A DESIGN flaw in a new piece of diesel engine technology created to reduce soot emissions in new utes has left hundreds of farmers stranded, unable to drive over their stubbles safely.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There have been reports of the diesel particulate filters starting stubble fires.
The filters are a feature on new model diesel utes as part of a push to reduce particulate matter pollution, and farmers are now unwilling to take utes with the new feature over grassy areas.
It means diesel vehicles fitted with the new DPFs will have to be treated the same way as petrol vehicles, which have catalytic converters that also run hot, and be left only for on-road use.
Late last year Ford issued recall notices for its Ranger series of utes, while Mazda took the same step for its BT-50 range, while there is speculation there may be other popular models set to be called back to fix the flaw.
It has been reported there have been more than 20 fires in Ranger and BT-50 utes fitted with the new DPF systems.
Natimuk farmer Michael Sudholz said he was lucky a fire started by his Ford Ranger ute at harvest did not cause more damage.
He said the fire burnt 60 hectares of crop and stubble and he was initially puzzled as to how the fire started.
“Generally, at harvest, you automatically think of the header – but it was the wrong side of the paddock. We had to go around asking who was where in the paddock before we realised it had to be the ute,” Mr Sudholz said.
“You get pretty used to being able to drive everywhere in a diesel vehicle so it came as a bit of a shock that this DPF was running so hot and that we couldn’t safely drive on stubbles.
“We have had to change the way we do things in terms of paddock access.”
Mr Sudholz said the family was now using an older diesel vehicle, without the DPF, to drive across paddocks.
“We have two Rangers and to not be able to use them in the paddocks is pretty frustrating. You have the ute for work purposes and not to be able to use them is annoying – but obviously safety is everyone’s major priority. We want to keep down the risk of a fire at this time of year when everything is so dry.”
Mr Sudholz said there had been no mention of potential fire risk prior to purchasing the vehicle.
He said he had been in contact with Ford since the incident, who acknowledged there was a problem but said as yet there were not parts to fix the issue.