freezing tc24da

[Nik]

Howes diesel worked for me. Last winter my Kubota was kept stalling out due to gelled fuel in 32 degree weather. i bought Howes and added a small amount as per the directions. After circulating in the engine for only a couple of minutes the engine stopped hesitating and stalling out. Ran perfectly after that and did not have to change any filters or fuel. here is a picture of the fuel bowl before adding howes.

 

[MiserableOldFart]

I use anti-gel in my TC 26 DA and it still has a problem from time to time in very cold weather.. It is true that I use it sparingly in the fall so the winter finds it with summer fuel still in it. Because of the way it acts, I think part of the problem is the very tiny fuel filter/bowl on these little tractors.

The tractor always starts, and then will run for a few minutes like everything is fine, but then die. After that it will start and run for just a few seconds and then die. This is due to the small amount of fuel getting through the filter which is surrounded by gelled fuel. It never gets a chance to warm up to any extent, and because it doesn't and the fuel filter/bowl doesn't get a chance to scavenge any warmth froim the engine, it worsens. If the engine runs long enough to get to normal operating temperature, there is no problem, and the fuel filter does indeed scavenge quite a bit of heat from the engine. Probably if you run it long enough, the fuel tank does as well..

To hopefully rectify the problem, which I got out of using diesel 911, I added more of the antigel, and a little bit of kersoene and some fresh fuel to fill the tank after I used it a while. It seems to be better now, but I haven't tested it in 10 degree weather since the last time it gelled.

It's nice to have fresh fuel, but if you don't use the tractor constantly and you follow the manual suggestions to keep the tank full, you are always going to end up with summer fuel in there for at least the beginning of the winter. It's also true that these little engines don't burn a lot of fuel, so it's hard to strike a balance.

 

[tc24guy]

Note to self

With the information gathered here I will make a "note to myself" for next year, since the tractor rarely gets used in October and pretty much just sits in Nov-Dec. I will need to do something for the following years or until I can build a new barn.

During fall let the tractor run low on fuel and start with additves. Do a few warm ups in the off months. Purchase new fuel just before the first heavy snow (which can be anywhere from November to February) mix with additives and top off tank.

 

[bp fick]

Re: Note to self

With the information gathered here I will make a "note to myself" for next year, since the tractor rarely gets used in October and pretty much just sits in Nov-Dec. I will need to do something for the following years or until I can build a new barn.

During fall let the tractor run low on fuel and start with additves. Do a few warm ups in the off months. Purchase new fuel just before the first heavy snow (which can be anywhere from November to February) mix with additives and top off tank.

Your observations and commitments are right on. I know others may love to keep 50 gallons of fuel in reserve, but even though I live in the sticks, there is a diesel pump at a station a mile and a half from me. It gets reasonably good business, being off the interstate. I let them be my storage. Since they fuel busses, commercial trucks and such, I know they get pretty frequent refills.

I just don't keep a lot of fuel around to go stale. Gas, Mix, or Diesel. I detest aging fuel issues, so I'd rather just stop by the station with my fuel can as needed. Just enough to stay ahead, that's all.

Personally, I pretty much ignore the hour meter. If it's fall and the leaves are falling, it's time for an oil/filter change and the annual fuel filter change. Winter here is too harsh to be playing emergency mechanic. I prefer reliability.

 

[RickB]

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.

Diesel additives aren't going to do much for that. That is frozen water, not gelled fuel. That is far more water than any trteatment will cure, and at any rate, even dispersed, treated water must be jammed through injectors and pumps to be eliminated from the system. Due to the size of water molecules, this is very hard on equipment. When I was farming ( and actually to this day), every diesel I own got a fresh fuel filter sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving. That way, any collected water residing in the filter or filter bowl is disposed of. Fuel gelling may also be a problem in this instance, and treated fuel is also a part of the answer. I don't mean to suggest clean summer fuel would work in these conditions. It would likely gel even without the water problem.

 

[tc24guy]

Winter Fuel blend ?

I agree with you Rick and that much water didn't accumulate overnight either. So fresh fuel from the station in the beginning of December sounds like a plan. Next question??? when do they (fuel stations) switch from summer blend to winter blend? and is it better to use "on road" or "off road" fuel for winter???



Thanks everyone for the great info!

 

[bp fick]

If you are like 90% of the cut guys here on TBN, you buy your fuel from a local station. That station, to answer your question, may begin the shift from summer to winter as early as September. But the process is lengthy and the "mix" you actually get from the tank is going to take awhile to be more winter mix. By November, your local station should be completely winter blend. This is my northern exposure experience. YMMV.

Off road vs On Road. Again, if you are like the majority here, you are buying your diesel from a Quick Mart or Truck stop near you. You aren't nearly as likely to go find a jobber who sells you off road.

I also agree that your photo looks a lot more like solid ice than merely diesel wax. Cause? Stored outside. Condensation. Watery diesel in the first place. Take your pick.

 

[tc24guy]

After I added the Amsoil stuff I got the hairdryer out and warmed up the fuel lines, bled them and it started but was running crappy and eventually stalled. so I got some fresh fuel and topped off the tank and proceeded to clear my drive for a couple of hours with out any problems. Now the TC24 is tightly parked in the barn .

 

[Soundguy]

besides perhaps having summer fuel.. have you been servicing the filter and any watyer traps?

soundguy

 

[tc24guy]

besides perhaps having summer fuel.. have you been servicing the filter and any watyer traps?

soundguy

It was time for the 50 hour service 450 hours. and the fuel was probably 6months old, so definitely summer fuel. and sat for quite a while at 1/2 tank. 20/20 my problem was obvious.