Diesel Fuel: A Look At The Advantages In An Agricultural Setting

As the owner of a farm, regardless of its size, there is a good chance you will find yourself with the need to rely on some type of fuel source for everything from running your machinery to keeping animals sheltered. There are a lot of different fuel sources you could go with in almost every agricultural application—from gasoline to propane and everything in between. However, there are good reasons why most farmers choose to rely on diesel fuel over any other energy source. Here is a quick look at the advantages of diesel fuel in an agricultural setting. 

Diesel does not evaporate or vaporize as easily as gasoline.

Vaporized gas can be a huge issue in a busy agricultural setting, creating an enhanced risk for a drifting spark to ignite a fire that can be dangerous for your property, employees, and livestock. Diesel is more dense in formulation that traditional gasoline, and, therefore, it will not evaporate or vaporize as easily. Not only does this mean safer operation in areas where the fuel is used, but it also means less of a concern about lost fuel over time, which can be a big deal in some settings and in hot climates. 

Diesel fuel offers higher levels of torque at low engine speeds. 

In an agricultural setting, heavy lifting, towing, and pulling just come along with the job. Therefore, you must have efficient machinery that can cater to these strenuous demands. Diesel fuel offers a higher level of torque or power, even when the engine is in low gear or traveling at a lower rate of speed. This is the primary reason why most farm equipment is diesel powered, as moving slowly with a heavy load would be taxing on a traditional gasoline engine without significant upgrades to the engine.

Diesel fuels are more environmentally friendly. 

The last thing you want in an agricultural setting is to be concerned with contaminating the growing fields or harming your animals with dangerous fuel emissions. Gasoline is well-known for its highly toxic carbon monoxide emissions, but diesel emits far less during combustion. Plus, diesel is far less likely to cause toxicity levels to rise during a spill on the ground because it is more akin to the natural fuels harvested from the earth. Furthermore, diesel is an energy-dense fuel, meaning you can use less and achieve the same amounts of power and function than what you would with gas.