Types of Gas for Your Rental Construction Vehicle

When you have a job to do, the last thing you want to find out is that you don’t have the right fuel for the job. However, because construction vehicles can require a wide range of fuels and fluids, it’s important to thoroughly assess these as part of your construction plans. You will also want to consider required storage capacity, delivery options, regulatory requirements, and other factors associated with purchasing, handling, and storing your fuel supplies.

Diesel Is King

In the realm of construction vehicles, diesel has long been the king of the construction site. When buying wholesale diesel, start by finding a reputable supplier near the construction site. Confirm they can deliver the capacity and diesel fuel quality you require. If it doesn’t pass the test for density, flash point, distillation, and other quality standards, take a hard pass and move on to the next supplier. It is also imperative to confirm they have multiple fuel sources and that the quality of their fuel is sufficient for your needs.

Give the Gas

Whenever possible, you will want to find a diesel supplier that can also supply the gasoline your trucks and smaller vehicles require. Rather than filling up at the nearest pump, purchasing gasoline at wholesale prices can help trim the cost of the project. As with diesel, you will need to secure the appropriate storage tanks and implement rigid safety protocols to protect your fuel supply from leaks, fire, and theft.

Be Wary of BioDiesel

More than a few companies in the United States have a keen eye on the future, and many have adopted eco-friendly practices to reduce their environmental footprint. However, when it comes to construction, the decision to use BioDiesel blends can be more of a headache than it’s worth. While CAT and many others have designed engines that can run blends of 20-30%, many of these systems deliver inferior performance when compared to running straight diesel.

The variation in fuel quality, unreliability at low temperatures, and caustic composition of many BioDiesel blends can harm engines, making it inadvisable to use BioDiesel for construction rental equipment. Not only could you suffer diminished performance and miss deadlines, but you could also end up damaging the equipment and spend even more money on costly repairs.

Storage Capacity Is Critical

Excavators, trenchers, backhoes, bulldozers, graders, scrapers, etc., guzzle diesel seemingly as fast as you can pour it in the tank. While each make and model is different, you can generally expect the following fuel consumption:

• Bulldozers – 3.5 to 6.5 gallons per hour
• Backhoes – 1.5 to 2.5 gallons per hour
• Small Trencher – 1 gallon per hour
• Large Trencher – 9 to 12 gallons per hour
• Grader – 10 to 12 gallons per hour
• Scraper – 17 to 19 gallons per hour
• Excavator – 10 to 14 gallons per hour

With that in mind:

• You will need to plan sufficient fuel storage for the vehicles you intend to use.
• You will want to make sure that you have the appropriate tanks.
• You will need to adhere to all EPA regulations regarding fuel storage.
• You will need to ensure that your fuel delivery schedule aligns with your construction schedule so that your tanks don’t run dry.
• You will need to invest in security to ensure your fuel storage tanks don’t become golden opportunities for fuel thieves.

We are happy to answer your questions about the best ways to fuel up your construction vehicles and keep their tanks full. We encourage you to contact Central Power Systems & Services at (816) 781-8070 to speak with our team and discover the best practices we recommend.