GC2300 - I think it's frozen

hallbax · Jan 20, 2008

Yesterday it was about zero degrees here, and my 2300 stopped running. It will run for a few seconds, then stop. I removed the fuel filter and it had a yellowish sludge on it. Gelled fuel? What should I do? The fuel came from the local service station and I purchased it in December, so it should be winter blend.

Also, the owners manual says I should be able to bleed the lines to get out air, but my fuel filter set-up does not look the same as the illustration in the owners manual. Will I need to bleed the fuel line after pulling the filter?

Thanks - this is my first diesel, i really like it, but this cold weather is a real bugger.

Tim

hallbax · Jan 20, 2008

Also, I might have to tow it into the garage - and I could not see anything in the owner's manual about the proper way to do this. Hydro in neutral, 4WD off, . . . anything else? It would be easier to two in the forward direction using the bucket. Would that be OK?

Egon · Jan 20, 2008

Easiest to throw a tarp over it and put a small electric heater under the tarp It'll warm things up so get it in the garage and add some conditioner.

ChuckinNH · Jan 20, 2008

Good thought Egon....... maybe even a heavy duty extension cord with a light bulb would provide enough heat under a cover.

Rob2310 · Jan 20, 2008

This happened to me last winter. I had to take my four wheeler and pull it back to the house in neutral. I put a tablespoon of NAPA Fuel conditioner in it and had no other problems.

DEWFPO · Jan 21, 2008

Agreed, get it running and put some anti-gel conditioner in the fuel. I actually found #1 at a Co-Op nearby and that's what I use in the winter. There is some stuff you can throw into the tank when it's all gelled up, but I can't remember the name of it right now. It's not something you throw in as a anti-gel maintainer, but something you throw in when it's already gelled and won't run.

DEWFPO

philbuilt · Jan 21, 2008

NAPA sells a product called Diesel Power. There are two flavors.
One is use when your fuel has jelled and the other is used as a preventative.
Phil

JerryG · Jan 21, 2008

Get you a bottle of PowerService 911. Fill the fuel bowl with it and then dump some more in the tank. Start it up and go.

hallbax · Jan 21, 2008

Thanks for the advice - I pulled it into the garage, got it warmed up a bit - replaced the fuel filter, got some fuel additive and added it to the tank - charged the battery up, and then got it started.

I let it run for 15 mintes or so, and I think I am good to go. Thanks for the quick and accurate advice - I do like the tractor. I hope we are soon to see the last of the below zero temps here in central Iowa.