Kubota Gas vs Kubota Diesel engine option

[Industrial Toys]

It's hot here. I'm picking rocks (in the hot sun), and to make that choice between a cold beer and premium gas would be difficult.

 

[MossRoad]

Why do people use ethanol fuel in small engines when the alcohol causes problems ?

The alcohol doesn't cause problems. The owners not following manufacturers instructions, and, instead, doing things the way their grandpa did causes problems. :laughing:

 

[buickanddeere]

The alcohol doesn't cause problems. The owners not following manufacturers instructions, and, instead, doing things the way their grandpa did causes problems. :laughing:

If no other changes than using non ethanol premium from ethanol regular . What more proof so you need ?

 

[Egon]

Did I ever mess up. Last fall shut down and put away my gas lawnmower with an almost full tank of regular gas. This spring it started on the first pull!

Now there's nothing to rant and rave at such as the old was better, new gasoline is no good and so on!

 

[John Joseph McVeigh]

The Ventrac doesn't operate like your D1105 or RTV. So that is not going to help but thank you anyway.

The Ventrac automatically activates the glow plugs on first turn of the ignition. No special positions required. After about 4 seconds it goes out. I believe most operators turn the key, wait for the glow plug light to go out, start, and then have an engine that will run and not die. Not me.

I've tried cycling the switch on/off several times before turning the engine over to start and that seems to help. Giving it several glow plug cycles before cranking. But it is still cold blooded and sometimes needs at least several tries before it will start and stay running.

Any other thoughts from those with experience operating Ventrac diesels? I did not see any air bubbles in the fuel lines / filter / water separator.

If the tractor is still under warranty, I would raise this issue with the dealer. The Kubota diesel engine should start much more easily than you describe.

 

[John Joseph McVeigh]

In many cases, premium does not have ethanol in it. I know that since I have switched our gasoline powered small engines to premium only, we have had less issues with fuel storage causing carburetor problems. Granted, we have also been using stabil and seafoam, so who knows what the true cause is.

Aaron Z

Whether or not premium-grade gasoline contains ethanol seems to depend upon location. A few years ago, I was in the area to the Southeast of Albany, New York, and I purchased some fuel at a filling station associated with a convenience store (Stewart's Shops). According to a sticker on the fuel pump, the premium-grade gasoline did not contain ethanol. The regular grade and the middle grade both did contain 10% ethanol, according to the sticker.

I believe that Sea Foam contains isopropyl alcohol. That said, the amount of alcohol that one would be adding to a tank of fuel by adding some Sea Foam would be much less than what is already in the tank of the fuel is E10 (10% ethanol).

 

[John Joseph McVeigh]

I believe that gasoline will age more gracefully if the tank is closer to full than it will age if the tank is closer to empty. Temperature also plays a role. The lower the temperature, the slower the rate of chemical reactions.

 

[John Joseph McVeigh]

In some places, it can be, or at least used to be, difficult to find gasoline that did not contain ethanol. Now that fuels such as TruFuel 4-cycle engineered fuel are available at hardware stores, auto-parts stores, and big-box stores, getting ethanol-free fuel is much easier, although one will pay for it. A gallon can of TruFuel 4-cycle engineered fuel costs approximately $20 (USD 20).

 

[MossRoad]

If no other changes than using non ethanol premium from ethanol regular . What more proof so you need ?

Take the spoon out of you coffee cup....

 

[Sawyer Rob]

All I can tell you is, when I QUIT buying ethanol fuel, ALL of my carb problems went away!

I found a fuel station that has NO-E premium and that's what all of my small carbed gas engines get!

In the long run, it's saving me money...

SR