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Family-Friendly Activities for Car Fanatics

August 18, 2022

Due to rising fuel prices and other factors, families across the country are spending their summer close to home and rescheduling road trip plans.

But driving long distances to far-off destinations isn’t the only way to make memories! You can still have all kinds of fun with family, even when you’re not on the road.

Keep your passion for cars alive by getting the whole gang involved in various vehicle-related undertakings. Consider the following activities to both 1) celebrate your love for automobiles and 2) create fun family entertainment.

1. Give Your Car a Good Cleaning

Here’s a cost-effective, kid-friendly project: Wash your car with the kids!

Use this activity to share your automotive hobbies. You’ll be surprised how a chore can quickly turn into a game for your children.

Make sure to use a VOC-compliant all-surface cleaner to get things cleaned up and looking good.

2. Car Games for the Win

Car games provide plenty of entertainment for kids and adults alike. Even without driving far, you can share bonding moments and pass down automobile know-hows.

Here are a few examples —

Trivia: This is a fun kid-friendly car entertainment activity that you can do while driving. Prepare trivia questions and fun facts about your family members. The facts can include special moments in your life, your kid’s interests and exciting details about their parents and grandparents. You can then switch to other interesting facts such as automobile history, cool car features and favorite Disney movies.
Story Circle: Another one of the car activities you can do is a story circle. While driving to your destination, tell a story, but let the littles pitch in this time. You start with an introduction, like “once upon a time” or “in ancient lands, long ago.” After that, have each family member add a sentence or two about the story you’re crafting. Let imaginations run wild, and have fun figuring out how your characters go.
Scavenger Hunt: Here’s another kid-friendly car entertainment idea that won’t cost you a lot to set up. It may take some preparation, but you can spice up a weekend camping trip or short drive to the park with a scavenger hunt. Create a list of things you can hide in the car and nearby areas. Make sure to have clues on your list. Hide these items and have family members look for them. Give prizes for finding each item.

3. Have a Tailgate Party

With baseball or football games on the schedule, head to the ballpark and bring your friends/kids along!

Pack your vehicles with lawn chairs, lots of snacks, and plenty of drinks for everyone.

Enjoy the game, let the kids goof around, and explore the automotive hobbies of those around you. Just remember to follow the local tailgating policies so you don’t get into trouble with administration.

4. Car Camping

Drive to a nearby campsite and have an “outdoor” night. Pack those necessities for an overnight camping trip — mattresses, chairs, sleeping bags, tents, a mini-fridge, or any other essentials.

Set up camp around the car and enjoy your stay! Many folks also spend this time teaching bushwhacking skills, like how to start a fire without matches, roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.

5. Drive-In Movie Theaters or Diners

Cool summer night? Take your crew for an evening treat! Your nearby drive-in movie theater can make for a memorable family night.

This activity makes it easy to enjoy the show, the food, and the quality time in your ride.

If you don’t have a local drive-in, rent a projector from your nearest library to make your own theater!

And be sure to check out our interior clean-up checklist if you do choose to eat inside of the vehicle. You’ll want to get rid of any mystery crumbs right away.

6. Vehicle Tune-Up and Detailing

Teach your kiddos a thing or two about automobiles by having them help with a quick tune-up. It’s a great way to share time while passing along useful life-long knowledge of how to change a spark plug, replace an air filter, etc.

You can always take things up a notch by showing them how to clean and degrease an engine.

Or inspire their creative side with car stickers! Some minor auto-detailing is always rewarding to see.

Finally, you can quiz them about the different car parts they’re working on and offer a reward for correct answers. Ice cream is always a great reward!

Share your Hobbies and Make them Fun

You don’t need to travel far to stay active with friends and family!

Plan out a few cost-effective events to help share your knowledge and passions for automobile care.

Berryman is committed to producing automotive solutions that meet the highest quality standards. Browse our blog for more great automotive tips, best practices, inspiration and advice!

Preparing your Vehicle to Safely Tow & Haul this Summer

July 25, 2022

Summer is in full swing, so more people are hitting the road to travel to their favorite destinations while hauling boats, campers and trailers. If you’re among this group of summertime explorers, don’t let the road trip fun come to a staggering halt because of vehicle and trailer problems! Check out the towing preparation and trailer safety tips below to stay safe while out on the road.

