Use hay whilst the sun shines

Olly used two small red diesel tanks with a total capacity of 1,000 and 2,500 litres. As the tanks had, for over a decade, been compounding the problem, an increasing quantity of sludge was forming at the tank’s base and risked clogging in the antiquated filtration systems.

While adding biodiesel aims to reduce emissions and meet Euro Standards, the fuel is more susceptible to water contamination and, subsequently, a build-up of sludge often referred to as ‘diesel bug’.

A significant cause of this diesel bug’ is that larger quantities of biodiesel are blended with regular diesel. In Olly’s experience, prevention is key to tackling diesel bugs because the removal requires a professional fuel tank cleaning service once the ‘bug’ is established.

The high costs involved are feasible for large steel tanks but not the small plastic tanks installed at Morton Hall Farms. The shrewd farmer started afresh with a new diesel dispensing tank to find a better, long-term solution.

As usual, Olly called his farming group for advice when purchasing for his farm.

Olly explains: “I rely heavily on my farming group and trust their judgement. They take responsibility for researching and purchasing items for the farm and getting the best discounts. I use them for everything from fence posts, ear tags, fertilisers, and feeds to phone bills. The great thing is that they have experts for every product and know a lot about fuel problems. I requested a fuel tank with a filter to tackle the sludge and a capacity comparable to my old tanks combined. Their advice, to meet all of my needs, was a Tuffa tank based upon these requirements.”

The recommended dispensing tank was the Tuffa 3,500-litre plastic bunded diesel tank.

“The tank is perfect for our busy farm. The filtration system, a 10-micron water and particulate filter combats diesel bugs and, like the pump itself, is easy to replace, meaning maintenance is simple.”

With reliable, tier-one dispensing and safety equipment secured within a lockable cabinet, installation is quick, too, requiring only a solid base and final electric connection. The option of a 12/24V connection means that Tuffa’s diesel tanks can even sit on a site without mains electricity and instead be powered by a farm vehicle, although Olly didn’t require this option.

Our popular 3,500-litre diesel tank is perfect for storing and dispensing red diesel to fuel Morton Hall Farm’s 180 and 250-horse tractors and a JCB loader. As the vehicles work all year round, a reliable diesel tank is essential to the farm.

With his requirements met, Olly says, “I’m very impressed with the tank’s build; it looks smart and capable, and the 10-micron filter will help with my fuel filter issues. The tank’s security is great, and so is the simplicity of the fuel meter. The farmer’s Group informed us at the beginning of the Coronavirus that there would be supply issues and advised us to buy everything we needed early, particularly metal, such as plough parts which often come from China. Despite the virus, the tank came quicker than I expected, and although there was heavy snow in my area, the delivery team arrived early in the morning as promised.”