Bobcat CT230 Diesel engine problem

[CT230 Fan]

I have a Bobcat CT230 compact tractor with a 3 cylinder diesel engine.

I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. We haven't had much snow this year, so I haven't had much use for my tractor this winter, but over the weekend I used it a couple times. I knew I was getting low on Diesel, but I thought I could get the job done before I ran out, which I did. The next day, I put 5 gallons of Diesel in the tank and headed off to where I was going to be working. I made it about a quarter mile or so and I noticed some white smoke coming out of the exhaust. I cut the throttle down and the smoke went away, but when I increased the throttle the smoke came back. I shut it down, looked over the engine, checked the fuel bowl which seemed to look normal. When I restarted the engine, it had a significant power loss and died. It would restart, but then it would die off. I did this about five or six times, and the darn battery went dead on me. I'm not sure if I sucked air into the fuel line, or if maybe some water got into line because I ran the tank down more than I should have.

Any kind of advice would be much appreciated.

 

[MoKelly]

I can't really help you other than to say there have been several threads posted on what to do if you run out of fuel with a diesel engine. It is a problem running out of fuel and your experiences seem consistent with what I have read in these threads. Just search the threads and I think that will help.

Good luck.

MoKelly

 

[k0ua]

I have a Bobcat CT230 compact tractor with a 3 cylinder diesel engine.

I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. We haven't had much snow this year, so I haven't had much use for my tractor this winter, but over the weekend I used it a couple times. I knew I was getting low on Diesel, but I thought I could get the job done before I ran out, which I did. The next day, I put 5 gallons of Diesel in the tank and headed off to where I was going to be working. I made it about a quarter mile or so and I noticed some white smoke coming out of the exhaust. I cut the throttle down and the smoke went away, but when I increased the throttle the smoke came back. I shut it down, looked over the engine, checked the fuel bowl which seemed to look normal. When I restarted the engine, it had a significant power loss and died. It would restart, but then it would die off. I did this about five or six times, and the darn battery went dead on me. I'm not sure if I sucked air into the fuel line, or if maybe some water got into line because I ran the tank down more than I should have.

Any kind of advice would be much appreciated.

Well , I am not a big believer in coincidences. Soooo. I would drain that fuel completely out, checking for any debris that may come out with it, and replace the fuel filter, recharge the battery, and refill with good diesel from another supplier.

My assumption is there has got to be something wrong with that fuel. The quarter mile was the good fuel from the previous fill up still in the lines and bowl. When that was gone, is when you started sucking in what ever is now in the tank, you put in there with this last fill. There was no air in the injector lines or you would not have made it 1/4 of a mile.

Drain it.

 

[Gator6x4]

I only included this web site for review purposes only. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...296942-kioti-lk35-injector-pump-solenoid.html.

I would start with the fuel filter. If it is the glass bowl type with a paper filter inside with a fuel shut off, I would turn the fuel off, loosen the filter and see if fuel comes out when the fuel is turned back on. Catch some of the fuel in a clear jar, quart size 3/4 full and let it set for a few minutes. Be sure and turn the fuel cutoff by off. If you have water in the fuel you will be able to see it when it separates. If no water in the fuel, turn the fuel back on and then retighten the filter. This procedure will lessen the chance of trapping air in the filter.

Some tanks also have a filter in the bottom of the tank. You could have loosen debris in the tank by running the fuel low and clogged this filter if the unit has one.

Last take the fuel tank cap off and smell the contents of the tank, does it smell like diesel?

This is another site to visit for information review: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...662-kioti-injection-pump-failure-warning.html

 

[CT230 Fan]

Well, looks like I will be getting the Darwin award for being stupid. I have always went to the same gas station and pumped diesel from the same two pumps. I ran by after work and realized I pumped freaking premium into my diesel can. Totally my fault, the gas station had fairly recently changed out their pumps and somehow I just plain blew it. Feel like a complete moron, but worse than that, I'm absolutely sick about what I just did to my tractor. I know that tank was pretty darn empty so I just don't know. The only saving grace might be that the battery died before I could have done a ton of damage as I was trying to diagnose my problem. The tractor only ran for a couple minutes or so, and most of that had to be on the diesel that was in the lines and fuel bowl. Once I notice the smoke I stopped, but I did still run it for a moment trying to diagnose the problem. Then shut it down, tried to restart, but it kept stalling out. I just hope and pray that I didn't do any major damage.

So pissed at myself right now.

 

[tcartwri]

Doubtful. And we've all done it....

 

[k0ua]

Well, looks like I will be getting the Darwin award for being stupid. I have always went to the same gas station and pumped diesel from the same two pumps. I ran by after work and realized I pumped freaking premium into my diesel can. Totally my fault, the gas station had fairly recently changed out their pumps and somehow I just plain blew it. Feel like a complete moron, but worse than that, I'm absolutely sick about what I just did to my tractor. I know that tank was pretty darn empty so I just don't know. The only saving grace might be that the battery died before I could have done a ton of damage as I was trying to diagnose my problem. The tractor only ran for a couple minutes or so, and most of that had to be on the diesel that was in the lines and fuel bowl. Once I notice the smoke I stopped, but I did still run it for a moment trying to diagnose the problem. Then shut it down, tried to restart, but it kept stalling out. I just hope and pray that I didn't do any major damage.

So pissed at myself right now.

Well, I did not want to accuse you of putting petrol in the diesel tank, though I suspected it, but I wanted desperately for you to drain that tank. and take out the "bad" fuel.

I doubt it did much damage, Clean it up and go on with life.

 

[roadhunter]

At least you were honest.

I did similar with my truck while talking on the phone one day a few years ago. Too many things going on and not paying attention. Luckily I was next to my store so I drove over and pumped the tank, new filters, and some diesel and I was back in business.

 

[davesl708]

Have to admit I mix up the oil and gas in my chainsaw once. Poor thing tried to run on bar oil.

 

[skyhook]

Let us know if all is good, CT.:drink: