Beware of free diesel, or draining a quart of water out of the tank.

   / Beware of free diesel, or draining a quart of water out of the tank. #1  

Pete Judd

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2010
Messages
1,013
Location
The Thin Gravy Ranch in The wet PNW
Tractor
Yanmar 186d, JD 314
A friend gave me a couple of 5 gallon jerry cans of diesel because he sold his tractor a while back. Being low on fuel, I grabbed one yesterday, and topped off the tank on my 186d.

Got it warmed up and headed off to my sister in law to do some mowing. Got a little over a quarter mile down the road, and a big puff of white smoke, and the tractor died. Walked home, grabbed some tools hopped in the truck drained a quart of water out of the tank, blead the pump, and #3 injector, and it ran fine again. Got down the bridge across the river, and more white smoke, shut down, and blead another cup of water out of the filter bleed screws. Headed across the valley and half way across, tractor started running on 2 cyl, or less, made a U turn, and limped back to the house, Long ride, the tractor could not maintain any rpm in more than 2nd range.

I guess next step is to drain the tank, new filter, clear all the lines, and start again.
 
   / Beware of free diesel, or draining a quart of water out of the tank. #2  
There are some really good water separators on the market...

A friend sailed round the world and said having the best filters saved him a ton of grief.

For us landlocked tractor owners I'm sure it is overkill.
 
   / Beware of free diesel, or draining a quart of water out of the tank. #3  
I have had only a rare few cars in my shop with water in the fuel and that's the first thing I ask if they added fuel from a can? And if they tell me the truth it is 99% of the time yes. Least you are sharp enough to figure it out and fix it and get back to work lesson learned. :thumbsup:
 
   / Beware of free diesel, or draining a quart of water out of the tank. #4  
   / Beware of free diesel, or draining a quart of water out of the tank. #5  
Aviation bush pilots know that the best filter is felt. Even an old felt hat will do.
Also fine mesh, think that the spec is 100 or maybe 200, works fine.
 
   / Beware of free diesel, or draining a quart of water out of the tank.
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Tractor is back up and running, new fuel, new filter, lines bled. I have a "water seperating" funnel that I keep on the boat, but it is 35 miles away. Will think of taking it off the boat if the boat ever sells.
 

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