Check Your Vehicle’s Transmission

Your vehicle’s transmission transfers the engine’s power to the wheels. Therefore, transmission problems such as leaks and burnt smells are severe issues and should be diagnosed by experienced professionals. These experts know how to fix the most common transmission problems.

Sometimes, your car’s transmission only needs some cleaning, using an industry-grade professional parts cleaner.

Other times, when it comes to more severe issues such as leaks or hardened seals, your mechanic may have to use a reliable transmission sealer to improve shifting and provide temperature stability.

Watch Out for Steering Problems

Before you head out on your journey, you should pay attention to potential steering problems. For example: Does it seem like your vehicle is difficult to steer, like the wheel sticks or feels jerky?

Some of the symptoms of a flawed steering system you should look out for include the following:

Screeching or grinding noises when steering
Your car is leaking discolored liquid
Your steering wheel slips as you turn
Resistance from the wheel while turning

You should inspect several potential causes, such as low power steering fluid, fluid leaks, failing rack mount, tie rod problem, bad strut bearings or a worn-out power steering belt.

Bring Spare Tires

All drivers should bring a spare tire so they don’t get stuck on the road when they get a flat. However, bringing extra spares for your towing vehicle and trailer will also be a great idea. Another thing to remember is to bring the correct lug nut wrench that matches the tires on your truck and trailer.

Trailer Tire Checkup

After checking your towing vehicle, you also need to inspect your trailer’s tires. Many people make it a habit to check the tire pressure on their towing vehicles but forget the ones on their trailers. In addition, you should do more than just check the tire pressure. Look for signs of cracking or dry rot even if the tires still have plenty of treads.

Tires tend to age over time, so you need to inspect them, especially if they’ve been kept in storage for a while. Don’t expect your tires to be in tip-top shape after staying in your garage all winter. Older tires are more prone to tire failure.

Inspect Your Vehicle’s Suspension

Have a mechanic check your truck’s suspension if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Unusually bumpy ride while hauling
Difficulty steering
Vehicle drifting to one side when turning
Continued bounce after going over bumps
One side of the car sitting lower when parked
Dipping action when braking

Diagnosing a car’s suspension can be difficult. You can mistake the symptoms for signs of other problems, which is why it’s best to leave it to an experienced mechanic.

Front End Alignment

Next in our list of trailer safety tips is for your truck’s front end. A good wheel alignment will impact your vehicle’s handling. When the tires are correctly aligned, you avoid premature tire wear, and your vehicle travels straight and smooth on the road.

Front-end alignment issues will have the following symptoms:

The steering wheel doesn’t sit straight
Excessive or uneven tire wear
Bumpy rides even on smooth pavement
Your car shakes while on the road
Your vehicle tends to pull on one side while driving

Get Your Engine Ready for the Summer

With the heat ramping up, expect your engine to get hot faster during the summer. There are several warning signs that your engine is overheating you should look out for, such as:

Steam or smoke from the hood
Poor engine starts
Sudden acceleration/deceleration
The temperature gauge is nearing the red letter H
Increased fuel consumption
Strange smells coming from the front of the vehicle
Engine loses power while going up a slope
Reduced power when towing

When you notice these symptoms, you need to get a skilled mechanic to check for fuel contamination, clogged filters, problematic injectors and a bad fuel pump. In addition, your engine needs to undergo a maintenance check to get it summer-ready.

Matching Your Hitch Ball to the Trailer

Before you start hauling anything to the beach, camping grounds or other vacation spots, you should inspect your receiver hitch.

Some crossovers, SUVs and trailer trucks have a factory-installed hitch, which has been integrated into the frame.

The trailer’s coupler should match your truck’s hitch size. Mismatched hitch balls can cause a loss of control while driving. According to the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), 29 percent of trailer and truck accidents are caused by drivers losing control of their vehicles.

Hitch balls come in three sizes: 1⅞, 2 and 2 5⁄16 inches. If you find that the hitch and the coupler don’t match, you can get a mechanic to install matching units.

