Chronic gel problems

[Gulogulo]

Hey Tractor Gurus,
Please help! My fairly new JD 5083E (new to me as of August) has gelled up 5 times in the last 3 weeks, and I need it daily for feeding out hay. Each time it's been cold the night before, but only one time was it REALLY cold (-15 F). It'll start right up with the block heater, but then after 5 minutes it sputters, gets no power, coughs black smoke and stalls out. Once I limp it into the heated shop (stalling many times along the way) and let it thaw for a few hours, it's fine again. The tractor lives in a pole barn, three-sided. I'd move it into the shop permanently but that's where the diesel truck lives.
I feel like I've tried just about everything. Changed both fuel filters multiple times, drained all the fuel out of the tractor's tank to make sure I didn't have any ice lurking in there, paste-tasted the diesel in my site tank (no water detected), added 50 gallons of kerosene to the site tank (it was year-old summer diesel in there), bought brand-new fuel from a gas station (which caused it to run a little more reliably, but still gelled up when it was -15), etc. Each time I fill-up, I pump and discard the first 5 gallons to come out of my site tank in case there's water. The fuel in the tractor tank has always been treated with plenty of Cetane Boost "Arctic Formula," and the 911 when I'm trying to thaw it. Doesn't seem to make a difference.
One strange thing is that when I drained all the fuel from the tractor tank, the LAST quart or so to come out was crystal clear. Shouldn't it have been the first thing to come out?
Tractor lived briefly in Florida before I got it. Could I have water lurking in my lines or in some weird compartment of my fuel tank that hasn't found its way out yet? Or wouldn't I have burned through that many months ago?
Or could the water and diesel in my site tank be emulsified, so the water isn't settling to the bottom? Fuel supplier has offered to test the fuel but that'll take another week.
I've been reading threads here about using a demulsification additive, or installing a heated filter?
Thinking of asking the dealer to do a full flush of the fuel lines and remove/clean the tank thoroughly. Not sure what else to do.
Much obliged for any wisdom and advice.
Thanks.

 

[murphy1244]

Well one thing I can tell you is that Water will go to the bottom of your tank as its heavier than Diesel.

 

[Thomas]

Friend of mine had somewhat the same problem come to find out it was his fuel tank,when new diesel fill up would stir the water in the tank..he had double filters on pump..he skim the bottom of fuel tank came up w/slush mixture,had tank clean skidder runs like champ now.

 

[Coyote machine]

If your supply tank is outside chances are you may have water in it that gets mixed with the diesel whenever you drain any out to put into the tractor tank. I'd get some fresh WINTERIZED diesel from a local supplier in a can you haven't used before and see if you can put the line that goes from your tractor tank directly into the known to be good diesel, and see what happens. If it runs fine with no problems you KNOW you have either on tractor tank contamination or your on site supply tank has contamination. At that point you can work backwards to solve the problem. I would bet both have water/particulate matter in them. Even with the fresh fuel, it might be wise to change your fuel filter(s) again, just in case there is water remaining which can freeze up your line to the IP.
Post back results.

 

[mfreund]

Make sure it is not Bioblended diesel fuel. Biodiesel sucks in the winter.

 

[Scooby074]

I think the 5083 uses a crappy and small inline filter correct?

You should consider upgrading your filtration to a proper spin on filter like a Racor. Follow the link in my sig to my install on a kubota. They have much better separation and less chance of gelling. You will be amazed at the amount of water that can be wrung out of supposed good, clean, fuel.

I suspect its your summer fuel that is the root of your problems. Paste testing will only show free water. If its -15, the water is frozen ice, however emulsified water will still be present and not show up on the paste.

You likely have a bunch of water or other crap somewhere, either in your storage tank or your fuel tank on the tractor. And its also summer grade fuel which gels warmer anyways due to wax content. Even cutting it with kero, might not be enough when its real cold.

What Id do is get the tractor in somewhere where its heated. Thoroughly clean the tank (steam cleaning works well) and flush the fuel system with winter fuel. Install a new spin on filter and housing. Then get some fresh winter fuel and treat it, use Howes Diesel treatment. I suspect that will fix your issues. Then you can go back and clean up the tank, install water separator and filter on the fill hose, and fill with winter fuel.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You need to get some good fuel with no bio and add a good anti gel additive like Howse.

Chris

 

[Gulogulo]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate you weighing in. My best guess after running a bunch more tests (I think you're absolutely right, Scooby) is that it's the summer fuel, not so much a water problem. Didn't add nearly enough kerosene to thin it, and the Power Service Cetane Boost couldn't effectively combat the high waxing temperature (30 degrees F, I'm told) of the summer diesel. I kept looking for the water -- I think it was a red herring.
And Scooby, yes, I do have a crappy inline filter as well as a water-separating screw-on filter. Changed both a few times in the last few weeks.
Any idea where I can find this Howes stuff that several of you have recommended? Unless Howes and Power Service are the same thing?

 

[MikePA]

Howes and PS are not the same thing, but they do the same things. Click Here to see where to buy Howes.

 

[Scooby074]

Howes Diesel. Howes Lubricator Dealer search available on that site. Different company than Power Service.

Your spin on water filter. Does it have a see through bowl or is it closed? One advantage of the see through bowl is it allows you to monitor your fuel condition visually.