Tractor smoking

[Matt2796]

My tractor is smoking quite a bit and smells like fuel alot, the smoke looks bluish. Wondering what it could be.

 

[TractorTech]

It is burning oil that is slipping by the rings or valve stems. How many hours does it have and do you run it out close to full throttle or do you baby it?

 

[Matt2796]

Has just under 400 hours and I run between 2500 and 2700 rpm when blowing snow.

 

[TractorTech]

But how about the rest of the time, do you run it in the same range?

 

[Mike1955]

It is burning oil that is slipping by the rings or valve stems. How many hours does it have and do you run it out close to full throttle or do you baby it?

Hey Tractor Tech, I have tractors and really don’t know the best ways to run one. I never go full throttle, I know I run to slow bush hogging I’m afraid my old 10 woods will fly all to pieces. Disking and chiseling I go near full throttle. Anyway if you got any comments I’ll learn something. Thank you

 

[Matt2796]

But how about the rest of the time, do you run it in the same ran

But how about the rest of the time, do you run it in the same range?

Wether i'm driving or blowing/pushing snow I run at about 2500, when parked I bring it down to about 1500

 

[Matt2796]

But how about the rest of the time, do you run it in the same range?

Wether i'm driving or blowing/pushing snow I run at about 2500, when parked I bring it down to about 1500

 

[TractorTech]

I mean the rest of the year. How do you use it?
Also, can we assume that this has been getting worse, not all of a sudden?

 

[Matt2796]

I mean the rest of the year. How do you use it?
Also, can we assume that this has been getting worse, not all of a sudden?

I pretty much only use it in the winter time, it's parked during summer. Oil was changed 2 months ago. A few weeks back I had it running in park and noticed the smoke I replaced the fuel filter and air filter after that did not run it until today. This started recently.

 

[TractorTech]

Hey Tractor Tech, I have tractors and really don’t know the best ways to run one. I never go full throttle, I know I run to slow bush hogging I’m afraid my old 10 woods will fly all to pieces. Disking and chiseling I go near full throttle. Anyway if you got any comments I’ll learn something. Thank you

Mike, I assume you are talking about the WM and does it have a hydro transmission? Hydros run at 3/4 to full throttle most of the time to be the most efficient. Lighter loads don't necessarily have to
Any PTO work like bushhogging requires the PTO at 530-550 rpm range to keep the blade tip speed at the correct speed for smooth cutting. This varies tractor to tractor. The PTO is engineered to run around the peak of the torque curve. On some tractors this could be close to full rpm. Whatever the case, you aren't doing your equipment any favors not running at the optimum speed.

Chiseling and disking full speed is fine, but again, you need to run at the upper end of the torque curve which could allow you to throttle back a little.

 

[Dman1981]

Do you put fuel additive in it when it sits?
I put Techron in all my vehicles gas or diesel. Keeps them fresh

 

[jyoutz]

Do you put fuel additive in it when it sits?
I put Techron in all my vehicles gas or diesel. Keeps them fresh

Is Techron diesel rated?

 

[Matt2796]

I pretty much only use it in the winter time, it's parked during summer. Oil was changed 2 months ago. A few weeks back I had it running in park and noticed the smoke I replaced the fuel filter and air filter after that did not run it until today. This started recently

I mean the rest of the year. How do you use it?
Also, can we assume that this has been getting worse, not all of a sudden?

 

[Matt2796]

Do you put fuel additive in it when it sits?
I put Techron in all my vehicles gas or diesel. Keeps them fresh

Yes I use Howes diesel treat.

 

[Peter 315]

Is Techron diesel rated?

They make one for diesel also...

 

[Mike1955]

Thanks, never had diesels till I got old. No issues with them. Most like 50 to 75 hp. Older equipment well maintenanced. I love to hear this old Massey run! Thank you for the detailed advise I will bear that in mind

 

[5030]

Is Techron diesel rated?

NO....

 

[Peter 315]

NO....

Techron Diesel Fuel System Cleaner | Chevron Lubricants (US) Here you go old man...lol

 

[rScotty]

My tractor is smoking quite a bit and smells like fuel alot, the smoke looks bluish. Wondering what it could be.

Did you get an answer to your question? Blue smoke is usually oil burning, and it can come from a variety of places. The most common reason to burn oil is that some oil snuck past too much clearance in the piston rings or valve guides and got into the combstion chamber where it gets burned as fuel. That happens to older engines which develop larger clearances as a result of wear, but exactly the same thing happens to any cold engine. because when engines are cold the clearances are naturally larger. A it reaches operating temperature the parts expand and the clearances become small enough to exclude oil from sneaking into the compbustion chamber.

