Water in the fuel

[MHarryE]

Before retiring, I had a L3710 for doing general stuff around my 40 acre farm. I got my fuel from the on-highway pumps most of the time, always 5 gallon cans. In April I traded for a L5740 and do a lot more stuff on my farm plus odds and ends for my cousin and nephew. Consequently I go through a lot more fuel so I bought an aluminum (no rust worries) 105 gallon tank in a utility trailer. I made sure it had a cap that was vented so no rainwater could get in unless we had a flood, but the fuel is in a vented container instead of my sealed cans. Yesterday I was plowing and all of a sudden I lost power. I checked the filter bowl and it was white - water - instead of red dyed fuel. I cleaned it out, popped in a new filter, and away I went. I checked the book to see if I had missed anything on servicing. The book doesn't even mention water in the fuel although it is always present. Apparently the filter works as a good water separator because it blocked the water at the bowl (I hope - water is murder on injection pumps and injector nozzles). Has anybody else had problems? Has anybody added a water separator that can be drained daily - something that even my Cat mini-excavator has (I think Cat has a water separator on all of their equipment)?

 

[greasemonkeyok]

You may have experienced the downside of purchasing and storing larger volumes of deisel. Often times the source of moisture is the condensation from ambient air temperature changes, and bacteria love a deisel and water smorgasbord. So keep an eye out for bacteria growing in your tank.

My VW's have fuel filters with a valve to drain the moisture when you change the oil. Tractor doesn't.

 

[jonyyuma]

You can buy the best on the market, it is made by Racor....I have used them for years, their element will not pass water... You can buy several other, and i have bought generic elements from NAPA. But racor makes many sizes and types, even for Marine diesels...

 

[MHarryE]

Racor was what I had in mind. I helped a dealer in the United Arab Emirates mount them on machines that already had a water separator/fuel filter combination but didn't do the job. UAE - first thought is desert dry, but get there and realize the location is all along the Persian Gulf, hot temperatures with humidity that is near death for a Minnesotan. Condensation in the fuel tanks unbelievably bad. However the Racor added more restriction between the tank and the FIP and engine suppliers have inlet restriction limitations. I was checking to see if anyong had installed one on a Kubota and what kind of luck they had.

 

[JoeL4330]

google on "Parker Fuel Polishing Module"

for example: Amazon.com: Parker Fuel Polishing Module - 50 Gal/day In-Line: Sports & Outdoors

 

[ccsial]

You may have experienced the downside of purchasing and storing larger volumes of deisel. Often times the source of moisture is the condensation from ambient air temperature changes, and bacteria love a deisel and water smorgasbord. So keep an eye out for bacteria growing in your tank.

My VW's have fuel filters with a valve to drain the moisture when you change the oil. Tractor doesn't.

I store 300 gallons for a year. I use a biocide and stabilizer with no problems in over 30 years. I also have a 2 micron filter on the pump.

 

[Tx Jim]

My M4900 came from the factory with a water separator on it.

 

[jem041279]

I store 300 gallons for a year. I use a biocide and stabilizer with no problems in over 30 years. I also have a 2 micron filter on the pump.

What are the names ofvthe products that you use, I also have 300 plus gallons and looking for suggestions on fuel additives

 

[MikeD74T]

I service two stationary diesel fire pumps that each have an outdoor 500 gallon fuel tank. Monthly I remove a gallon of fuel from the tank drain to check for water. The clean fuel gets put back in the tank & water disposed of. If your tank has no bottom drain & if you can mount it with one end slightly lower it's easy to pull a bottom sample with a siphon or hand vacuum pump that has a reservoir. Plastic ones can be had at low cost. Removing water from the tank is easier & cheaper than changing filters. MikeD74T Mityvac Fluid Transfer Hand Pump | Barrel + Hand Pumps | Northern Tool + Equipment

or
Brake Bleeder & Brake Bleeder Vacuum Pump Kit

 

[Stradbash]

Racor was what I had in mind. I was checking to see if anyong had installed one on a Kubota and what kind of luck they had.

You may want to look at this thread;
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/187676-racor-filter-bx24.html

A few of us have done it. Mine is (currently) the last comment of that thread and I have since installed one of the smallest available with a 2 micron filter element on my BX. I only finished the project this spring and have yet to see any water in the bowl, but I also use a water separating funnel religiously. I mounted mine just outside the frame where I can see the bowl easily... I've had no problems with it at all and zero regrets!

 

[ccsial]

What are the names ofvthe products that you use, I also have 300 plus gallons and looking for suggestions on fuel additives

I use the Power Service products as follows:

Diesel fuel supplement in white bottle for water dispersement and stabilize, etc. 96oz/300gal.

BIO-Kleen Diesel fuel biocide to prevent microbial growth. 6oz/300gal

 

[LBrown59]

1* I bought an aluminum (no rust worries) 105 gallon tank in a utility trailer.
Yesterday I was plowing and all of a sudden I lost power.
2*I checked the filter bowl and it was white - water - instead of red dyed fuel.
3*Apparently the filter works as a good water separator because it blocked the water at the bowl (I hope -
4* Has anybody else had problems?
5*Has anybody added a water separator that can be drained daily ?

6*You may have experienced the downside of purchasing and storing larger volumes of deisel.
7* Often times the source of moisture is the condensation from ambient air temperature changes, and bacteria love a deisel and water smorgasbord.
8* So keep an eye out for bacteria growing in your tank.

1*Nice.
2*You need to install a water seperating filter like this

on your Alum Tank.
3*That's why you need a water seperating filter to prevent water from getting into your tractor in the first place.
4*I haven't but that's probably because my

fuel storage system filters the fuel 3 times before it's ever dispensed into the tractors tank .
5*You won't need one if you filter the fuel before you put it in your tractor
6*That's only if one does not properly filter and treat their fuel.
7*See #6 above
8*See *6 above.

 

[MHarryE]

Great idea, LBrown59. I guess I have had too much experience working with large contractors who never know from one fill to the next which trucker is going to be bringing fuel to the job site. Here I have control over the fuel going into my tractor so putting the water separator on my tank is an excellent choice. Will look into that right away - hard freeze forecast tonight means winter is near and the next fillup is likely to sit a long time before it gets used up (although our winter air is so dry moisture probably won't be an issue).

 

[creekbend]

My sincere appreciation to the contributors to this thread. I have gained important info on the subject. Thanks again. Happy Tractoring.:tractor:

 

[KYDan]

For the last 15 or so years I have used a 50 gallon tank I purchased from TSC with a wobble pump. I have a water separating filter (Goldenrod) on the tank. When it becomes difficult to pump fuel that is a sign there is a significant amount of water in the filter and it needs to be changed. I change them annually anyway as a precaution. I have rigged and strap and eyebolt system to pick up the tank (I use a 3pt. boom) and load it into my pickup and take it to an off road diesel dealer to fill it up. I do store indoors in my garage/shop on rolling platform so I can move it around to fill the tractor and then into a corner after the fill. I am using more fuel now that I have purchased a larger tractor and may have to consider a larger tank and different system although I really like have the fuel indoors.