increase font size
Rural Insurance company, FMG, is reminding its customers that commercial vehicle policies do not cover damage to fuel and engine systems caused by DEFs.
With harvesting season in full swing and long hours being worked, it’s timely to remind tractor and machinery operators about a frustrating and sometimes expensive issue around fuelling up – the utilisation of Diesel Exhaust Fluids (DEF).
DEFs such as AdBlue and GoClear are used in a post-combustion process to lower exhaust emissions from diesel fuelled engines.
DEFs are not fuel additives, but a catalyst that is added to the exhaust gases, so if they are placed directly in a tractor’s diesel tank, serious damage to your vehicle can occur. Rural Insurance specialists, FMG, reminds its customers that commercial vehicle policies do not cover damage to fuel and engine systems caused by DEFs.
In the case of agricultural contractors, currently in a season with limited or newly trained staff, workloads are high, and they are always under pressure to complete jobs in a limited time frame. So, the cost of adding DEF directly to the diesel tank goes beyond vehicle damage, to the loss of time and productivity, especially if it happens in the middle of the season.
Palmerston Northbased Case IH dealership TransAg has seen this issue many times, so has created a simple tip which anyone can adopt to avoid the issue.
“DEFs are stored in a small tank and, just like diesel fuel, are part of the daily service regime, meaning the driver must ensure it’s kept topped up. To try and avoid the issue, we’ve been painting our tractor fuel caps bright yellow/orange - the universally recognised colour for diesel - to trigger a reminder and try and eliminate any confusion,” says Brian Lett from TransAg. “By contrast, DEF tanks are always fitted with a blue filler cap”
“It’s a simple yet effective action that TransAg have taken, so we wanted to share it so others could benefit from adopting it and help prevent making this avoidable mistake,” says Rosie Blackwood, FMG’s commercial segment manager."
The arrival of new F8 and F9 designations for its 8000 and 9000 series forage harvesters, signals a swag of upgrades from John Deere, highlighted by topping the 1000hp mark for the first time.
Waikato-Bay of Plenty farmer Hugh Jackson recently secured this year’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year title in Invercargill.
Ashburton-based Carrfields has signed an agreement with Manitou to take over the distribution and retail rights for Manitou Agricultural Equipment covering the lower North Island and the South Island, effective August 1, 2025.
With June ending and following the most upbeat National Fieldays for several years, tractor dealers are reporting a lift in sales.
Samasz distributor FarmShop has introduced the new XDF Series Front Mowers, said to be refined for local conditions and to improve cutting precision and wear resistance.
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
OPINION: Dairy industry players are also falling by the wayside as the economic downturn bites around the country.
OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first…