So it is not unusual for a cold engine to burn oil. Burning a little oil when cold won't hurt anything, and should stop when it gets up to temperature. Obviously it is best to get it up to regular operating temperature before revving it high or loading the engine.

Another source of oil burning can be the also be fuel itself or some additives.
For example, common diesel fuel grades are bunker, diesel #2, and diesel #1. These are gradual changes in grade rather than distinctly different products, and suppliers mix grades in different proportions depending on time of year and cost.
Bunker is heavy diesel somewhat like home heating oil. It burns heavy and smoky. All diesels, even the best ones contain some small proportion of the heavier fuel oils - that's what the different grades are all about. For common diesel engine fuel at the pump, #2 smokes less - sometimes not at all. And #1 is the lighter, cleaner burning automotive diesel you want. They are not distinctly different, and some suppliers use will include additives in their mixture as well. Additives also vary. Some are very much like an oil and some are less so and contain lighter hydrocarbons.

So if your tractor has suddenly decided to throw out some blue smoke, the first thing I'd do is to make sure it is fully warmed up before running high rpm or working it - that goes for any engine. It can take ten minutes or longer on a cold day. Check the temp gauge. Sometimes in the cold it is necessary to block off part of the air flow through the radiator.
And if the warmed engine still smokes then I'd try some new winter fuel from somewhere that sells a lot of passenger car/PU truck diesel.... might even drain out most of the old fuel and replace it. Don't go crazy if you do that, just replace most so as to dilute the old fuel.

My advice is to do those things for a month and see how it goes.
Good Luck,
rScotty

 

[Matt2796]

Did you get an answer to your question? Blue smoke is usually oil burning, and it can come from a variety of places. The most common reason to burn oil is that some oil snuck past too much clearance in the piston rings or valve guides and got into the combstion chamber where it gets burned as fuel. That happens to older engines which develop larger clearances as a result of wear, but exactly the same thing happens to any cold engine. because when engines are cold the clearances are naturally larger. A it reaches operating temperature the parts expand and the clearances become small enough to exclude oil from sneaking into the compbustion chamber.

So it is not unusual for a cold engine to burn oil. Burning a little oil when cold won't hurt anything, and should stop when it gets up to temperature. Obviously it is best to get it up to regular operating temperature before revving it high or loading the engine.

Another source of oil burning can be the also be fuel itself or some additives.
For example, common diesel fuel grades are bunker, diesel #2, and diesel #1. These are gradual changes in grade rather than distinctly different products, and suppliers mix grades in different proportions depending on time of year and cost.
Bunker is heavy diesel somewhat like home heating oil. It burns heavy and smoky. All diesels, even the best ones contain some small proportion of the heavier fuel oils - that's what the different grades are all about. For common diesel engine fuel at the pump, #2 smokes less - sometimes not at all. And #1 is the lighter, cleaner burning automotive diesel you want. They are not distinctly different, and some suppliers use will include additives in their mixture as well. Additives also vary. Some are very much like an oil and some are less so and contain lighter hydrocarbons.

So if your tractor has suddenly decided to throw out some blue smoke, the first thing I'd do is to make sure it is fully warmed up before running high rpm or working it - that goes for any engine. It can take ten minutes or longer on a cold day. Check the temp gauge. Sometimes in the cold it is necessary to block off part of the air flow through the radiator.
And if the warmed engine still smokes then I'd try some new winter fuel from somewhere that sells a lot of passenger car/PU truck diesel.... might even drain out most of the old fuel and replace it. Don't go crazy if you do that, just replace most so as to dilute the old fuel.

My advice is to do those things for a month and see how it goes.
Good Luck,
rScotty

Thanks for you answer. I started the tractor and let it run 30 minutes before I starting doing work with it. The picture of the smoke I posted was about 2 hours after it was started so the engine had plenty of time to get to temperature. I will get some fuel elsewhere and give that a try. FYI the oil was changed 2 months ago I use a semi synthetic blend 10W30, replaced the air filter and fuel filter. If the fuel doesn't fix the issue I will have the dealer pick it up. It has smoked before but never this bad, the dealer removed 2 shims off the fuel pump and the injector pump was recalled last year they replaced it. Thanks for the advice