Loss of power/Stalling in the cold

[Mowbizz]

Seems like every winter right in the middle of snow removal my BX25D pulls this loss of power stalling out routine.
I know it is usually the fuel filters icing up but jeepers cripes I use anti gel and diesel dry (more than recommend)
And still every winter this happens. Is this common for these otherwise dependable tractors?

 

[dodge man]

Yes common. Crappy little filters. People have added a better filter such as from a B series tractor or a Racor setup. Do a search on Racor on this forum and you will find some good pics of installs. I installed one on my BX and no problems since.

 

[Mowbizz]

Sounds like a plan! Thanks for the idea!

 

[lindnova]

I don't have problems with mine very often and never yet in winter for the last 10 years, knock on wood. I get my dyed off road fuel from a reputable local station that has winter treatment and blended in the winter.

When I snowplowed for a large company seems like the newer loaders always would be the first to gel up since the fuel filters were lower micron I assume. Back then we switched to blended 50/50 #1/#2 and most of the problems went away. If there is too much water accumulated in the tank it will be a problem - we had a loader with 5 gallons of water at the bottom of the tank one time. Not sure how it got there, but the loader didn't get used much that year in the summer either. It ran fine for a couple of plows until one night at -20 it froze up in the middle of a parking lot.

In these small tractors 100% #1 might be best.

Some new Bobcat skid steers with Doosan engines require #1 below a certain temperature (something like 20 degrees?)

 

[diesel85]

My BX2200 has never has a problem. I have run it at -32F with no block/coolant heater. Starts right up. Although, I do run silver bottle PowerService add an additive. I just make sure I get my fuel from a highly used truck stop. It actually starts up better than all my gasoline powered engines. I know when it gets in the -25F and below, I just run the glow plugs for about 45 seconds then turn the key and it starts right up -- no hesitation. Then I high idle it for about 20 minutes to get it nice and warm.

During the summer I make it a point to run it very low on fuel, just in case some water gets in. So far so good...

 

[Mowbizz]

My BX starts fine every time. It is usually when I am part way through a snow removal task that the fuel flow all of a sudden gets restricted. I throttle down when the motor starts shaking then it idles for a
minute then I can throttle back up until it starts shaking again. Eventually it will stall and I am dead in the snow pile. I picked up new filters today and installed just the one before the fuel pump today (a 2 hour job lying on the cold garage floor) not easy when you are pushing 70. The one up inside the cowling is going to wait for warmer weather.
Where can one find this off road super diesel in New England?
I will install a Racor in the Warner weather for sure.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Seems like every winter right in the middle of snow removal my BX25D pulls this loss of power stalling out routine.
I know it is usually the fuel filters icing up but jeepers cripes I use anti gel and diesel dry (more than recommend)
And still every winter this happens. Is this common for these otherwise dependable tractors?

Do you ever use the water drain on the filter? I presume your filter has one. Fuel treatment makes the water collect on the filter and when enough of it collects it will slide off if it doesn't freeze first.
Do you have summer fuel in your tractor? It can jell at around 28F.

If you're having a consistent problem with water, drain your tank and let the water separate out and decant the good fuel back to the tank. Try to keep your tank full to minimize condensation. Drain a little fuel off the filter into a clear container and look for water in it. Do this prior to every start up until you get no water in the drainage. then do it every other start. Keeping your fuel clean and water free as well as using the right fuel for the season will go along way to avoid the problems you are having.

 

[Mowbizz]

Do you ever use the water drain on the filter? I presume your filter has one. Fuel treatment makes the water collect on the filter and when enough of it collects it will slide off if it doesn't freeze first.
Do you have summer fuel in your tractor? It can jell at around 28F.

If you're having a consistent problem with water, drain your tank and let the water separate out and decant the good fuel back to the tank. Try to keep your tank full to minimize condensation. Drain a little fuel off the filter into a clear container and look for water in it. Do this prior to every start up until you get no water in the drainage. then do it every other start. Keeping your fuel clean and water free as well as using the right fuel for the season will go along way to avoid the problems you are having.

No way to remove water... just a plastic in-line filter.

 

[lindnova]

Yeah those filters are pretty generic. I like the idea of running it low in the summer - too late now! I do that without trying anyway. Gotta get any water out. The additives help, but disperse water so it doesn't really go away until the tank is run out or drained and at a certain point the additives can't disperse it any more.

I use dyed off road since it is cheaper, but like diesel85 said get it from a quality station that turns over inventory a lot. There is only one station that I can get non-taxed off road fuel in 50 miles around me so I am lucky.

If you could find some #1 diesel I would get some and put that in the tank at at least 50% and I bet that would solve your problem.

 

[Egon]

Frozen water in the fuel tank thaws from engine heat when the tractor is used.

Adding a larger separator element (not filter ) that has capicity for water and a drain might help?