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.

 

[KubieTwo]

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

That may be what I have been doing wrong... If I could learn that I might be able to sleep in the house...:thumbsup:

 

[KubieTwo]

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

That must be what I have been doing wrong... If I could learn that I might get to sleep in the house...:thumbsup: When one is reviewing the list of other stupid moves, would it help to keep the list a bit shorter too? I may have to try one or the other of those.

 

[thavil]

Replacing your fuel filter was already mentioned but just want to point out that your tractor has two of them and they both should be replaced. One is on the left side of the engine (take cowl off for easy access) and the other is underneath the tractor near the rear.

 

[akoliver]

Thanks for the advice! You are right, I need to stop saying gas in regards to the tractor, but since I'm the only one who drives it normally, I never think about it.

Yea, it was 87 octane, and she felt pretty bad, mainly because it's causing me more work than if she would have left it alone. We're pretty tight though, and it was an accident, so I'm not too upset and am just trying to get it fixed.
I can pull the fuel tank, blow out the lines and replace the fuel filters, but I'm not sure about pulling the injectors. Is that a big job?
Thanks

 

[ray66v]

she ran my BX2230 out of gas.

If you want to do your part to be sure this mistake is not repeated, you should start with avoiding the confusion that can be caused by not using the correct terminology.

 

[gwdixon]

No need to pull the fuel tank. Just drain it from the bottom.

Before going to too much trouble just try to get as much gas out of everything and then fill with diesel and fire it up. It will take a while for the fuel pump to fill the lines.

The fuel filters can be blown out as well. The injectors don't store much gas to make a difference.

Remember that there are diesel engines that actually require gasoline to start. The old CATs are an example.

 

[radioman]

ouch ! Hopefully nothing is serious on your tractor. I'd follow the guys sound advice, drain tank and replace feul filters. refill with diesel and follow steps in "priming" the BX. Turn key on without glowing plugs and wait till clicking stops and turn off. repeat. You should be able to start normally. Caution, you are going to see black smoke on start up, but it should clear up right away.

 

[bp fick]

And if you are due for an oil change soon, I'd go ahead and do it too. Oil is inexpensive. It only holds three quarts. If there was gas seepage into the crankcase, I'd want it out of there. my 2 cents. It will likely be fine as the others have said.

 

[KubieTwo]

Gasoline lacks the lubrication properties of diesel, so I would also add Power Service or such to try to protect the pump and injectors from further damage while getting any remaining gasoline dilution through the engine.

 

[donn12]

any big purchase that you have had your eye on? looks like if you play your cards right you have a free pass.
In a distracted, quiet, almost hurt voice "I don't care if the motor is ruined, I appreciate you trying to help. I love you...I have been thinking about a new tractor anyway"

I am pretty sure my wife would not touch the tractor unless the garage was on fire and even then its probably 50/50.
Not the same at all but I've seen probably 20 gas cars with diesel and almost none of them have required more than dropping the tank and draining/cleaning everything