Diesel engine gradually slows and dies

[Iplayfarmer]

Here's hoping this is one of those easy fixes that I should already know. The engine on my little Massey 1215 will start right up, but then it gradually loses power over about 30 seconds and dies. I'm guessing that it's a fuel filter. The dealer is closed until Monday. If I haven't figured something else out by Monday I'll call and order a fuel filter and hope it works.

 

[mostly_gas]

Any smoke or other symptoms? Fuel filter sounds very possible

 

[brin]

Here's hoping this is one of those easy fixes that I should already know. The engine on my little Massey 1215 will start right up, but then it gradually loses power over about 30 seconds and dies. I'm guessing that it's a fuel filter. The dealer is closed until Monday. If I haven't figured something else out by Monday I'll call and order a fuel filter and hope it works.

If you have nothing else to do until Monday you might want to take the filter out and blow it off and clean the bowl...maybe some water or junk and put the fuel filter back in and you could still use it until you get a new filter..It is a pretty quick thing to do...

 

[Jerry/MT]

Here's hoping this is one of those easy fixes that I should already know. The engine on my little Massey 1215 will start right up, but then it gradually loses power over about 30 seconds and dies. I'm guessing that it's a fuel filter. The dealer is closed until Monday. If I haven't figured something else out by Monday I'll call and order a fuel filter and hope it works.

I presume it's a diesel engine. What's the ambient temperatures that you're operating in? If it's cold, I'd suspect retricted fuel flow from some water in the filter or water separator is limiting fuel flow. I had a case of that last week with temps in the teens. I put a heat gun on the filters and then drained them and reprimed and started and it has run fine since. I'll replace the filters ASAP.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

If you have nothing else to do until Monday you might want to take the filter out and blow it off and clean the bowl...maybe some water or junk and put the fuel filter back in and you could still use it until you get a new filter..It is a pretty quick thing to do...

Okay, I got bored and pulled the filter. The filter had gooey slime all over it. Today it's 36 degrees, but last week we were sub zero. I'm guessing that this slime is gelled diesel. Any ideas on how to get the slime off. I wiped it off with a rag, but the slime is still stuck in the folds. I tried carb spray, but that didn't do much.

 

[blueriver]

Okay, I got bored and pulled the filter. The filter had gooey slime all over it. Today it's 36 degrees, but last week we were sub zero. I'm guessing that this slime is gelled diesel. Any ideas on how to get the slime off. I wiped it off with a rag, but the slime is still stuck in the folds. I tried carb spray, but that didn't do much.

If it has jelled you will need to put the tractor in a heated shed ... when its all thawed out add an anti jell to prevent future problems...

 

[Egon]

A gooey slime may indicate bacterial growth.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. could be biologicals or gelling.. or both.

I think I'd dump some biocide and fuel conditioner with anti gel into the tank, replace the filter, and then bleed her till she ran good at the pump.

use a hair dryer to get stuff going if needed.

soundguy

 

[blueriver]

A gooey slime may indicate bacterial growth.

I've never experienced that ... although I here its pretty common. I have to look and see if the fuel treatment I use as any biocide (sp) in it.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I had already dumped anti-gel into the tank, but I think the gel in the filter happened before I could get the anti-gel in it. At any rate, I drained half the tank and saw no signs of gelling.

Here's the no-fail procedure I found today for de-gelling a fuel filter...

1) put the filter in a plastic bag and stick it in your pocket.
2) go to the local farm store and show them the filter and the gel on the filter.
3) have a lengthy discussion about de-gelling techniques and agree that none of them will really work. Spend more time looking up and cross referencing numbers in the remote hope that they may have a fuel filter on the shelf. (they don't)
4) buy winter blend diesel.
5) come home and drain half your fuel tank. Refill with winter blend diesel.
6) pull the filter out of your pocket and realize that your body heat had warmed the filter to the point that there are no signs of gel on it.
7) put it in the tractor and fire her up.

The tractor is running right now! I'm going to go plow slush now. (it used to be snow, but it's melting now. I have to get it plowed before it freezes into a solid block of ice.)