Fuel filters keep clogging

[bmschreier]

Hi Everyone,
First post since getting my (new to me) TC30. 2007 with 110 hours. Since January I have been having a problem where the engine starts stuttering and loosing power. It took me awhile the first time, but I solved the problem by replacing the fuel filter. Well, now I have to replace the fuel filter every 10 hours or the same thing starts happening. I've put a couple tanks of fuel through it, from different gas stations, with no difference. I even tried adding Power Service Clear Diesel this last time, but the filter clogged again. I use sta-bil in all my diesel.

At no point have I seen anything more than a few flecks in the bowl, and the filter "looks" brand new (would a filter ever "look" clogged???), but time and again changing the fuel filter fixes the problem. I've probably gone through 4 filters now.

So, I assume this means that my tank is full of some kind of sludge, but with such a low hour tractor, would that be possible? Wouldn't this gunk show up on the filter or in the bowl? Any way to check the tank without removing it? Is there another explanation?

Thanks for any advice!!
Brian

 

[Ed of all trades]

I would siphon the fuel out and put it in a 5 gal bucket so I could see what was in it, If it looks clear I would keep it and use. I might also see if I could pull the fuel line off near the tank and drain the tank into a bucket, that would get more trash ect. than siphoning. Wish you well, Keep us posted.

 

[Mace Canute]

Could it be the cap on the fuel tank is not venting properly?

 

[torrin]

Hi Everyone,
First post since getting my (new to me) TC30. 2007 with 110 hours. Since January I have been having a problem where the engine starts stuttering and loosing power. It took me awhile the first time, but I solved the problem by replacing the fuel filter. Well, now I have to replace the fuel filter every 10 hours or the same thing starts happening. I've put a couple tanks of fuel through it, from different gas stations, with no difference. I even tried adding Power Service Clear Diesel this last time, but the filter clogged again. I use sta-bil in all my diesel.

At no point have I seen anything more than a few flecks in the bowl, and the filter "looks" brand new (would a filter ever "look" clogged???), but time and again changing the fuel filter fixes the problem. I've probably gone through 4 filters now.

So, I assume this means that my tank is full of some kind of sludge, but with such a low hour tractor, would that be possible? Wouldn't this gunk show up on the filter or in the bowl? Any way to check the tank without removing it? Is there another explanation?

Thanks for any advice!!
Brian

I know this is going to sound strange, (especially as you have tried different dealers) but I went to the station closest to my home when I first got my tractor. They had an above ground tank. After running the tractor for 15 to 30 minutes it would start sputtering and dying.

I changed to a station a few miles further away, with an underground tank, and I have not had the problem again. I think that (in my case) the above ground tank is much more sensitive to temperature change and therefore gumming then underground tanks.

This may not be your problem, but I had to change my filters 3 times the first summer and now only once a year (100 hours)

 

[brokenot]

Is it an inline filter that keeps getting plugged? I'm only asking because I work as a mechanic for a rental company and our inventory gets transferred to other branches frequently, and often when the machinery gets back to us we end up having fuel filter plugging issues because inline filters had been installed elsewhere that were never intended for use with diesel fuel. One example that we just cannot seem to get everyone on the same page for, is the common see-through plastic inline filter with a paper element such as CarQuest p/n 86002, (Wix p/n 33002). Lots of people LOVE to put them on everything, because they're able to "see" if the element is getting plugged.

They'll last for a few hours passing diesel fuel and then start plugging up....because, (as it says right in the manufacturer's literature), they're not meant to be used with diesel fuel in the first place.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You have a contaminated fuel system. Diesel bugs. You need to drain your tank completely, wash it out, fresh fuel, fresh filter, biocide, diesel treatment, then watch it closely.

Chris

 

[Leejohn]

Make sure filter is plumbed right.

 

[hosspuller]

Like DP says....Likely you have water and bio sludge in the tank. A real pain, but remove the tank and clean it.
I fought the very same issue. Until I dropped the tank, it kept coming back.

 

[bmschreier]

Thanks for all the replies!

I have tried running the tractor with the fuel cap off once it starts bogging down...no effect. There's no inline fuel filter, just the stock one. The first filter that clogged was a NH, but the rest have been NAPA gold filters (presumably fine for diesel?).

