2009 DK35SE Question

[Mike476]

Hello all,

I've found TBN to be an excellent place to get a feel for how people like their machines, brand loyalty aside. I'll admit I'm a MF guy but having stopped off at a Kioti dealer near me yesterday and taking a look at a DK35SE he has on the lot, I have to say I'm impressed!

Built like a tank it looks like it would take anything I would throw at it. The dealer has it on the lot, 8 hours on it, and is selling for 22K cash sale (Cdn) before taxes. Apparently he begins making payments on it next month and is looking to move it.

In my conversation I asked him if there were any problems / weaknesses with the tractor after telling him what I need one for, he mentioned that they provide an additive for the fuel system that will prevent issues with a lack of lubrication causing pump failure. Have any of you experienced this or are there plans to re-engineer the fuel pump to prevent this requirement? The bottle sells for about 20 dollars and is good for around 100 gals (450 litres) but still seems to me like something that shouldn't be necessary. Is it a real issue or is the dealer being overly cautious, although I respect his having made me aware of a potential problem.

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[MotorSeven]

A fuel additive to prevent pump failure???

Horse apples

 

[Mike476]

Not being familiar with diesels, mine is a gasser, I spoke to my neighbour this morning about it. Apparently the reductions in sulphurs in diesels takes away some of its lubrication properties, he plans to run it in his and has spoken with people who run diesels in their trucks that do the same.

Don't know if it's just here in Canada or if it applies to all of North America.??

 

[Hawghauler]

I have had to run literally thousands of diesels on JP-8 in the middle east for years, in unforgiving temperatures. JP-8 is more refined and we had we had concerns. We added a smidge of engine oil into the tank occasionally and never had any premature failures. We were particularly worried about thermokings and they held up fine also. I suppose there are more scientific methods, and maybe what we did was a placebo, but it worked or fooled us. We also had a device that took the crankcase oil, filtered it, and blended it back into the fuel tank and we reduced haz/mat disposal and burned the used oil with no ill effects. Keep in mind we did not do that for aviation equipment, just trucks and generators. Old timers used Mystery Oil as a "Top Cylinder Lubricant"

 

[Mike476]

Had some problems running turbo props and fans in the middle east myself but was more to do with contaminated fuel than anything. We do run FSII (fuel system icing inhibitor) in JP-8 to keep the filters from gumming up when working up north, can get into trouble pretty quick without it.

I find it interesting that it might only be something we in Canada have to concern ourselves with, not a big deal, just wondering if it was an engineering problem specific to Kioti but it's beginning to look like it has more to do with the fuel than the motor.

DK35SE sure is a strong looking tractor, waiting for my MF dealer to receive a 1635 and 1643 for me to look at, should be an interesting comparison.

 

[MichiganIron]

Diesel fuel additives are just a good idea for the newer low sulfur fuels. It doesn't take much to treat a tank, and adds a great deal of lubricity.

We have started to carry the Kioti additive also.

 

[wallace]

Hello all,

I've found TBN to be an excellent place to get a feel for how people like their machines, brand loyalty aside. I'll admit I'm a MF guy but having stopped off at a Kioti dealer near me yesterday and taking a look at a DK35SE he has on the lot, I have to say I'm impressed!

Built like a tank it looks like it would take anything I would throw at it. The dealer has it on the lot, 8 hours on it, and is selling for 22K cash sale (Cdn) before taxes. Apparently he begins making payments on it next month and is looking to move it.

In my conversation I asked him if there were any problems / weaknesses with the tractor after telling him what I need one for, he mentioned that they provide an additive for the fuel system that will prevent issues with a lack of lubrication causing pump failure. Have any of you experienced this or are there plans to re-engineer the fuel pump to prevent this requirement? The bottle sells for about 20 dollars and is good for around 100 gals (450 litres) but still seems to me like something that shouldn't be necessary. Is it a real issue or is the dealer being overly cautious, although I respect his having made me aware of a potential problem.

Thanks in advance for your input.

The dealer told you this was required?

 

[IslandTractor]

I don't use a specific diesel additive but someone on TBN convinced me to dump a little (2oz/5gallons) of 2 cycle outboard oil into my diesel. Did it last year and did not notice any excessive smoking. Presumably it does increase lubrication a bit and might be handy for those who keep that sort of oil around anyways.

(Nice to see Rick still checking us out here even though he's gone to the light side).

 

[Gittyup]

I only have a CK25. But, there are known issues with some of the earlier CK (mine is a 2006) fuel injector pumps failing at about 300 hours, as mine did. I was told the pump was redesigned with better, less brittle gears. Mine was replaced under warranty with the new design. After that, I started adding power service to every tank just to be safe. The tractor also runs better with the PS, or at least appears to. PS comes in two flavors. I add a little of both.

 

[MichiganIron]

Just don't use the Red Power Service bottle on a regular basis. The 911 stuff is just for an emergency gelled system. It contains alcohol which isn't good for the system used regularly.

 

[Mike476]

The dealer told you this was required?

The dealer didn't say it was required but rather recommended to prevent fuel pump issues down the road. I didn't get the sense he was preaching a "will void warranty if owner failed to use the product" line, rather responding to my question regarding what, if any, problems he has encountered with the Kioti brand.

Since then I've spoken to quite a few people who run diesels and am surprised to find the product is a little like the aspirin to diesel engines, everyone seems to know about the benefits of it but you seldom hear it spoken of.