Trailer Safety Chains

Next on our list of trailer safety tips is using trailer safety chains. Aside from using a matching hitch ball and coupler, using safety chains also helps to secure your vehicle and trailer. In addition, these chains can be used to hook your trailer to the hitch.

Make sure to cross the safety chains and not just run them straight from the trailer to the truck. With that setup, the chains will form a metal cradle in case the trailer gets disconnected from the towing vehicle. Then, instead of crashing toward the pavement, the trailer will be caught by the chains, saving you from costly repairs.

Inspect Trailer Lights

Even if you’ve been towing and hauling for many years, you should check your vehicle’s wiring regularly to ensure they power all the lights.

The wires on your truck and trailer will wear out over time. Apart from that, you should also check the bulbs on both your trailer and towing vehicle.

All the bulbs wear out over time. When you see any bulb not lighting up as brightly as before, it would be best to replace them before your trip. You will need a spotter to look at the back to see if the brake lights and blinkers are still working.

Install and Inspect Tow Mirrors

Some vehicles already have tow mirrors installed. However, if your car doesn’t have one or your trailer is wider than your truck, you should install aftermarket tow mirrors. Wider tow mirrors allow you to see the blind spots at the back while driving. In addition, they improve rear visibility making it easier to back up.

Get the widest tow mirrors you can find. In addition, if you have the budget for blind spot warning systems, have them installed on your vehicle. These systems have proximity alerts, which are helpful when backing up your trailer.

Secure Your Load

Check your owner’s manual and determine the total load capacity of your truck, SUV or other vehicles. It is also best to know your truck’s towing capacity, which you can find by reading the owner’s manual. Ensure you’re not overloading your vehicle since it will affect its handling. Every vehicle has a trailer rating, so get a trailer that matches your truck’s towing limits.

In addition, you should also secure your load using ratchet or tie down straps. When you make pit stops along the way, inspect your trailer’s load frequently, ensuring that nothing has shifted their positions. Unsecured loads tend to move around when you turn or make sudden stops, which can cause steering problems and potentially cause accidents.

Install a Larger Fuel Tank

Your vehicle tends to use more fuel when towing extra weight, which is why installing a larger tank will be beneficial. In addition, a larger fuel tank increases your vehicle’s capacity, allowing you to go further without refueling.

Unfortunately, finding a gas station in remote parts of the country is not always easy. If installing a larger fuel tank is out of your budget, you can purchase a pair of five-gallon spill-proof poly gas cans. Just a reminder, when purchasing gas cans, always check if they’re EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) compliant.

Use Wheel Chocks

Wheel chocks are sturdy triangular or wedge-shaped blocks that you can place in front of and behind the tires. They prevent the tires from rolling, keeping your vehicle and trailer in place after parking them. Make it a habit to place the wheel chocks before unhooking the trailer from your towing vehicle so your trailer doesn’t roll away, especially when parking in a sloped area.

Driving Tips for Safe Hauling and Towing

Here are some driving safety tips that you should remember, aside from the vehicle summer maintenance tips mentioned earlier:

Make Wider Turns: In many instances, trailers will be heavier and taller than the towing vehicle. Therefore, drive slowly and make wide turns when approaching a corner or curve on the road. Using this maneuver prevents your vehicle from toppling over.

Adjust Brakes According to Load: Many trailers have electric brakes installed. Adjust their power level according to the weight your vehicle is hauling.

Extend the Stopping Distance: You’re driving a heavier vehicle when towing and hauling. Allow a longer stopping distance from the car in front of you, so you have an allowance for abrupt stops. This allows you to hit the brakes sooner and prevent accidents.

Switch to Haul Mode When Going Downhill: Use engine braking by shifting your truck to the tow/haul mode on your vehicle. This mode shifts the transmission to a lower gear, taking some of the strain off the brakes.

Get Someone to Spot When Backing Up: Regardless of how long you’ve been towing, it’s always best to have someone spot you when you’re backing up. This practice helps reduce accidents.

