had found their way to farms, the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association said.
The association said these supplies had come from a variety of spurious operators who were converting agricultural diesel to colourless diesel in illegal operations. Some of the diesel fuel, which failed to convert, had ended up on farms.
These supplies had been shown to contain dangerous impurities and when used in modern tractor fuel systems, had resulted in expensive pump damage.
FTMTA dealers had reported the fuel pump problems on relatively new tractors.
The association said that the situation had come to light because of the precision engineering in the new-generation fuel pumps, many of which were electronically controlled.
Modern tractor engines must comply with European Union exhaust emission standards.
Older generation tractor engines had less precise systems, giving rise to more fuel consumption and more exhaust emission.
They were not considered to be as prone to fuel contamination damage as the new generation machines.
FTMTA chief executive Michael Moroney said some dealers had reported the problem and fuel samples had been tested independently.
Mr Moroney said that while the incidents had been relatively isolated, they could be expensive for the tractor owner.
He said that tractor warranties were invalid when fuel, shown to be doctored in any way, was used in the engine, causing damage or mechanical failure.