I have drained the tank through the fuel outlet and didn't notice any sludge, but it looks like the next step is to remove the whole thing and clean it more thoroughly. Hopefully that's not as much of a pain as it sounds. The filler neck is bends around a bit...do most people try to get a brush in there and physically clean it, or just put some fuel in and slosh it around?

Thanks again!

 

[bobmisi]

I'm going through the same thing right now with my GMC 3500 diesel and after chasing the problem for quite some time we found the problem to be algae inside the tank. It finally plugged up the filter in the tank to where it would not run. Prior to that it would idle all day, but when you went down the road it would starve for fuel. Fuel tank was the last thing we looked at, but that was the problem. Good luck.

 

[DLTTrekkers]

Same feulliftpump has a strainer inside it .....remove lid and check strainer !

 

[Jim Nelson]

This is a big problem in the marine industry,if you are near the coast you can talk to any marine mechanic and they can help you out. You really need to take the tank off and clean it thoroughly then dry it out and go to fresh fuel,filters and a good biocide to hopefully kill off the little critters living in your system.You really have to be careful of moisture in the fuel because that's what feeds them.

 

[FTG-05]

Thanks for all the replies!

I have tried running the tractor with the fuel cap off once it starts bogging down...no effect. There's no inline fuel filter, just the stock one. The first filter that clogged was a NH, but the rest have been NAPA gold filters (presumably fine for diesel?).

I have drained the tank through the fuel outlet and didn't notice any sludge, but it looks like the next step is to remove the whole thing and clean it more thoroughly. Hopefully that's not as much of a pain as it sounds. The filler neck is bends around a bit...do most people try to get a brush in there and physically clean it, or just put some fuel in and slosh it around?

Thanks again!

Unless you tell us the part numbers, there's no way to tell.

Agree with others: You probably have an algae/contaminated fuel problem. One question: You're not using any fuel with biodiesel are you?

Good luck!

 

[bmschreier]

The filter part number is FIL 3264.

No biodiesel.

I probably won't get around to removing the tank for another month, but I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks for all the help!

 

[Jim Nelson]

You might check to see if there are any fuel polishing services in your area.They pump the fuel from your tank and cycle it through filtration systems and them clean the tank.They are usually a little pricey but maybe worth it .I bought a boat once with twin 3208 Cats and the algae in the tanks ruined the injectors in both engines.Now that's pricey!

 

[Coyote machine]

The filter part number is FIL 3264.

No biodiesel.

I probably won't get around to removing the tank for another month, but I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks for all the help!

You're not going to get another month out of it, and you could do irreparable damage to the injection pump and injectors during whatever time you have left. Fix it now or pay big time in the long run. :confused3:

 

[bmschreier]

Well, I'm not going to be using the tractor in the intervening month so it should be ok. I think I will take the tank into a professional fuel tank servicing place for a proper cleaning too.

But this brings up an interesting point, would it do damage because of the fuel starvation from a clogged filter or from small particles getting past the filter and into the pump? As I mentioned before, it's been a number of months that I have been having this happen and I just keep changing the filters. Hopefully I haven't done much damage...

 

[Diamondpilot]

The filter part number is FIL 3264.

No biodiesel.

I probably won't get around to removing the tank for another month, but I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks for all the help!

When you do take the fuel level sending unit out to gain access to the innards.

As for damage, only time will tell.

Chris

 

[Coyote machine]

Professional tank cleaning.:thumbsup: Damage to downstream components, hard to know. May need to pop test and recalibrate injectors. Injection pump damage, as yet unknown, as stated above.

 

[Jim Nelson]

When I had the problem with the boat I sea trialed it in Ventura,Ca and it ran great,no smoke ,nothing.so I had to hire a skipper to run it to San Diego for me after the deal was done.He had to change both the spin on Cat filters and the Racor filters 3 times and limped in on one engine. This was about a 7 hr. trip.The next morning the boat smoked up the whole marina when I fired it up and by the time it was done I had to replace the injectors in both engines after having the fuel tanks cleaned and polished 3 times.I think it depends on how badly contaminated your tank is,this boat had sat in the water with low fuel levels for over a year.Good Luck..