For more information about the products and maintenance tools mentioned in this guide, contact Berryman Products today. You can also visit our distributors’ page to find our retailers and order our products.

Fuel Contamination and Vehicle Maintenance: Is Your Engine Summer-Ready?

June 29, 2022

Summertime brings warm weather and sunshine —the perfect conditions for spending quality time with family and friends. Around this time of the year, vacationers often flock to national parks or head out on the open road for a fantastic trip.

But while you’re ready and prepared for all the fun activities you have planned, your vehicles may not be as prepared as you.

It’s not uncommon for vehicles to fail to start up properly after being stored for a long time. These are common symptoms of engine contamination, which may be caused by contaminated fuel. Repairs could become too costly if you fail to pay attention to these symptoms and are left to pester.

Below, we’ll delve into engine contamination and vehicle maintenance, which will involves all of the following:

Effects of gas/diesel contamination on engine performance
Symptoms of engine contamination
Causes of contamination
How to remedy gas contamination

Okay! Let’s get started.

How Does Diesel Contamination Impact Engine Performance?

The quality of fuel can diminish after a considerable amount of time if it’s left in the tank when the vehicle is stored. There are several reasons for this, such as deterioration of ethanol in the fuel and the presence of contaminants. When this happens, the performance of your engine is affected, which shows up through the following signs:

Engine starts poorly
Increased consumption of fuel
Engine loses power on acceleration
Engine loses power while driving up a slope
Loss of power while towing
Sudden acceleration/deceleration while driving
Engine stops abruptly

What are the Main Signs of Fuel and Engine Contamination?

Gas contamination occurs due to dirt, metal particles, and other contaminants in the fuel. This can also result from chemical changes that happen in the fuel after some time, causing the fuel quality to degrade.

Although the effects are apparent in the performance of your engine, there are also some signs of contamination that can be observed in other parts of your vehicle, such as:

Blinking Check Engine Light

A blinking “Check Engine” light indicates possible problems under the hood as a result of contaminants. Yet, many people may choose to ignore the light if “there’s really no difference in the engine’s performance.” Under the hood, the damage to your engine is adding up due to continuous operation under non-ideal conditions. This is detrimental to your machine and may lead to costly breakdowns when left to continue.

Clogged Fuel Filters

Fuel filters are designed to capture particulate matter in the fuel before passing into the engine. When these are frequently clogged, it’s usually one of the first signs of diesel contamination. As contaminated fuel passes through these filters, clumps of sludge, metal particles, and other contaminants can form, blocking the passage of fuel into the engine. Possible sources of the issue could be the corrosion in the gas tank or the fuel itself.

Failing Fuel Pump

When fuel filters are frequently clogged, fuel pump failure will follow as a result of restrictions in the flow of fuel, causing it to work harder than it should. When this happens, the continuous fuel delivery to the engine is interrupted, affecting the engine’s different functions. This interruption can be felt during acceleration when demand for fuel delivery is at its highest.

Partial and Total Injector Failure

Inefficiencies in your engine may be caused by a partial failure in your fuel injection system. This is caused by prolonged exposure to contaminated fuel, which builds up within the injector and causes wear on the valve. Eventually, the needle component of the fuel injector will have a partial failure that could progress into total failure if left unchecked. However, this is often difficult to diagnose and will require the proper tools to detect.

What are the Causes of Fuel Contamination?

Any foreign matter that isn’t part of the fuel combustion process, especially any matter that impedes this process, is called a contaminant. Although there can be many types of contaminants, the following are the most common:

Presence of particulate matter in the fuel

The most common type of fuel contamination comes in the form of particulates. These are tiny fragments of dirt, grime, or ferrous metals that enter the engine during fuel injection. Although there can be other sources of these contaminants, the most frequent contributors are corrosion in fuel tankers and the gas tank itself.

Ingress of water into the fuel tank

Water and combustion are never a good mix. Water is seen as the most troublesome contaminant because it has a significant impact on fuel combustion and is also one of the most difficult to combat. As a hygroscopic substance, this is mainly a challenge for storing diesel fuel in large tankers as it readily absorbs moisture from the air, causing a buildup of water contaminants in the fuel. This can also happen inside gas tanks, although at a much smaller scale.

