Plugged fuel filter again.

[dodge man]

My tractor started losing power today while moving snow. It was the fuel filter again. I could tell it was bad when I took the fuel line off on the engine side of the filter, hardly anything came out. I cut the filter open and it wasn't gelled up, just discolored. This is the third time it's happened. If I had the time and energy, I'd add a better filter, but that looks like a lot of work.

 

[xring100]

My tractor started losing power today while moving snow. It was the fuel filter again. I could tell it was bad when I took the fuel line off on the engine side of the filter, hardly anything came out. I cut the filter open and it wasn't gelled up, just discolored. This is the third time it's happened. If I had the time and energy, I'd add a better filter, but that looks like a lot of work.

Is it possible that you have fuel contaminated with algae or just bad fuel.

 

[Ken]

What is the age of the fuel ? Come from a storage tank or purchased from service sta.
Reason for asking driving a cattle truck just west of St. Louis Mo. stopped for diesel. No problems with truck until we drove maybe 15 miles and fuel light came on filter full of water and crud. Drained and put in new filter. with in 15 miles again water in fuel light. this time just drained the filter and for the next every time come to a hill had to stop and drain. until Springfield Mo. un-loaded the truck. And all down hill to Centrela Ill. no problems another load and 1st hill again water in fuel
Now total of 6 filters @ $60.each there was no profit in hauling. And trip to Farmington, Ark to make. night and so finally the amount of water lessened still got to where could dump water and get back on road in a minutes time. Ended using a pair of cotton socks for filter. water light, stop wring out the socks and go again. Then later learned in a R.V. magazine of a service sta. west of St. Louis ,Mo . had been selling a mixed load of water and diesel .
So my suggestion is to check the fuel condition when there is a fuel filter problem. After that trip have now excess 50,000 miles on one filter.
ken

 

[94BULLITT]

Are your fuel cans clean? Are you sure you are buying clean fuel?

 

[crazyal]

Back in 94 my father bought one of the new style Dodge 3/4 tons with the Cummings in it for pulling a 5th wheel. He would tell me about getting bad fuel and having to struggle to get it out of the tank or be changing the filters all the time. He said he never had a problem buying near interstates and other busy roads at stations that looked well used. But it would happen often enough so he would keep a large glass jar with him. He use to say that it was dealers dumping their used engine oil in the diesel tanks (dad was funny that way). He would put a few ounces of diesel in it, if the color looked good he would fill up. I have bought off road diesel that is a nice bright red and other times it looks almost purple. Not sure if it's any different but I don't like fuel that's so dark I can't see what's in it.

 

[MasseyWV]

Is it possible that you have fuel contaminated with algae or just bad fuel.

I agree.

 

[dodge man]

I caught the fuel that came out when I changed the filter and it looked O.K. I wasn't very clear in my original post, but this is the third time this has happened to me ever, not this year. I've had it happen once a year the last couple of years. So far it appears my fuel filters will last about 100 hours and I need to change the rear one. I've only change the front filter once.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Just one more reason to bulk up and buy from a distributor, then put a fine micron filter with water trap on your pump, keep the pump several inches off the bottom of your storage tank and you will never have a problem with tractor fuel filter stopping up. I have never changed the fuel filters on any of my equipment and they are mostly 2 years or better on the filter and on the Kubota's they have a clear plastic filter housing that you can see the liquid in. It has no sign of moisture OR rusty particles in the filters. I don't plan to change any of them (I do have spare filters for all of them) until they show signs of contamination or engine slows down. I cant see changing the filter at certain hours of use if nothing is in it. Buy clean fuel, keep it clean.

 

[dodge man]

I use five gallon containers, and always sneek a peak in the bottom before filling them. My fuel may get a little old, but I'm guessing worse case, its never older than a couple of months. No more fuel than my BX uses I don't think it would pay for me to buy bulk. Even when I use the machine a lot, I'm using 10 to 15 gallons a month tops.

 

[Tx Jim]

Actually dino diesel fuel doesn't age similar to gasoline. I've seen diesel several years old work just fine. The thing that ruin diesel are containment's such as water or dirt. Water contributes to the growth of algae. Bio-diesel on the other hand can go bad.

 

[dodge man]

Every thing in my area that is sold is bio-diesel, so I'm sure that doesn't help.

 

[xerman]

Water in the diesel fuel has been driving me crazy all winter. I have tried 2 different local stations and had water from both. I went to a busy truck stop about 15 miles away and still got water in the fuel. I've used 4 different additives which have all prevented gelling but have done nothing for the water. I have drained and cleaned the fuel tank and I keep dumping the fuel filter bowl, have replaced the filter twice. Still having water problems. I am told that the problem comes from the fuel distributors in the area delivering bad fuel. It is causing the biggest problem with my RTV. Both of my other trackers seem to handle it OK. As per several suggests from guys on this forum I ordered a "Mr. Funnel" which is supposed to filter out any water or debris from the fuel before it gets in the tank. The funnel just arrived yesterday. I am hoping it will resolve the problem. When I checked with my dealer he said many people in my area are having the same problem. He suggested adding kerosene at a 1 to 4 ratio to the fuel but I really hesitate putting kerosene in the fuel tank.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Water in the diesel fuel has been driving me crazy all winter. I have tried 2 different local stations and had water from both. I went to a busy truck stop about 15 miles away and still got water in the fuel. I've used 4 different additives which have all prevented gelling but have done nothing for the water. I have drained and cleaned the fuel tank and I keep dumping the fuel filter bowl, have replaced the filter twice. Still having water problems. I am told that the problem comes from the fuel distributors in the area delivering bad fuel. It is causing the biggest problem with my RTV. Both of my other trackers seem to handle it OK. As per several suggests from guys on this forum I ordered a "Mr. Funnel" which is supposed to filter out any water or debris from the fuel before it gets in the tank. The funnel just arrived yesterday. I am hoping it will resolve the problem. When I checked with my dealer he said many people in my area are having the same problem. He suggested adding kerosene at a 1 to 4 ratio to the fuel but I really hesitate putting kerosene in the fuel tank.

My RTV1100 had issues a few years ago with water and I put the water seperator kit on it and now just dump the bowl every other month. On the inside fram rail by the water tank there are actually tapped holes for the kit that was made for the 900 to fit on the 1100, all I had to do was get some more fuel line to make it work.


David Kb7uns

 

[bigbuck85]

Try a Mr funnel filtering funnel. I have used one for 4 years without any problems.

 

[Jay4200]

I use five gallon containers, and always sneek a peak in the bottom before filling them. My fuel may get a little old, but I'm guessing worse case, its never older than a couple of months. No more fuel than my BX uses I don't think it would pay for me to buy bulk. Even when I use the machine a lot, I'm using 10 to 15 gallons a month tops.

Odd. My L4200 had at least 300 hours put on my the PO and I know he didn't change any filters. I changed everything but the fuel filter - after 600 more hours and 5 years it still never failed, but I changed it just 'cause - the old one still looked pretty clean when I took it out. So, 900+ hours and 6-7 years on a filter w/ no issues. I always treat my fuel with a double-dose of Powerservice white (10 doses for 5-gal can per qt.) my fuel sat in the tank for months at a time, but I always try to keep the tank completely full.

JayC