BX25 - Smoke

[Delphicoder]

Hi there.

I purchased my first tractor a few weeks back after reading as much as I can on these boards. I picked up a new BX25 from the dealer for a good price. Anyway, I have about nine hours on it now. I live in VA, and the weather has been getting a little cooler now with fall on is. What I notice is that when I start the tractor now, there is a puff of white/gray smoke comes out. Also, once the other day it occurred while I accelerated from my working spot.

Cause for alarm/concern? I realize I am probably just being too cautious. I also read where some folks put in a fuel additive, E-85 I think. I can't say if I remember the puff prior to a new fill up of fuel, so maybe it is related to the diesel fuel I put in.

Here are two pics I took of the tractor after the first day I got it, and spent a few hours trying it out.

 

[repete]

Sometimes in cooler weather you can get a tad of smoke. Since diesel uses the heat of compression to cause the burn, if it is a cold engine it may not completely burn the first shot or two from the injector.

Sometimes when it is cold I will crank mine with the shutdown pulled then after a few good spins I release the lever letting the fuel to it and it does not tend to load it with unburnt fuel.

I do not see it a much of a cause for concern. If it did it for more than 20-30 seconds I would look for an issue.

 

[bp fick]

Nice tractor, man, how wonderful.

By E-85 you didn't mean ethanol, did you? I assume you know never to use that stuff.

What you want is a good, reputable diesel additive. Buy it at WalMart, a truck stop, or Tractor Supply type store. I like the "white bottle" myself.

If you suspect your fuel, just drain it into a plastic jug and start over. It isn't worth worrying about. drain it under your BX by disconnecting the fuel line at a filter connection point. Easy.

Refill with fuel from a busy gas station or truck stop. That is what I would do. Shoot it's only a few gallons.

Again, Nice BX!!!

 

[Delphicoder]

Thanks for the quick replies! I am totally new to the tractor thing. I read and read the manual, hoping not to do something stupid. But, I do stupid things regardless. Like the other day after back hoe work, I turned the seat around, raised the stabilizers, and drove for about 15 feet, and thought that it was not moving too fast and seemed under pressure. Dang it, I left the parking brake on. After that, I make a mental note to always tap the brake pedal twice before moving the tractor.

I bought the tractor for a bunch of small stumps to get up, and I am getting pretty good now with practice. Dug up four yesterday. most of all the stumps I am working with are pine trees. Learned quickly they tend to be the worst due to tap roots.

Anyway, I really like this forum, and have learned a great deal in a few short weeks. I plan on ordering a tooth-bar and bro-tek skid plates this week.

 

[Chilly807]

Like repete said, I don't think you have a cause for concern just yet. Mine does the same thing on initial start. The way a diesel governor works, it provides maximum fuel to the injectors anytime the engine is "under speed", such as at startup. Turbocharged engines are a bit different, they often have a fuel limiter that prevents maximum fuel delivery until there's enough boost to burn it properly.
With cold cylinders, the fuel doesn't burn completely and you'll get a puff of bluish grey smoke until the cylinder temperature rises enough to burn the fuel better. You probably don't see it as much when starting the engine after it's warm.
As the temperature outside drops, it may get worse and last a bit longer. If you're really concerned, give the dealer a call and see what they say. They know the machine best, and should be able to tell you if it's normal or not.

Chilly

 

[TripleR]

I have a BX2660; think it is the same engine and it does the same thing. I don't use an additive, but have occasionally run some HEET ESO when I got a little water accumulation.

If you get a short puff while under operation, it may be due to a sudden load or just a small amount of bad fuel sloshing up.

I put a ton off hours on my old BX2200 and it did the same.

Some people use an additive to stop the growth of fungus, but most of the farmers I know don't.

 

[gwdixon]

All of my tractors have a brief puff of smoke at start up. As others have said, you might be concerned if it smokes heavily under load.

Just visit a truck stop and watch what happens when the long-haulers start their diesel engines. Now that is smoke. They make their livings based on the condition of their engines and don't seem concerned about a black cloud at startup.

 

[tommu56]

At 9 hours it is barely broken in too!

At 250 on my 23 it will smoke at start up at anything under 50 deg. unless it was still warm from last run.
I don't have the luxury of a block heater and it has started down to 0 with out any difficulty given the right amount of glow plug time she will still smoke for the first 2 or 3 seconds.

tom

 

[radioman]

I hope you didnt put e85 in it. Thats for gas engines. If you want to put something else besides dino diesel- then look for fuel that starts with a B like b25 , b100. I wouldn't use B100 in winter since it gells up more easily with temps below 20's.

If you are having white puffs every time you step on forward or reverse pedal, perhaps you have the rpms too low. 1600-1800 is a nice round number for variety of things on the BX like driving around, move FEL up and curl with no load setting up to remove equipment. Using fel, BH heavy loads, pto usage, I'd bump it up into the 2k range. Keep in mind the manual says do these things in the PTO rated speed which is at a engine screaming speed at 3200 RPMS which is nearly WOT.

The diesel enthusaists here will tell you to use the diesel additives like power service, howe's treat. I use the power service in white bottle since I use my BX in the cold, windy, freezing weather often. There nothing wrong with using the gray bottle since it will boost the cetane number and add lubricity.

Congrats on your new toy - err I mean tool.

 

[LBrown59]

Hi there.
1*Cause for alarm/concern? I realize I am probably just being too cautious.
2* I also read where some folks put in a fuel additive, E-85 I think.

1*Nope ;it's normal.
2*I't not E85
The correct additive is Power service in a white bottle.
The mix I use :
1 quart per 55 gallon of fuel.
1/2 Qt. per 30 gallon of fuel.
3 ounces per 5 gallon of fuel.