Degradation of fuel during storage

Not many people are aware, but fuel actually has a shelf life. When stored for too long, it can degrade, causing it to lose its stability – something that is paramount in maintaining the mechanical operability of your engine. Fuel degradation is readily observable as the fuel loses its bright colors and will turn murky. Once the fuel loses its stability, waxes and gums can develop, which contributes to corrosion and the formation of deposits that can damage other engine components.

Vehicle Maintenance Tips to Remedy Gas Contamination

If you suspect that you have a fuel contamination problem or your vehicles have been stored for a long time, follow these tips to fix your fuel contamination problem and protect your engine.

Only buy fuel from regulated sources. Since fuel handling and purchase are often done out-of-sight, the presence of contaminants may be difficult to detect unless explicitly tested. That’s why it’s important to only purchase fuel from reputable, regulated sources to ensure they’re contaminant-free.
Keep your fuel tank clean. Keeping your gas tank clean is one of the best ways to eliminate possible contaminants from the fuel and prevent corrosion. You can follow these simple steps:

Drain the tank into an approved container.
Clean rust and debris from the outside area of the tank.
Remove the fuel pump.
Swirl it around and pour out the remaining gas.
Clean the inside area of the tank using a solution of water and low-suds soap.
Pour cleaning solution inside the tank and swirl it around again.
Drain the tank and make sure it’s completely dry.
Inspect the condition of the tank to see if there’s damage. Replace if needed.
Re-place the tank and pour fresh fuel.

Use fuel additives. The addition of fuel additives has been proven to be quite helpful in dealing with contamination issues.
Fuel Stabilizers. Fuel must be stored in airtight containers to prevent them from ‘going bad.’ Unfortunately, vehicle gas tanks aren’t airtight, which exposes the fuel to oxygen. Fuel stabilizers help preserve fuel inside fuel tanks. This is particularly helpful for those who own seasonal equipment and vehicles that aren’t used regularly. For instance, the Berryman® Total Engine Tune-Up for Gas and Diesel stabilizes gasoline and diesel, enabling storage for up to a year.
Corrosion Inhibitors. Some additives like the Berryman® Gas & Diesel Fuel Conditioner contain corrosion inhibitors that inhibit the formation of rust, which helps prolong engine life and equipment operability.
Combustion Catalysts. Combustion catalysts are used to enhance the performance of gasoline and diesel engines, ensuring complete combustion of fuel supplied to the combusting cylinder, resulting in reduced carbon deposits. One such example is the Berryman® Emissions Pass Protection, which reduces harmful emissions from the exhaust system.

The Key to Preventing Fuel Contamination

Poor fuel quality and engine contamination are common concerns for those who own classic cars, boating equipment, snowmobiles, or any other seasonal recreational vehicle. Fuel stored inside these vehicles can decline in quality due to prolonged storage. Regular vehicle maintenance is still the key to preventing fuel contamination. A big part of that is knowing what kind of products to use to keep fuel fresh and ensure that your vehicle remains in good condition.

Talk to our experts to learn more about products that can help protect your engine while your vehicle is in storage.

Why a Car’s Engine Overheats: How To Prevent It and What To Do if It Happens to You

May 27, 2022

Spring is out, and summer weather is here once again. With the heat ramping up, many consider the prospect of going on a long-awaited road trip!

But whether you’re going on a full-on summer vacation or just venturing on a short summer drive, you’ll need to prepare for the heat out on the open road. Overheating engines are common this time of the year. Without taking the proper precautions, the extreme heat can pose a risk of damage to your car — which could be costly to repair.

So today we’ll cover some useful tips to prevent overheating and what to do if you suspect an issue with your car.

Overheating Warning Signs

While out on a summer drive, you may find that your car stops working and ceases to switch on. It may be because your engine is overheating. Here are some common warning signs that your engine is overheating:

Steam (or smoke) coming out from the hood of your vehicle
The engine temperature gauge on your dashboard is in the red region (pointing to the letter H)
You smell strange odors, especially coming from the front of the vehicle

Reasons Why Your Engine Might Be Overheating

Engines can overheat for many reasons. Of course, the sun’s scorching heat may be the biggest culprit, but your car does a pretty good job of regulating heat and maintaining a relatively low temperature. Unfortunately, this means something might be wrong inside your vehicle when it does overheat.

