Kubota L3200 stalled after running kerosine

[the old grind]

If you pull injectors, at least bleed them THEN. If there's water in them, I'd worry about wear more than metal 'swelling' or 'shrinking' once heated to 'blue'. (past experience heat-treating alloy tool steels)

Both my CUTs (CNH/Shibaura) have o'flow lines to carry excess fuel back to pump. When servicing the fuel system I've found that they will not fully bleed injectors every time, so I do so manually. That said, bleeding a few oz/bubbles/water (yes, water sometimes) at just one restores smooth running.

Bleeding the pump supply will not for sure flush individual injector lines, and 'return' lines from them could have, by now, returned some water to tank that had stayed from the first shot of kero. :2cents::2cents:

 

[Grumpa Wally]

Thanks for posting your experiences Lockmedic. It's the very reason I fuel my tractor only from reliable diesel sources and use a Mr. Funnel every time. Maybe by your sharing, you will save someone else a lot of trouble and stress.

 

[4570Man]

That smoke looks like it’s burning water to me. I wouldn’t change the injectors yet.

 

[CincyFlyer]

In the aviation world, all of the diesel aircraft engines use Jet-A (which is available world-wide), which is [tada!] kerosene. The most popular engines are based on Mercedes-Benz 2.0 Turbo Diesels of the road going variety. I have no clue as to what is changed on the system to make it work with Jet-A, but I've been told that the engine proper is bone stock. So pump and injectors are essentially all that's left to modify. Kerosene does have some lubricity, as does gasoline, but not as much as diesel fuel. But, and this has been mentioned here in the past, modern diesel engines will happily run on ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, which has much lower lubricity than "the old stuff" from years back, due to chemical changes that occur during desulfurization.
So I'm voting "contamination" as the cause, rather than the simple fact that kerosene was used.

 

[ruffdog]

With a light, can you see the bottom of the fuel tank when looking through the hole? You normally can see when water is pooling at the low spots. If it were mine, I would use my oil sucker (you use it to change oil in personal water craft through the dipstick hole) to suck up some fuel from the bottom of the tank (water). Once you know your tank is water free.....move down stream.

Schwaben 6.5L Oil & Fluid Extractor Pump

 

[thepumpguysc]

Cincy, YOU are correct.. the pump & inj. ARE manuf w/ different component FOR THAT FUEL.. BUT they have to be SPECIFIC to that environment.. Called "ARTIC" fuel..
You cant just put JP fuel in anything & expect it to last.. I've replaced MANY MANY inj. systems from the airport because of it..
..mostly tugs & ALOT of baggage handlers.. The housings are aluminum & the pieces inside the pump/injectors are steel.. no/low lubrication{JP}= replacement. & ALOT of "blueing".. I didn't just make it up..
What a lot of you guys don't realize is the pieces that are inside that pump that spin & pump will swell by just holding them in your HAND.. & wont go back together until cooled.. they rely on the fuel to lubricate & cool the internal parts..
but it seems like a lot of folks on this thread have more experience at this than me.. so I'll leave you in their more capable hands.. Good luck.

 

[4570Man]

With a light, can you see the bottom of the fuel tank when looking through the hole? You normally can see when water is pooling at the low spots. If it were mine, I would use my oil sucker (you use it to change oil in personal water craft through the dipstick hole) to suck up some fuel from the bottom of the tank (water). Once you know your tank is water free.....move down stream.

Schwaben 6.5L Oil & Fluid Extractor Pump

If it’s the same design as my L3800 no you can’t see the bottom of the tank. Water will pool in the water separator though.

 

[CincyFlyer]

Cincy, YOU are correct.. the pump & inj. ARE manuf w/ different component FOR THAT FUEL.. BUT they have to be SPECIFIC to that environment.. Called "ARTIC" fuel..
You cant just put JP fuel in anything & expect it to last.. I've replaced MANY MANY inj. systems from the airport because of it..
..mostly tugs & ALOT of baggage handlers.. The housings are aluminum & the pieces inside the pump/injectors are steel.. no/low lubrication{JP}= replacement. & ALOT of "blueing".. I didn't just make it up..
What a lot of you guys don't realize is the pieces that are inside that pump that spin & pump will swell by just holding them in your HAND.. & wont go back together until cooled.. they rely on the fuel to lubricate & cool the internal parts..
but it seems like a lot of folks on this thread have more experience at this than me.. so I'll leave you in their more capable hands.. Good luck.

I was wondering if the Tier IV tractors, set up for ULSD, would be more resistant than the older things used around the airport.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Change your fuel filter and change it again after using it an hour or so it appears to have been full of water.

 

[dodge man]

I agree, get three new filters and change the one in the tractor right away.