Keep your Interim Tier 4 diesel engines running strong with a comprehensive preventive maintenance program.

By Tim Hilvers

As the power source for an array of heavy-duty equipment, diesel engines are vital to profitable production in the aggregate industry. Producers rely heavily on these engines to perform day after day in rugged, often extreme, environments.

By establishing and diligently following a preventive maintenance program, equipment managers can help ensure the optimal performance, reliability, and longevity of their engines.

By implementing a comprehensive engine preventive maintenance program, equipment managers can help maximize the reliability of the engines that are so critical to their operations. Any complete program includes maintenance considerations associated with engine technologies used to meet new Interim Tier 4 emissions regulations.

Your engine is a fully integrated system of components that work together to deliver optimized performance, so maintaining your engine’s fuel, lubrication, air intake, cooling, electrical, and after-treatment systems properly will promote a long, productive service life.

The operator’s manual provides a detailed description of recommended engine service requirements at various intervals. Following these service requirements will help ensure that your engine delivers years of dependable service.

Fuel system

The integration of exhaust filters into Interim Tier 4 engines for particulate matter reduction necessitates the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) — diesel fuel with a sulfur content of less than 15 ppm. Using diesel fuels with sulfur content greater than 15 ppm can damage the exhaust filter, leading to early replacement.

Lab and field tests reveal that the superior anti-wear additives in quality engine oils can significantly reduce engine wear, increasing the productive life of the engine.

Some Interim Tier 4 engines also operate efficiently with biodiesel blends, providing fuel-choice flexibility. If you opt to run biodiesel, a 5-percent blend (B5) is preferred, but a biodiesel concentration of up to 20 percent (B20) may be used. Regardless of biodiesel blend level, verify with your fuel provider that the biodiesel blend meets ASTM D6751 (U.S.) standards.

Use only fuel additives that are approved by the engine manufacturer. Regardless of what fuel or additive you use, frequent fuel sampling and analysis is a good fleet management practice.

Fuel quality is essential to Interim Tier 4 engine performance and reliability. In addition, an unrestricted and uncontaminated fuel flow is, obviously, very important in ensuring the proper operation and long life of your diesel engine.

Therefore, when performing fuel system maintenance, remember the following best practices.

• Check for leaks.

• Check for bent, kinked, or dented supply or return.

• Inspect fuel filters for dirt, water, or other foreign matter.

• Use quality fuel that is not contaminated with water. Water in the fuel system is the greatest cause of fuel injection system failure.