Here are some reasons why your engine could overheat during a summer drive:

The cooling system is failing.

The engine’s combustion chamber, where fuel combustion occurs, can reach sweltering temperatures – up to 4,500 oF. All of this heat that radiates from the combustion chamber can go to other parts of the engine, which can contribute to the cause of an overheated engine.

This is where the engine cooling system comes in. It is tasked with drawing heat away from the combustion chamber and dispersing it outside to help the engine maintain a relatively low temperature. But when something is wrong with the cooling system, such as a leak, it will no longer be able to perform its function well, resulting in an overheated engine.

Your thermostat is malfunctioning.

The engine thermostat is a small device between the engine and the radiator. It controls the coolant flow to the engine in response to its temperature. The thermostat remains closed when it is cold, allowing the engine to heat up until it reaches a stable operating temperature. At that level, the thermostat will open up slightly, releasing coolant to allow the engine to maintain that temperature.

But in many cases, the thermostat could fail. As a result, temperature readings may appear lower or higher than usual. Often, it could remain in a closed position, which means it won’t release any coolant to the engine, causing it to overheat.

The water pump is damaged.

While the thermostat dictates when the coolant is released to the engine, the water pump is responsible for keeping it moving when the valve is open. Once released to the engine, the coolant will absorb all the heat inside it and is circulated by the water pump through its hoses until it reaches the radiator. The radiator then extracts the heat from the coolant, at which point the coolant is released back to the engine to extract more heat.

The cycle of heat exchange and absorption is disrupted when there are problems with the water pump. Issues with the water pump could arise when there is a bad seal, a loose drive pulley, a broken belt, or corrosion due to an incompatible coolant. Such issues could be avoided as they come up during routine engine maintenance.

Problems with the radiator.

As mentioned before, the radiator is responsible for pulling heat away from the coolant during the engine cooling process. This means your engine could quickly overheat when there are problems with the radiator. Common causes of problems with the radiator include particle or debris accumulation, leaky hoses, and pressure buildup.

What To Do When Your Engine is Overheating

Dealing with an overheating engine can be stressful in itself. However, it gets even more problematic when dealing with the issue during the most inopportune moments, such as during a traffic stop or traveling along a highway. During those moments, what do you do? Here are some tips on what to do so you can get back on your journey ASAP:

Turn off the A/C and crank up the heat.

If you suspect that your engine might be overheating, turn off the A/C immediately and turn on the heat. This may sound counterintuitive, but doing so takes away some of the load and pulls some of the heat away from the engine and into the car’s interior. In many cases, this action alone can cool the engine down quite a bit – at least until you get to the repair service and have it checked out.

Pull over to the side.

If you see steam emanating from under the hood, your best course of action should be to pull over to the side of the road. This will give you a safe spot to inspect the engine and see what’s wrong without blocking traffic. Once parked, allow ample time for the engine to cool off. Then, keep an eye on the temperature gauge and wait for the dial to reach a safe temperature before checking under the hood.

Check your coolant levels.

After allowing a considerable amount of time to pass, it’s time to put on your gloves and check the engine. Open your hood, look for the radiator cap, and place a damp towel over it. Next, slowly put pressure on the cap and push it down. Turn it just enough to release some of the built-up pressure due to coolant expansion during heating.

After a few seconds, fully turn the radiator cap to open it and check the coolant levels inside. If the coolant level is low, top it off slowly with half water and half antifreeze until it reaches the ‘Full’ line. Next, add more of the coolant to the small reservoir made from clear plastic near the radiator. This is why it helps to keep engine coolant around. Then, once you’re done topping off the coolant, place the cap back on the radiator.

In most cases, topping off the coolant in the radiator will do the trick. But if other issues arise, such as a clog in the coolant hose or a malfunctioning water pump, then you will need assistance.

Restart the engine.