 

[IslandTractor]

Since then I've spoken to quite a few people who run diesels and am surprised to find the product is a little like the aspirin to diesel engines, everyone seems to know about the benefits of it but you seldom hear it spoken of.

??Kinda like daily multivitamins or worse from health food stores. In theory you can make an argument for them but in practice they just change the color and nutrient value of toilet water.:laughing:

 

[Mike476]

??Kinda like daily multivitamins or worse from health food stores. In theory you can make an argument for them but in practice they just change the color and nutrient value of toilet water.:laughing:

More fluids, that's what's needed :thumbsup:

 

[Gittyup]

I use PS Diesel Kleene (silver bottle) and PS Diesel Fuel Suppliment (white bottle). Both are listed as lubricators. I think the only difference is one has a detergent for injector cleaning. I use the recommended amount of both (double the recommended amount) per 5 gallon can. I don't know anything about a red bottle of 911 stuff. Tractor is real smooth even when very cold using this stuff. Unless you go through a lot of fuel, it's not very expensive; treats many tanks of fuel per bottle.

 

[Dmace]

I use PS Diesel Kleene (silver bottle) and PS Diesel Fuel Suppliment (white bottle). Both are listed as lubricators. I think the only difference is one has a detergent for injector cleaning. I use the recommended amount of both (double the recommended amount) per 5 gallon can. I don't know anything about a red bottle of 911 stuff. Tractor is real smooth even when very cold using this stuff. Unless you go through a lot of fuel, it's not very expensive; treats many tanks of fuel per bottle.

The difference is the white bottle is a lubricant that has an anti-gelling chemical to prevent the diesel fuel from gelling in the winter months during below freezing temps.
The gray bottle is a lubricant that also has a cetane booster (like an octane booster for gasoline) but no anti-gelling chemical.
The red bottle is just for curing diesel fuel that has already gelled and is clogging your filter/injectors. It works great!

I use the white bottle in the winter months, gray bottle for the rest of the year and keep a bottle of the red 911 stuff just for emergency and only had to use it once, on my old Ford dump truck.

 

[Mike476]

The difference is the white bottle is a lubricant that has an anti-gelling chemical to prevent the diesel fuel from gelling in the winter months during below freezing temps.
The gray bottle is a lubricant that also has a cetane booster (like an octane booster for gasoline) but no anti-gelling chemical.
The red bottle is just for curing diesel fuel that has already gelled and is clogging your filter/injectors. It works great!

I use the white bottle in the winter months, gray bottle for the rest of the year and keep a bottle of the red 911 stuff just for emergency and only had to use it once, on my old Ford dump truck.

Not unlike what we use in turbine engines using JP8 (refined diesel), FSII is an industry standard used to prevent gelling of fuel / clogging of fuel filters in cold temperatures at high altitudes, or for chopper guys who get nose bleeds over 10,000 feet, for use in colder climates.

By the number of posts by people who are aware of and use these products, and from people I've spoken to who use diesels in all kinds of vehicles, I think it safe to say that the advice given me by my Kioti dealer was sound and is not due to poor engineering so much as a preventative maintenance measure. Acknowledging the point brought up earlier ref sub-standard metals in the pump that have since been re-engineered, I haven't read anything from Kioti owners citing problems they've had with their tractors.

 

[rd_macgregor]

Mike,
Is that CD$22K just for the tractor, or does it include FEL, backhoe and/or any other attachments? I got my DK45SC in 2006 for CD$28K with FEL, brush mower and snow blower (everything is 6ft wide). I got a carryall last summer and bought a tooth bar and grapple rake this spring, but still covet several additional attachments (and a building to store them in!). The tractor itself is just a start and the other bits add up.
I drive by the local CAT dealer, who sells MF, and they are nice looking machines, too. I don't think the Kioti would disappoint you; balance cost and features, then decide on which colour you like the best!
BOB

 

[Mike476]

Mike,
Is that CD$22K just for the tractor, or does it include FEL, backhoe and/or any other attachments? I got my DK45SC in 2006 for CD$28K with FEL, brush mower and snow blower (everything is 6ft wide). I got a carryall last summer and bought a tooth bar and grapple rake this spring, but still covet several additional attachments (and a building to store them in!). The tractor itself is just a start and the other bits add up.
I drive by the local CAT dealer, who sells MF, and they are nice looking machines, too. I don't think the Kioti would disappoint you; balance cost and features, then decide on which colour you like the best!
BOB

That's $22 CD with FEL, no other attachments. I have a 7' MF blade, would be looking for forks and grapple down the road. I am looking forward to taking a look at the MFs as well to compare price points, standard features etc.

 

[KiotiDave]

Hi All,
The biggest problem we are running into is bacteria/algea growing in the tank and fuel system. Little pieces break off and clog injectors and other components. Our treatment has an anti-bacterial additive in. The lubrication is a plus as well as the anti-gel properties. The fuels today are terrible and change often from season to season. I would add the fuel additives to give you a more consistant protection.
You do not want to look into the bottom of your fuel tank and see fur growing.
Dave G.
KiotiDave

 

[Mike476]

Thanks for clarifying further Dave, all in all it sounds like just good practice as a preventative measure and not that expensive when weighed against potentially costly repair bills, regardless the brand of tractor.