Oil & Fuel 4010 acting like it has water in fuel

[RalphVa]

I gave into my wife's suggestion to use off road diesel because it's cheaper (only 4 cents/gallon at Exxon). I'd been using B5 in my 4010.

I put a couple gallons of the off road into the 3.75 gallon tank. A couple times now after running for 30 minutes to an hour, it has shown symptoms like its getting bits of water in the fuel. Second time this happened, I put an old fuel filter in place and got it back in the garage. First time, I just nursed it back, added some fuel additive and topped off with kerosene (more solubility for water and just in case it was gelling). Only noticeable water was MAYBE a tiny bubble puddle in the bottom of the fuel bowl and possibly some ice pellets on the fuel filter I removed.

Decided to take back the off road. I ended up spending about 45 minutes this morning at the Exxon station to exchange the 3 containers of off road for on road diesel. They refunded my money and poured the off road stuff back in the tank after some testing and insisting that their tanks were dry; they also tested my partly used container before pouring it back. I bought some on road B5 to fill the 3 containers. Took them home and drained off the last of the fuel through the fuel filter and replaced the filter and refilled the tank. (Would you believe that I forgot to use the Mr. Funnel that arrived this afternoon? However, I went through my usual filling routine that I've been doing for 6 years.)

Used the tractor for about an hour before it started acting like it was getting bits of water again. Doubt it's water now unless there was some hiding in the tank recesses. There doesn't seem to be any tiny puddle in the bottom of the bowl. Could it be the flexible lines to/from the fuel filter are collapsing after they get warm? I change the fuel filter by taking it loose from the tractor frame and rotate the assembly up about 90 degrees on the flex lines to get at the ring holding the fuel bowl/filter in place. Could this have damaged these lines after only 6 years? I nursed it back to the house at around 1500 rpm over about 3/4 mile. It shuddered maybe once on the way back but didn't die. It died just as I was pulling into the garage up the ramp. Restarted fine, and I drove it into the garage.

Anyone have any ideas?

Ralph

 

[beenthere]

No ideas off hand. Maybe there is a key to using the tractor for 30 min to an hour before it acts up again? Is the old filter still "back on" ?

Cannot imagine anyone would take back your fuel and pour it back into their tanks. That right there would make me suspicious what other fuels they returned to their tanks. But you did, and that isn't the question here. And you originally saved 60 cents ?

 

[RalphVa]

He tested his tank and said it was clear. They use some goo on the bottom end of the dipstick that shows if water is there. So, he declared the fuel has no water and showed me the analyses that they had done before it was delivered. He said my fuel should be water free. So, I said that it should be no problem with my putting it back into his tank. He tested my partly used 5 gallon container with the same kind of dipstick and goo. Then he poured the fuel back in the tank. What else do you do with it? It would cost me way more than the cost of the fuel to get the equipment to run it through to make sure it was clean myself. You can't just pour the stuff out. He gets to resell that fuel, which he insisted was clean. It probably was, since I'm still having similar troubles.

Read stuff in the Owner's Manual last night. Possible my fuel cap vent is plugged, as these events happened with my fuel tank chock full of fuel. Another possibility is the inner air filter maybe needs changed. I gotta check and see if I've ever replaced it. I keep all the old stuff to make sure they get the right parts when I get new.

 

[AKfish]

Read stuff in the Owner's Manual last night. Possible my fuel cap vent is plugged, as these events happened with my fuel tank chock full of fuel. Another possibility is the inner air filter maybe needs changed. I gotta check and see if I've ever replaced it. I keep all the old stuff to make sure they get the right parts when I get new.

My first thought was "air cleaner". Was wondering if you were blowing snow or moving quite a bit of snow and sucked in alot of moist, snow-laden air?

Then, after sitting for 30 minutes the engine heat dries things out a bit and it starts.

But, the fuel cap vent sounds like a possible culprit, too!

Most often, I leave my tractor parked outside in a vinyl "carport". Whenever I leave the tractor overnight in the heated garage and then back outside and then back in the garage - lot's of opportunity for condensation with the "hot-cold" temp changes - I'll throw in some of that red-bottle Heet (approved for diesel use) or PowerService 911. Just in case.

You've got a puzzle, there. Like to hear how things work out.

AKfish

 

[AKfish]

And you originally saved 60 cents ?

I typically save around $1.20/gallon for "off-road" vs at the pump! Right now, it's $2.65 vs $3.82.

AKfish

 

[sunnyside360]

Sounds similar to a problem my neighbor was having. Turned out he was getting air into the fuel through a very small crack in the top of the fuel filter bowl assembly. The entire fuel filter container/assembly was replaced. It was a very difficult problem to find and the tractor was only about one year old. Good luck.

 

[RalphVa]

Think I found the problem. The tractor ran fine this afternoon.

I emptied the tank again and looked in there. There were some white/yellow globs near the fuel outlet from the tank. I fished them out with a grabber tool. Also fished out a plastic cap that I'd dropped in there a long time ago. Back blew both the line to the fuel filter and the return line. Refilled the tank through my Mr. Funnel with the fuel that I'd taken from the tank when it first started having troubles. Some of the last dregs of that fuel wouldn't go through the Mr. Funnel or wanted to just dribble. I discarded that bit.

I also replaced the inner air filter, as it had never been replaced (424 hours). The 4010 has both and inner and an outer air filter. The dealer says the inner one seldom needs replacing.

I checked the fuel cap vent. It was open.

The tractor actually started up without any chugging that normally occurs in the cold (was about the mid 30s).

I had air and fuel leakage problems due to old rubber lines between the steel lines at both the engine and fuel tank on our 1983 Benz at around 12-13 years of age. The fuel lines developed radial cracks. The cracks caused air leakage on the suction of the primary fuel filter and leaked fuel at the tank. All the lines had to be replaced.

Ralph

 

[mfreund]

If you think you have water, use Powerserve 911. It has alcohol which will absorb the water in the tank. Do not use it more than necessary though because the alcohol is hard on rubber fuel lines. If you have water it likely could be from condensation. The fuel warms when running and after you shut it off the vent in the tank draws outside air into the tank. I have never had trouble with water before this year and had mine freeze up once. I always have the tank full for winter and still had it. Nothing is worse than a tractor that won't run when you need it!!!