Now that your coolant has been topped off, try restarting the engine. You should now be able to drive your car to the nearest auto repair shop, keeping careful note of the temperature gauge as you go.

Call for assistance.

If your car’s engine continues to overheat even after adding more coolant, then it’s time to call for roadside assistance.

Engine Maintenance Tips to Prevent An Overheating Engine

Of course, engine maintenance is still the best way to prevent your engine from overheating. Regular engine maintenance ensures that your car is in optimal shape and prevents any problems that may lead to overheating.

For instance, having a regular flush process opens up restricted oil passage, which improves overall oil circulation and prevents engine issues. Without it, the oil in your engines can go bad, causing your moving parts to create more friction and generate more heat than the cooling system can control. That’s why the manufacturer’s recommendations for oil changes should never be ignored.

Here are some other vital engine maintenance tips to consider:

Check your engine fluids regularly.
Keep an eye on your temperature gauge to see if reported levels are accurate.
Flush out your radiator periodically.
Inspect your belt and look for signs of wear and tear.
Examine all hoses for leaks.

Only Use Regulated Products in Your Engine

The type of products you use for your vehicle will ultimately contribute to its overall performance. Cheap, unregulated products may have a lower upfront cost but will eventually cost you in repairs and maintenance in the long run. In addition, these products may contain ingredients that clog your hoses, accumulate in different engine parts, or may otherwise be incompatible with your system.

Talk to our experts to learn more about what products are safe to use on your vehicle.

Tips For Proper Farm Equipment Maintenance

May 19, 2022

Modern farm equipment plays a prominent role in ensuring efficiency and yields in the agriculture sector. From your tractor to your planters and sprayers, maintaining each piece of machinery is essential in ensuring productivity.

Proper equipment maintenance is vital to keep your operations running and helps extend the life of your farm equipment. A crucial part of that is creating a robust maintenance plan that helps prevent costly breakdowns and keeps your work assets in tip-top shape.

Benefits of Implementing a Robust Farm Equipment Maintenance Plan

Modern agriculture revolves around the peak performance of farming equipment. As such, every farmer should be familiar with the reasons why equipment needs to be maintained regularly.

For starters, subjecting equipment and machinery to regular maintenance increases their performance output while improving fuel efficiency. One study conducted by the University of Maryland Extension showed that subjecting a tractor to a complete tune-up decreases its fuel consumption by almost 15 percent while its maximum horsepower obtainable increases by 11 percent.

Other benefits of regular maintenance include:

Decreased instances of equipment breakdown
Efficient equipment management
Improved reliability
Extended equipment life
Higher Resale Value

Tips to Protect Your Agriculture Equipment

There are a couple of measures you can take to ensure your equipment is well taken care of and continues to function optimally. Below, we’ll delve into some useful tips to enhance the lifespan of your valuable farm equipment.

Prepare an Equipment Maintenance Plan

Protect your farm’s largest investments by developing a robust maintenance plan that contains all your equipment maintenance activities and a schedule for when those tasks need to be completed. Here’s what this would look like:

Pre-Planting Maintenance

Thoroughly inspect all your equipment and look for signs of wear and damage on belts, chains, hoses, and other moving parts.
Tighten loose connections and replace worn clamps and screws.
Check your tires if they have enough air and are properly inflated.
Inspect your wheel bearings to make sure they are ready for use.
Assess the condition of your battery. Look for signs of corrosion and test its strength to determine whether it needs to be replaced.
Test your lights, signals, and hazards to ensure they can provide proper illumination during nighttime planting sessions.
Examine the engine and check its fluid and coolant levels. Look for signs of leaks, especially after winter has passed.

Pre-Harvest Maintenance

Clean all harvest equipment thoroughly. Remove any debris lodged between moving parts to eliminate fire hazards and potential causes of breakdowns.
Check your belts, filters, and hoses during fuel stops and look for signs of damage to see if they need replacing.
Pay attention to fluid levels such as oils and lubricants to ensure that your engines are kept cool during harvest operations. If you bought a new tractor, change the oil and filters after the first 50 hours of use and every 100 hours after that.
Prepare for possible fires by ensuring that all fire extinguishers are charged and in good working order.

