97 octane in BX2230

[akoliver]

Was hoping I'd never have to ask this question;

I am out of town and my wife wanted to do me a favor and mow so I'd have one less thing to do when I got home... As might be expected, she ran my BX2230 out of gas. Filled it up with 97 octane and tried to mow until it wouldn't run anymore.
I don't even know where to start....
Do I just take it to the dealer and apply for another credit card?
What can the average joe do to clean out the system and determine just how bad the damage is?

 

[tony3542]

Akoliver,
I don't have an answer,but I feel your pain.Hope it works out...
Tony

 

[gwdixon]

I went through the exact same thing. It is not really too bad to fix. Drain the gas out of the tank and lines as well as possible. If you have an air hose you can disconnect lines and blow out the gas (be particularly careful of sparks and flames nearby). Fill the tank with fresh diesel.

The tractor will actually run on gas for a while until it gets too hot. That will run the remaining gas out of the lines and injectors. The diesel will then be in the system and you will be done. See...simple. It is likely that no damage has been done.

 

[Duffster]

Was hoping I'd never have to ask this question;

I am out of town and my wife wanted to do me a favor and mow so I'd have one less thing to do when I got home... As might be expected, she ran my BX2230 out of gas. Filled it up with 97 octane and tried to mow until it wouldn't run anymore.
I don't even know where to start....
Do I just take it to the dealer and apply for another credit card?
What can the average joe do to clean out the system and determine just how bad the damage is?

Sorry I can't help with the current issue but can help you keeping it from happening again.

You need to get this word "gas" out of your vocabulary, at least when talking about the tractor.

If "she ran my BX2230 out of gas" then the appropriate thing to do in her eyes would be to fill it with "gas".

 

[KeithInSpace]

...get this word "gas" out of your vocabulary...

I concur. My wife has 0.00001 hours of seat time on the tractor and I am quite certain that she knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that is is diesel.

Now all I need to do is make sure that she doesn't pick up that OTHER otherwise identical yellow can that has "Kerosene" scrawled in Sharpie pen on the handle. Couldn't blame her for that mistake...

 

[Slade]

I have a BIG sign in the garage over the fuel containers that reads: The Orange Tractors Only Drink From the Yellow Containers. Seems to work.

 

[funwithahoe]

Where did she get 97 Octane?? In pennsylvania we have 87, 89, and 91(or92). Nonetheless, I am not sure I can give you tractor advice but I can give you marriage advice - Thank her for trying to help and keep your "yapper" shut! In the end you will both be happier. No one wins from an extended discussion on how stupid that was and I agree with previous poster - "Get the word gas outta your tractor vocab!!"

 

[DiezNutz]

Where did she get 97 Octane??

I was wondering the same. Figured it was a typo and OP meant 87 (?)

Agree, don't make her feel stupid. She was trying to do you a favor, out of the kindness of her heart. If you had never explained to her the tractor takes only Diesel, or she didn't already understand that, it's hard to fault her. She might be scared to do anything to help ever again.

My wife drives a Diez-el so she would have no such excuse. Diez-els nearly outnumber gassers at my house... we say "fuel".

 

[DiezNutz]

What can the average joe do to clean out the system and determine just how bad the damage is?

Depends on how mechanically inclined "Average Joe" is.

At a minimum, the tank, filter (replace), lines, pump, & injectors should be drained/purged. Injectors pulled & cleaned.

If you're lucky, with some fresh Diesel you'll be on your way again. Unfortunately, it sounds like she ran it dry, then filled it with gas, then ran it till it quit. Which means there's pure gas in the system, and that's the worst-case scenario for lasting damage to pump & injectors.

You won't know till you try.

 

[Duffster]

Now all I need to do is make sure that she doesn't pick up that OTHER otherwise identical yellow can that has "Kerosene" scrawled in Sharpie pen on the handle. Couldn't blame her for that mistake...

At least that really won't hurt it.