Tractor Died While Blowing Snow!

[dodge man]

Most likely gelled. My personal experience is when it’s that cold an additive won’t get the job done and you need to blend in kerosene.

 

[npalen]

Tractor died while blowing snow? My first thought was a coronary.

 

[LouNY]

Tractor died while blowing snow? My first thought was a coronary.

Well pretty close I'd say the pump quite pumping!!

 

[ruffdog]

Cloud point for #2 diesel is about 14 deg F, and for every 10% of #1 blended in, the CP drops 3 deg F.

 

[Avenger]

UPDATE:

I went to the store and purchased that 911 red bottle stuff. I then filled a 5 gallon can with #1 winter diesel and came home. But before I left the house I decided to increase my chances of having a good day. It took me an hour to get the hood up. The latch was frozen and impossible to get to with a heat gun. But eventually it got unstuck and I was able to get to the fuel filter. There, placed my magnetic block heater and left for the store.

I came back and added the 911 stuff to the tank, along with the majority of the green diesel. I left the block heater in place and waiting several minutes. Then I cycled the glow plugs several times, just to make sure the combustion chambers are warmed up. It fired right up! I let it idle for about 15 minutes while I packed things up. Then revved it up to 15K and went inside the house for late breakfast/early lunch. After about 40 minutes more, I went back out and revved it up to PTO speeds, not wide open, but mostly. Let it run like that for several more minutes, maybe 20-25.

I took it for a drive, to put a slight load on the engine. Nothing was out of the ordinary. So I started blowing the snow again, and it was working... for a bit. Then it started acting up again. It wanted to die, but picked it self back up. After a few more minutes of work, it flashed that same code, but didn't idle down or die. Not until I idled it down, then it died. But fired right back up and no code. That was the last issue. I spent the last hour or so blowing snow. I used about 1/4 tank of fuel. I also forced a regen during this. I don't believe that was apart of the issue, but since it's warmed up and running, why not!?

Now, I know I probably should have changed the fuel filter. But its currently -6F out. If I had a nice warm shop, that probably would have happened, but something about getting fuel on my fingers while playing with the metal filter in -6F weather made me not really want to do it! I do not believe the filter is completely free of gel, water, gunk, whatever, and could be causing the intermittent issue. Over the next few days, its supposed to get up to the high 20s and snow about about 7in total. But after that, we are looking at 40+ and rain for the next week at least. So hopefully the issue is solved long enough to get through to warm(er) weather and I will probably change out the filter. Depends if it keeps acting up or not. I'm 50 hours away from 500 hour service.

Thank you for everyone's help. No one likes the feeling of being shut down, especially when the tractor is such a vital element in surviving winter.

 

[stumblinhorse]

UPDATE:

Then revved it up to 15K and went inside the house for late breakfast/early lunch. After about 40 minutes more, I went back out and revved it up to PTO speeds, not wide open, but mostly. Let it run like that for several more minutes, maybe 20-25.

I would say that is your problem. My redline RPM is 2300, I would think 15000 rpms is too high… Especially for 40-45 minutes!

 

[RustyA]

Glad it wasn't completely gelled and you were able to treat and dilute fuel with #1 fuel!

 

[Cycledude]

I believe a new fuel filter will solve the problem.

 

[JohnDeereJoey]

15K is some fast idle!

I'm not so sure the long idle times are doing any good. I would not idle a DPF equipped diesel anywhere near the times you mentioned.

Many use a liberal amount of additives. A trusted diesel tech told me that several diesel training schools are recommending NOT to do that with newer model diesels. Quality additives are OK, but only at recommended dosage.

 

[Avenger]

15K is some fast idle!

I'm not so sure the long idle times are doing any good. I would not idle a DPF equipped diesel anywhere near the times you mentioned.

Many use a liberal amount of additives. A trusted diesel tech told me that several diesel training schools are recommending NOT to do that with newer model diesels. Quality additives are OK, but only at recommended dosage.

No, not really. 15k RPM is not that high for these tractors. Its a higher idle, but you defiantly do not want to idle as low as it can go with these DPF filters. They will plug up quick, leading to issues with frequent regens, etc. Its recommended that after a few minutes of absolute idle, you rev it up to about 15K. A diesel engine will run a very long time with no issues at just about any rpm range. I'm not concerned about that at all! I was more after running the 911 stuff through the filter and getting everything all mixed up.

I am also not a fan of diesel additives, oil additives, coolant additives, etc. But cold weather requires them. The engine will handle them just fine. Diesel engines are very robust things that can take a bit of abuse.

