freezing tc24da

[tc24guy]

I started my tractor for the first time this year and it ran for about 2 minutes before it stalled out. Its been parked outside in the snow. I'm guessing its some kind of fuel starvation problem. This happened once last year and I waited until the weather warmed up to the high 30s then I moved the tractor inside the barn then it didn't happen again, but last winter was alot warmer. So what do you think is going on here and How can I get my tractor running when the weather isn't supposed to rise above the 20s for another week?


Thanks, the snow is getting deep in the driveway :-(

 

[SARG]

Gelled fuel? Did you put in the diesel treatments?

 

[jinman]

My guess is that since you haven't been running the tractor that it still has summer formulated diesel in it and you are getting some gelling or perhaps some water in the fuel that is now frozen. Your choices seem to be to tow the tractor to a warmer spot or warm it where it is with some type of turbo heater. I'd sure opt for the tow myself. Get it somewhere warm and get the old fuel out. Add fresh fuel and maybe do a filter change. To be certain this doesn't occur again, add some fuel anti-gel product every fall before it gets cold.

All this is coming from a Texas guy who never had this problem, so I'm sure you will soon get better responses from some local folks.

 

[bp fick]

Please do not be offended, for none is intended, but machinery neglect is tough on things. Machines get abandoned, in horrible temperature and humidity swings, fuel gets old, stale, gummed up, humidified, and condensation occurs.

Even with fuel supplements, there is no substitute for fresh fuel, regular filter changes, regular oil changes and a minimum of a full start and 45 minutes to an hour hot run per month where possible.

2 strokes, 4 cycles, and diesels have pre-storage procedures. Just sayin'.

A dollar to a donut says it bad fuel and/or filters now.

 

[tc24guy]

Gelled fuel? Did you put in the diesel treatments?

THE diesel treatments? ummmmm, no. Never had this problem before so I never had to. but I usually kept it in my unheated garage. It couldn't have been more then a month since the last time it ran fine. But I didn't know of the "gelled fuel" problem until now.

What is gelled fuel?

Please do not be offended, for none is intended, but machinery neglect is tough on things. Machines get abandoned, in horrible temperature and humidity swings, fuel gets old, stale, gummed up, humidified, and condensation occurs.

Even with fuel supplements, there is no substitute for fresh fuel, regular filter changes, regular oil changes and a minimum of a full start and 45 minutes to an hour hot run per month where possible.

2 strokes, 4 cycles, and diesels have pre-storage procedures. Just sayin'.

A dollar to a donut says it bad fuel and/or filters now.

No offense taken, and last year when this happened I just changed the filter + a warm spell and everything was fine for the rest of the year but I only needed to plow my drive a few times. I guess leaving it outside is the wrong thing to do. I appreciate everyone's advice and hearing your experiences, Keep them coming, Thank you.

 

[jinman]

THE diesel treatments? ummmmm, no. Never had this problem before so I never had to. but I usually kept it in my unheated garage. It couldn't have been more then a month since the last time it ran fine. But I didn't know of the "gelled fuel" problem until now.

What is gelled fuel?

Gelled fuel relates to wax crystals that form in the diesel and fall out of solution in cold temperatures. The wax then clogs fuel filters and passages.

All diesel has water in it. When the fuel sits for a long time in cold temperatures, the water droplets tend to cling to the fuel filter material and then freeze when the temperature drops, thus clogging your filter.

There are several cures to help prevent both of these problems. Diesel 911 is a Power Service brand product that helps with clearing frozen water and they also have a full range of products for diesels operated in very cold temperatures.

There is nothing to be ashamed of about not knowing these things. Sometimes you have to experience problems to ask the right questions. Once you know of these issues and don't take action, then that is reason to be a bit embarrassed.

 

[tc24guy]

So I stopped at the dealer to see what they had to say and he sold me a new fuel filter and o-ring and gave me about 1/3 bottle of Amsoil Diesel Recovery (+1 brownie point for dealer). now I gotta wait for the lines to thaw...


well, now I know what a frozen fuel filter looks like )

Edit: Thanks for that detailed description of what happens to diesel fuel Jim!

 

[jinman]

That one picture is worth thousands and thousands of words. It's the "poster child" for adding diesel additives for cold weather. Thanks for posting.

 

[bp fick]

I have two observations. First, given the number of times the words Diesel Fuel Anti-gelling Additive is mentioned here at TBN, to find someone who did not know about the possibility of gelling is, well.....er.. like that movie the 40 Year Old Virgin.

Secondly, that there is debate about using diesel supplements on TBN, with so many guys swearing they never bother and then have this post, along with a half dozen other guys post this cold winter week about fuel gelling, also leaves me scratching my head.

 

[tc24guy]

Well there is not much left to think about here. If you leave your tractor outside during a freeze - thaw - freeze duration of time, and you try to start it in 20* weather you should be prepared for this to happen! I was expecting to see some ice crystals but not the entire filter frozen solid! Now the question is - do the additives really work??? Also would it be better to have a full tank of fuel instead of half?