Engine Changes After Low Fuel

[Olympus]

Last night I accidentally let the fuel level get too low. I was busy working and not paying attention to the fuel level. The engine started running very rough and shuttering. I eventually saw the fuel change and shut the tractor off. I refilled the tank and started it back up. It started fine, but ran a little rough for a while.

Eventually it smoothed out, but I noticed that the exhaust pipe was noticeably louder afterwards. When there is a load on the motor, like climbing a hill, the exhaust changes and gets really loud. Before this, I could never hear the exhaust and only heard the engine. I'm a little concerned now. I followed the manual and bled any air from the filter and also the bleed valve on the fuel pump but that did not make any difference. I'm at a loss here.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I know of nothing in the fuel or injectors that would make the exhaust louder. Some engines don't have to be bleed when running out of fuel other than the bleed screws on the filters and injection pump. Looks like you may have one of those. Look for something else regarding your high exhaust noise level.

 

[George2615]

Check your exhaust system bolts and clamps. You may have a loose connection. Should not be related to running low on fuel. How many hours on the machine? Is it possible you have a hole in the muffler from rust.

 

[Olympus]

It's a brand new machine. 16 hours on it.

 

[boomer1025]

It's a brand new machine. 16 hours on it.

All the more reason to check things over.

 

[Olympus]

I'll check the exhaust system, but it's not like an exhaust leak. It's just noticeably louder coming out of the end of the pipe. And it has a whole new sound even. A little higher pitched a "tin-ey" sound. Sounds like an old Case backhoe that my dad just to have.

It also seems to not have as much power and is idling about 100 to 150 rpms higher than it used to.

 

[George2615]

Did you bleed air at the injectors. Didn't know it only had 16 hrs. It may require a call to the dealer under warranty.

 

[boomer1025]

Can you check the fuel filter and see if there is anything in it, same fuel you used when you last put fuel in it . Some times it takes awhile to get air worked out of the system.

 

[Olympus]

Nothing in the fuel filter. I used the same fuel as before. Looks like it's going back to the dealer.

 

[Olympus]

Now it looks like I've gotten myself in bigger trouble. I re-bled the fuel lines again just to make sure there wasn't any more air in the lines. I followed the manual directions just like before and now the tractor will not start at all. It will hit one or twice and then it will die.

 

[mangus580]

What tractor did you end up getting?

Have you added/modified anything on the electrical? I accidentally dropped a nut off one my ground connections, that was causing all sorts of odd 'running' issues.

 

[atgreene]

You have air in the lines. Bleed it, it will be fine. Its not possible to hurt it by running low on fuel. It may take some effort to get the air out, be sure to fill the filter before you put it on. This isn't anything to get too worked up over.

 

[atgreene]

Also, put a new filter on. Anything that was in the tank is now in the filter. Make sure you don't have a second filter, some have a primary and a secondary.

 

[boomer1025]

Let us know what the dealer finds wrong with it.

 

[Olympus]

The dealer mechanic thinks it could be water in the fuel and I'm going to check the fuel filter bowl when I get back home.

He also told me to put a quart of transmission oil in the fuel? Never heard that before.

 

[atgreene]

Trans fluid is a detergent that will help clean the injectors. Power service (white bottle) does similar.

FYI, from my personal experience, with a diesel it's always, always, always, always fuel. And by that I mean either none due to an empty tank or lack of fuel due to a bad filter/air lock.

 

[mangus580]

If its a brand new tractor - I would not put tranny fluid in the fuel.....

 

[3930dave]

If its a brand new tractor - I would not put tranny fluid in the fuel.....

I'll second that.

That was an old school habit going back to mechanically injected diesels. I could maybe get away with that on my 3930, but I wouldn't do it even there, as there are much better fuel treatment options today.

Unless the manual tells you to pre-fill the filter, don't. Some companies go to great lengths to ensure that customers can not pre-fill filters.... The issue is the damage that can be done to modern injectors, but just that little bit of debris that can be introduced by pre-filling.

Rgds, D.

 

[Olympus]

Got the call from the dealer. Injectors were clogged and the different exhaust noise was a cracked muffler. Injectors were cleaned and the muffler was replaced. They say it's good as new now. Hope to pick it up tomorrow.

 

[Guesseral]

Got the call from the dealer. Injectors were clogged and the different exhaust noise was a cracked muffler. Injectors were cleaned and the muffler was replaced. They say it's good as new now. Hope to pick it up tomorrow.

What did that run you?