STEP AS-ACCESS 4902872 - Caterpillar

Fuel Information
Fill the fuel tank at the end of each day of operation to drive out moist air and to prevent condensation.Do not fill the tank to the top. Fuel expands as it gets warm and may overflow.Do not fill the fuel filters with fuel before installing them. Contaminated fuel will cause accelerated wear to the fuel system parts.
Drain the water and sediment from the fuel tank at the start of a shift or after the fuel tank has been filled and allowed to stand for 5 to 10 minutes.After changing the fuel filter, always prime the fuel system (if equipped with a priming pump) to remove air bubbles from the system.Drain water and sediment from any fuel storage tank weekly, and before the tank is refilled. This will help prevent water or sediment being pumped from the storage tank into the machine fuel tank.Use only fuel as recommended in this section.Fuel Heaters
Use of a fuel heater can help eliminate some cold weather problems. A fuel heater should be installed so that the fuel is heated before it goes into the first or primary fuel filter.Select a fuel heater that is mechanically simple, yet adequate for the application. The fuel heater should also prevent overheating of the fuel. Disconnect or deactivate the fuel heater in warm weather.A loss of engine power will occur if the fuel supply temperature exceeds 30°C (85°F). Use only thermostatically controlled or self-regulating fuel heaters as recommended. Do not use fuel heaters in warm temperatures.For further information on fuel heaters, contact your Caterpillar dealer.Fuel Types
Diesel engines have the ability to burn a wide variety of fuels. These fuels are divided into two general groups, preferred and permissible.The preferred fuels provide maximum engine service life and performance. They are distillate fuels. They are commonly called diesel fuel, furnace oil, gas oil or kerosene.The permissible fuels are crude oils or blended fuels. Use of these fuels can result in higher maintenance costs and reduced engine service life.Refer to "Fuel Recommendations for Caterpillar Diesel Engines," Form SEHS7067, for a detailed summary of preferred and permissible fuels and their specifications.Refer to "Diesel Fuel and Your Engine" Form SEBD0717 for information about fuel properties, such as ignition quality, gravity/density, viscosity, cloud point, sulfur content, etc.Fuel Cetane Requirement
The minimum fuel cetane number recommended for the direct injection engine is 40.Fuel Cloud Point
Fuel waxing can plug the fuel filters in cold weather. The fuel cloud point must be below the temperature of the surrounding air to prevent filter waxing and power loss. Fuel heating attachments are available from your Caterpillar dealer to minimize fuel filter waxing.Fuel Sulfur Content
The percentage of sulfur in the fuel will affect the engine oil recommendations. Fuel sulfur is chemically changed during combustion to form both sulfurous and sulfuric acid. These acids chemically attack metal surfaces and cause corrosive wear.Certain additives used in lubricating oils contain alkaline compounds that are formulated to neutralize these acids. The measure of this reserve alkalinity in a lubricating oil is known