Off-Season Maintenance

Clean your equipment from dirt and mud before storage. Spray with a rust inhibitor to prevent rust from forming.
Contact your local dealership to schedule an annual tune-up for all your equipment.

Routine maintenance should be performed regularly to detect potential problems and eliminate potential costly breakdowns in the future. Create a schedule and stick to it to keep your equipment in optimum condition until the start of the next planting season.

Be Proactive in Equipment Maintenance

Aside from your scheduled activities, it’s also essential to take a proactive approach to maintenance. This means inspecting your equipment before and after usage and solving issues that arise on the spot.

Keep Machinery Clean. It can be challenging to tackle issues with your equipment when dirty. Keep your machinery clean by removing mud, cleaning the filters, and vacuuming the inside to keep it fresh. This also helps to avoid debris from lodging into other moving parts, which can cause problems later on while on the field.
Lubricate Your Equipment. All moving parts should be cleaned and well-lubricated to reduce friction and ensure they are free to move without generating much heat. Use high-quality lubricant to eliminate buildup and ensure smooth operation.
Look For Signs of Wear and Damage. Knowing your machine well is essential to spot irregularities in the way it functions. Irregular vibrations, loud noises, and overheating indicate that something is wrong that needs to be addressed immediately. For instance, hissing may indicate a punctured tire and must be sealed at once. Significant issues will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Create a Maintenance Log

Keep track of all vehicles that need to be serviced and all other maintenance activities by keeping a maintenance log. The log will contain all information about equipment, such as issues encountered, last time servicing was performed, and when it is up for inspection.

The log will also contain information on operators in charge of the equipment and maintenance. In doing so, you can keep track of how the equipment is used and maintained, ensuring accountability across your organization.

Choose the Highest Quality Products For Proper Maintenance

Proper care and maintenance protect your equipment from damage, which ensures its longevity and preserves your investment.

It’s also important to select high-quality products to help sustain your equipment for years to come. With this, agriculture industry leaders trust Berryman Products for durable, innovative and expertly-crafted auto care products. Find a retailer near you.

1. Give Your Car a Good Cleaning

2. Car Games for the Win

3. Have a Tailgate Party

4. Car Camping

5. Drive-In Movie Theaters or Diners

6. Vehicle Tune-Up and Detailing

Share your Hobbies and Make them Fun

Check Your Vehicle’s Transmission

Watch Out for Steering Problems

Bring Spare Tires

Trailer Tire Checkup

Inspect Your Vehicle’s Suspension

Front End Alignment

Get Your Engine Ready for the Summer

Matching Your Hitch Ball to the Trailer

Trailer Safety Chains

Inspect Trailer Lights

Install and Inspect Tow Mirrors

Secure Your Load

Install a Larger Fuel Tank

Use Wheel Chocks

Driving Tips for Safe Hauling and Towing

How Does Diesel Contamination Impact Engine Performance?

What are the Main Signs of Fuel and Engine Contamination?

Blinking Check Engine Light

Clogged Fuel Filters

Failing Fuel Pump

Partial and Total Injector Failure

What are the Causes of Fuel Contamination?

Presence of particulate matter in the fuel

Ingress of water into the fuel tank

Degradation of fuel during storage

Vehicle Maintenance Tips to Remedy Gas Contamination

The Key to Preventing Fuel Contamination

Overheating Warning Signs

Reasons Why Your Engine Might Be Overheating

The cooling system is failing.

Your thermostat is malfunctioning.

The water pump is damaged.

Problems with the radiator.

What To Do When Your Engine is Overheating

Turn off the A/C and crank up the heat.

Pull over to the side.

Check your coolant levels.

Restart the engine.

Call for assistance.

Engine Maintenance Tips to Prevent An Overheating Engine

Only Use Regulated Products in Your Engine

Benefits of Implementing a Robust Farm Equipment Maintenance Plan

Tips to Protect Your Agriculture Equipment

Prepare an Equipment Maintenance Plan

Be Proactive in Equipment Maintenance

Create a Maintenance Log

Choose the Highest Quality Products For Proper Maintenance

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