 

[sd455dan]

No, not really. 15k RPM is not that high for these tractors. Its a higher idle, but you defiantly do not want to idle as low as it can go with these DPF filters. They will plug up quick, leading to issues with frequent regens, etc. Its recommended that after a few minutes of absolute idle, you rev it up to about 15K. A diesel engine will run a very long time with no issues at just about any rpm range. I'm not concerned about that at all! I was more after running the 911 stuff through the filter and getting everything all mixed up.

I am also not a fan of diesel additives, oil additives, coolant additives, etc. But cold weather requires them. The engine will handle them just fine. Diesel engines are very robust things that can take a bit of abuse.

Avenger he was just ribbing you a bit.

if you look closely at your tachometer I would bet it is 15 and then there is a
X 100 so 1500 RPM.
15 k is 15000
K is 1000 as a multiplier.
15000 RPM is about what some model airplane 2 stroke glow plug engines run at.
Don't feel bad reminds me of when I posted about welding and used AU as the metal element when I was actually thinking of Aluminum

ps. Speaking of tachs, I cranked up the Rhino to 1900 (PTO RPM) to really move some snow with the new inverted blower, and in this cold it actually Broke the tach needle off inside the meter case. The original cable set up a mean resonance and well I killed my tach.

 

[goeduck]

Yeah, same here. Its nasty cold out!
I ran out there barefoot (too lazy to put boots on) to start the tractor. Didn't feel like unplugging it and rolling up the cord!

-2 deg, you are a tough man. Wow! Good luck, I hope next week the weather breaks.

 

[mikester]

Get or make one of these realy nice engine covers

Kubota L3560 and Grand L 60 Series Winter Front Covers Now Available

I was asked to make a set of winter front covers for this person’s Kubota L3560 Limited Edition tractor that he had just taken delivery of. That is one NICE tractor. I believe one plan for it is in his snow removal business, hence the covers. He let it sit in my shop for a week to work up the...

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[oosik]

I had that happen the second winter we were here. Took my brand new Ford 1700 out to plow the driveway. It was very cold - I had no type of antijell in the fuel supply. Got 100 yards down the driveway and - clunk. Just as though I turned the key off.

After I determined what was the problem - back to the house, got the generator, got the wife's hair dryer. Half an hour with the hair dryer - back in business. I run Power Service White Jug - yearound now.

 

[spruce Deere]

We had -17 below here, farm south of us by 5 miles had -25 below.

Classic jelling. Warming the filter will help un-jell current fuel in the filter and let it start and run.

Add 3/4 or so of a power service 32 oz bottle to the fuel tank. Or if there is room in the tank, cut it with some kerosene as someone elts had mentioned. For a 12 gallon tank on your LS, 3 to 4 gallons should keep things liquid.

For sure change the fuel filter when you can. And when you do, pour the rest of the power service bottle in the new filter and top the filter off with diesel. Or if you do the kerosene trick, fill it with kerosene and install.

I run power service white bottle year round in my fuel. I find it cost effective encountering zero fuel issues twelve months of the year.

 

[RSR]

Educate my ignorance...

How much does the winter fuel blend that a service station has vary as a function of temperature? I was always under the impression there were essentially summer, and winter (i.e., only two). Are there more?

I ask as I live in a brutally cold climate. I treat my 5 gallon fuel cans with Stanadyne additive before they go in the tank (dealer recommended brand) at the recommended ratio.

While this winter has been unseasonably warm, I regularly snow blow in temps as low as -10 to -15 F. My tractor is garage kept, and so the air temp is around 20 F on days like that. I let it warm up, and then go clear snow and have never had any problems.

Have I just been lucky clearing snow at those temps to not run into gelling problems?

(I have the same tractor as Avenger)

 

[dodge man]

In theory they are blending in more kerosene the colder it gets. Of course during a sudden cold snap, your going to get whatever is in the tanks.

Diesel 911 isn’t the greatest stuff to use on a regular basis, just for emergencies, but it’s obviously better than starving the engine for fuel. I had a fuel filter gel on me once. Looked like hand lotion on the filter but a little thicker, it never did melt. I suspect it was wax that separated out from the diesel.

 

[oosik]

My situation. Many years I have to fill my five gallon Jerry cans in Sept or Oct. If the service station DOES have two blends - summer/winter - I will be too early to get winter blend. Therefore - PS White Jug. Just good insurance.

 

[spruce Deere]

I know fuel depo's have there own ideas of how much to 'blend' fuel for winter...

 

[goeduck]

After I determined what was the problem - back to the house, got the generator, got the wife's hair dryer. Half an hour with the hair dryer - back in business. I run Power Service White Jug - yearound now.

I attempted the same when I was a kid in Minnesota and the temperature was -50 deg . After about 5 minutes I came to my senses when I realized that the hair dryer was probably bringing the temperature up to 0 deg. I was going to freeze to death and the tractor would still be froze up. So I left it there until the weather broke.