Good evening from South Carolina. I just got myself a nice old Deutz 40 06 tractor and after running it for a while I experienced some pretty serious fuel starvation (engine suddenly had no power, barely ran). I worked my way through the fuel system and discovered basically a bunch of crud in the bottom of the (diesel) fuel tank blocking the fuel outlet. I drained the tank and sucked all the loose chunkage out with a shop vac (dumb, I know. But it worked!) and changed the fuel filter. I didn't see any kind of sediment screen in the lift pump, but I might not know what I'm looking for or exactly where to look. The filler opening on that tank is pretty big, so I was able to reach my hand in there and feel around for any more junk, and way in the back there is a good amount of crusty garbage stuck to the bottom of the tank. I scraped off as much as I could with a paint stirrer and sucked it out, but there's still a little bit back there. I wanted to know what you guys think about adding a glass sediment bowl between the tank and the lift pump to help me keep an eye on the condition of the fuel, especially as the last of that mess finishes dissolving (Actually, will it dissolve? I put some diesel clean in the tank, and I'm considering adding a little bit of automatic transmission fluid as well.) I've never owned anything with a diesel engine before, would a sediment bowl be any help? Thanks!
Add a sediment bowl?
- Thread starter Threedog
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Welcome to TBN, and hello from the frigid North ! (34C today).
You may have something in mind already, but if not, Racor has plenty of options.
Example of what Scooby used on his BX:
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/268153-adding-spin-racor-filter-bx25.html
I have the factory dual bowl setup on my 3930, and like the dual stages being in place. I'm the only one fueling my tractor, so generally have no sediment issues, but I can see how in general use, the extra stage could be useful.
I like the visibility and capacity that the above solutions deliver.
Plenty of opinions on ATF added to fuel.... personally I won't do it - use a dedicated brand-name fuel cleaning additive instead. (Matters more on new stuff, but many/most ATF flavours contain friction modifiers - not something I want to be adding to a fuel system).
Rgds, D.
You may have something in mind already, but if not, Racor has plenty of options.
Example of what Scooby used on his BX:
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/268153-adding-spin-racor-filter-bx25.html
I have the factory dual bowl setup on my 3930, and like the dual stages being in place. I'm the only one fueling my tractor, so generally have no sediment issues, but I can see how in general use, the extra stage could be useful.
I like the visibility and capacity that the above solutions deliver.
Plenty of opinions on ATF added to fuel.... personally I won't do it - use a dedicated brand-name fuel cleaning additive instead. (Matters more on new stuff, but many/most ATF flavours contain friction modifiers - not something I want to be adding to a fuel system).
Rgds, D.
P.S.
One of the big issues with diesel fuel is controlling moisture. Glass bowls do a good job of letting you see if/when moisture is accumulating, and needs to be drained.
A simple way to cut down on moisture is to park the tractor with a full tank, every time. Additives can manage moisture proactively, and using a water separating funnel (like Mr Funnel) or filter on the fuel source can help too.
Not that you get too many frozen filters down your way
, but water in fuel is never a good thing....
Rgds, D.
One of the big issues with diesel fuel is controlling moisture. Glass bowls do a good job of letting you see if/when moisture is accumulating, and needs to be drained.
A simple way to cut down on moisture is to park the tractor with a full tank, every time. Additives can manage moisture proactively, and using a water separating funnel (like Mr Funnel) or filter on the fuel source can help too.
Not that you get too many frozen filters down your way
, but water in fuel is never a good thing....Rgds, D.
Plenty of opinions on ATF added to fuel.... personally I won't do it -
Wait, you mean you're not supposed to dump every random combustible fluid into these old diesel engines? :laughing: Thank you for your reply. I don't necessarily have anything in mind, but there's an aisle in the Tractor Supply store that has a lot of glass sediment bowls for a lot of different models of tractor. I guess I should look for one that has a drain in the bottom rather than a design that requires dumping the entire bowl out? (although after defueling the entire tractor and replacing the fuel filter, it was really easy to get it started again. Not really worried about introducing air to the fuel system after that.) I just got done running the tractor for a couple hours, and so far it hasn't exhibited any more starvation issues. On your Ford, are the sediment bowls built in to the lift pump or are they just kind of in line somewhere? Thanks again!
Wait, you mean you're not supposed to dump every random combustible fluid into these old diesel engines? :laughing: Thank you for your reply. I don't necessarily have anything in mind, but there's an aisle in the Tractor Supply store that has a lot of glass sediment bowls for a lot of different models of tractor. I guess I should look for one that has a drain in the bottom rather than a design that requires dumping the entire bowl out? (although after defueling the entire tractor and replacing the fuel filter, it was really easy to get it started again. Not really worried about introducing air to the fuel system after that.) I just got done running the tractor for a couple hours, and so far it hasn't exhibited any more starvation issues. On your Ford, are the sediment bowls built in to the lift pump or are they just kind of in line somewhere? Thanks again!
Drain plug is convenient; keep spare gaskets handy though.
Mine is similar to this, with the one on the left being just a sediment bowl (clear glass).
Ford 3930 Fuel Filter Assembly, Double - S.60426
Rgds, D.
Mine is similar to this, with the one on the left being just a sediment bowl (clear glass).
Ford 3930 Fuel Filter Assembly, Double - S.60426
Rgds, D.
Cord
Veteran Member
If you don't have one already, I'd highly recommend putting a disposable fuel filter before the lift pump. With all the sediment you stirred up you will blow through filters for the next couple of tanks. Be sure to keep several on hand because they'll clog quickly. A sediment bowl won't be good enough to save the injection pump. Trust me, the filters will be 1/100 the cost of rebuilding those German pumps.