Bad Fuel?

[Mark Page]

I mow with a 45 hp Massey 231s pulling a 7ft. Woods finish mower. Things run best at 2,000 RPM and the machine will pull or steepest hill without dogging. Last week I went out to mow and it would only give me 1300 RPM. Before I started I added 5 gallons of fuel from 15 gallons I had purchased the week before. The machine probably had 3 or 4 gallons in it before I added the "fresh" fuel. Given these circumstances I decided it had to be fuel.
So I drained the tank and added 5 gallons of fuel from a different source. I cleaned the lift pump filter and changed the main fuel filter and cleaned the sight bowl, although they looked clean.
I ran into a problem with the o-rings on the cannister filter. It was if they were too large for the new filter. The new filter didn't come with o-rings so I had to use the old ones. My question is can diesel fuel cause rubber to expand? I fooled with it for about an hour and quit in frustration. After an angry call to the Massey dealer I bought the machine from a new main filter is on the way with o-rings.
Everything was fine until I added the fresh 5 gallons.

 

[JoelD]

I wonder if it is a coincidence?

Odd that fuel would restrict RPM, rough idle or rough run I would get, or run no run I'd get, but low RPM not so much.

Do you have an air restriction?

Just seems like an odd fuel sympton.

Also, I can't say when I last had bad fuel for anything.

With gas I've had trouble with it sitting, but never a bad batch, much less diesel.

Joel

 

[Egon]

Might be an idea to drain the fuel tank to make sure any contaminates are gone. Also bleed well after the injector pump.

Use a fuel conditioner when refilling tank.

 

[Andy in Gap]

Were the O rings too big for the old filter? Is it possible that they are allowing air to pass into the fuel system?

 

[5030]

I wonder if it is a coincidence?

Odd that fuel would restrict RPM, rough idle or rough run I would get, or run no run I'd get, but low RPM not so much.

Do you have an air restriction?

Just seems like an odd fuel sympton.

Also, I can't say when I last had bad fuel for anything.

With gas I've had trouble with it sitting, but never a bad batch, much less diesel.

Joel

Stay away from B20 bio-diesel. I'm currently dealing with red algae in my pickup truck. Bio grows slimy red algae and the cure is expensive.....

 

[Boeing]

Limited RPM with smooth operation sounds like a fuel BLOCKAGE or restriction, not "bad" fuel. The fuel PUMP mught have a problem or a blockage in the fuel supply and or lines. I think your problem is inadequate AMOUNT of fuel getting to the cylinders.
Good luck:confused2:

 

[JoelD]

Stay away from B20 bio-diesel. I'm currently dealing with red algae in my pickup truck. Bio grows slimy red algae and the cure is expensive.....

Will the "white" bottle fuel additive help with this?

I've started adding to my diesel.

Joel

 

[cowski]

blow the fuel line out between the filter and tank.

 

[Soundguy]

i agree.. a diesel that starts and runs at lower rpms. but can't make higher rpms, and is not making black smoke is usually a fuel starvation issue.

soundguy

 

[Mark Page]

Why is it that the machine runs fine 1 day and not the next after adding fuel. This is not something that has been creeping up on me. It ran great on Tuesday and not on Wednesday. Now if i could only get the filter assembly reinstalled. Waiting on UPS now.

 

[Soundguy]

check the tanks for water..

soundguy

 

[5030]

It's certainly fuel starvation. I checked the pressure at the Schrader valve on the fuel bowl (after cleaning everything carefully and removing the red gunk and replacing the filter (which had no visible pleats because it was loaded with algae). I have 85 pounds at idle but throttling up the engine drops the pressure to about 7 pounds..... and it's the rear tank with the longest fuel line run.

I don't believe non bio ULSD exhibits the red algae symptoms. It's the soy bean oil that grows the gunk, at least I presume.

Not sure that Power Service or Lucas diesel additive retards algae growth but I know the Bio-Kleen kills it. The Bio-Kleen has some serious precautions listed on the bottle including it's a potent herbicide and not to dispose of the empty bottle anywhere it may come in contact with drinking water and it's not cheap. Around 20 bucks (my cost) for a 16 ounce bottle.

It stinks worse than Stabil.

I had heard the reputable petroleum distributors were adding it to their squirt trucks prior to delivery of farm diesel (B-20) but in my case I guess my distributor didn't as I not only have the red gunk in my pickup (on road) but in my farm tank (off road red dyed B20) as well.

No more B20 at this farm. The aggrivation outweighs the 'going green' aspect.

If I can't get the pickup to pick up on the back tank, I will remove the lines and blow them out. Just a PITA. My 7.3's lift pump (and fuel tank connections) are behind the fuel bowl, in the valley, in front of the turbo, against the firewall.

It literally runs out of fuel, starts stumbling and finally dies. No white smoke, nothing. If I leave it sit for 5 minutes it starts right back up and runs for a few minutes and then repeats the scenario. I suspect a clog of gunk in the fuel line and letting it sit for a few minutes allows enough fuel past to start the engine.

It has a terrible flat spot when loading the engine and calling for fuel too.

If blowing out the lines don't do it, I suspect I'll be replacing the lift pump at 400 bucks.

Lesson learned.... No more bio diesel. Nada, zip.

 

[Soundguy]

Power service FOR SURE makes a biocide. It's not their regular 'white' bottle, and is a seperate container. but I use it in my bulk tank. Have used it for years. started using it after picked up a black gunk from a load of fuel, and the stuff liked to plug filters, streens and tank taps..

soundguy

 

[5030]

Power service FOR SURE makes a biocide. It's not their regular 'white' bottle, and is a seperate container. but I use it in my bulk tank. Have used it for years. started using it after picked up a black gunk from a load of fuel, and the stuff liked to plug filters, streens and tank taps..

soundguy

It's Powerservice Bio Kleen. It's expensive and smells as bad as Stabil. Ith's 20 bucks a pint my cost at the dealership with my employee discount.

It works, kills the goo but turns it to a gritty dead carcass so you have to clean out the gritty carcasses anyway. Thats where I'm at right now.

 

[Soundguy]

well the 'bodies' have to go somewhere..

soundguy