Wife just added gasoline to diesel tractor. What to do?

[BTDT2]

Drain the fuel tank and replace with clean diesel. Been there and done that and no reason to panic unless you start using ATF and other 'solutions' .

 

[hosspuller]

JD588 has the best advice. ATF is NOT designed to burn. Friction modifiers, VI and such are some of the other ingredients that adversely other diesel fuel properties.


Reb954 ...As for lubricity, the BOCLE results of the posted link speak for itself. Gear meshing is a very different lubrication condition than injection pump / injector pintle operation.

 

[Reb954]

I am open to advice but I also have my own experiences to rely on. If I had not done something myself over a long period of time I wouldn't be suggesting it to someone else. Other products were mentioned here which may work just as good, maybe even better than ATF but sometimes we use what we can get.

About 20 to 25 years ago my brother called me one night. The company he worked for sent him to California to pickup a load using a Chev 2 ton truck. He said the engine started clattering and the oil pressure was low. I was familiar with that company so I asked if they were still using Delo 400 in the gas engines, he said yes. I told him to drain the oil and fill it with ATF, drive 100 or so miles, drain it again and fill it with ATF. Keep doing that until there is no more clatter and his oil pressure is back up. Once he gets to his destination, drain it and refill with a good gas engine oil but top it off with one quart of ATF.

That truck is still running today but they have only used it as a yard truck for the last 10 years. The engine has never been torn down and it runs great. The company owner was pretty critical of me for suggesting the ATF but all I said to him was "you're the dipsh#t who runs Delo 400 in a gas engine, why would I care what you think? Plus, I saved you a ton of money by not having to send a wrecker after that truck."

Again, we all have our own experiences, doesn't make any of us right or wrong, just different. I will continue to rely on my experiences just as each of you should.

 

[Handloader109]

ATF in oil is way different than In the fuel tank. Drain tank. Fill with diesel and run it. No issue

 

[DK35vince]

Here is the deal from the way I see it. The old rugged farm tractors we used to start with ether when it was cold. Sometimes we would even "feather" the air breather with ether until they warmed up and would run on their own. Were talking 40 + years ago. Them old diesel engines were tuff and could take it. The new stuff??? I don't know. Agco warned me not to used ether on their new tractors saying it could damage the engine.

Its probably due to glow plugs.
Glow plugs and ether don't mix = possible engine damage.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Filling the filter with undiluted ATF sounds like a possible way to hydra lock and engine. Can you say bent connecting rods?

What it REALLY sounds like, is that you have no idea what you are talking about!

I bet you I have done it in at least 50 different diesels, and it's a common in extreme climates to add it to straight number 1 fuel in the cold.

NO one has ever hydro locked a diesel doing it and it would have happen to me, IF it was ever going to happen!

SR

 

[Phillip w]

Its probably due to glow plugs.
Glow plugs and ether don't mix = possible engine damage.

I know ether and glow plugs don't mix. On my old allis I had an intake heater. Other tractors I have had had glow plugs. If it was really cold, you forget the intake heaters and or glow plugs and just hit them with ether. We used to do the same with semis. Problem is these little tractors have engines mainly engineered and built overseas, like Japan. The little engines just are not constructed rugged enough to pop off with ether. Even the big old rugged diesel engines can be screw up with ether if you get too carried away. At least that is what an agco shop foreman told me. With or without glow plugs that Japanese engine is not rugged enough to pop off with ether.

 

[Scut 4 Big Bucks]

To end the story,

I got home from work a few hours ago. The wife had the new fuel filter on hand. I dumped new diesel fuel into the tank without the filter on to clean out that portion of the fuel line. Once that was done, I installed the new fuel filter. Turned the valve on the filter on. Turned the glow plugs on for 15 seconds, and tried to start. Wasn't much trying, she fired right up. I bet I needed a new filter anyhow, those women sometimes have ESP. The wife heard it start, and was rather happy about it. Me too. Happy Happy Happy friends, and Happy 4th of July weekend.

 

[Billrog]

Good to hear your up and running . :thumbsup:

 

[rustyshakelford]

They actually made products designed for lubrication in the diesel system. I wouldn’t use atf

Brett