Fuel Problems HELP

[leobourne]

I have been having fuel delivery problems for about three weeks now. The tractor starts and idols but when I put it under a load it dies. The problem starts with a loss of power, the engine stumbles and finally cuts off. I have replaced the fuel filter. When the tractor dies I have to bleed the air from the lines from the fuel filter to the injectors. What do I do? I need the tractor running again. Leo

 

[Bob Rooks]

Hey Leo,
It sounds like you may have a case of the diesel bugs. Check the screen in your sediment bowl.

 

[Affordable]

I agree,your starving for fuel,start at the fuel tank,sediment bowl(is it full of fuel ?),line to the pump,there is also a a screen inside the bolt that holds the fuel line to the inlet of the injector pump.

Tommy
Affordable Tractor Sales
"Your Jinma Parts Superstore"
Home of compact Jinma, Foton, and Koyker Tractors and Parts, Wood Chippers, Backhoes - Affordable Tractor Sales Company

 

[leobourne]

I will try this and another recommendation from another thread tomorrow. If the screen is clogged or partially clogged how does the air get in the lines? The fuel bowl was replaced last year due to constant leaking. You are talking about the screen in the fuel bowl below the fuel tank correct? I remember there being a screen in it when I replaced it. Thank you guys for the rapid response to my problem. Leo

 

[greg_g]

If you've ever seen muddy looking gray or gray-green goop in the bottom of your sediment bowl, that's a sign to suspect diesel bugs. If your sediment bowl has remained otherwise clean, that's probably a ghost you don't need to chase down right now. But while we're on the subject, how often do you have to dump water out of the sediment bowl? If you've never done it, take a quick look right now. If it's all yellow, you're ok. If there are two distinct layers - clear below, yellow above - the clear level is water. Dump the bowl. If it's all clear, your engine might be trying to burn water.

Tommy's describing an inline screen further down the fuel path. Follow the flex line from the sediment bowl to the pump. The fitting at the pump end has a screen inside, which has often been reported as a cause of blockage. Also, the hoses on these things aren't of the highest quality either. There have been reports of them collapsing internally, another potential cause for blockage. So it's probably a good idea to do a health & welfare check of ALL the flexible fuel lines.

//greg//

 

[Bob Rooks]

The sediment bowl can appear clean as a whistle (bugs are microscopic) but will coagulate on the screen. Best to remove the bowl and check the screen anyway.

 

[greg_g]

The sediment bowl can appear clean as a whistle (bugs are microscopic) but will coagulate on the screen.

I think you're just a little besotted with these diesel bugs Bob. Might be a good idea to get down off your 'dozer and get onto one of our tractors. The sediment bowl screen isn't any bigger than window screen, it's only intended to catch the big chunks. Diesel bugs went right through mine, and formed a gray-green sludge in the bottom of the sediment bowl

//greg//

 

[Bob Rooks]

Greg,
I'm speaking from personal experience with my dozer's OEM sediment bowl and the issues I had. The sediment bowls are the same. I can't find the thread I had on CTOA about it, but I will post the pics when I get home tonight.
Clear bowl, plugged screen, and the damage to the lift pump and injection pump relief valve, which wouldn't seat and allow fuel pressure to develop - the fuel was just flowing through the injection pump, air and all.
Yes, the live bugs will pass right through just about anything, it's the dead ones that do the plugging.

I found the pics.

 

[robert421960]

i have never in my life heard of diesel bugs lol

 

[Diamondpilot]

i have never in my life heard of diesel bugs lol

Same here. Well I have heard of them but never had a issue. Just did the math yesterday to close out the month and I used 13,761 gallons of fuel last month alone. I have owned diesel equipment for 25 years and not one single issue. I wonder if climate has to do with a lot of it? Say a warm wet area is worse??? Some of the stuff we use only gets started once every 2 years and fires up usually no problems with a jump start and some ether.

Chris

 

[Bob Rooks]

i have never in my life heard of diesel bugs lol

Guess you don't get out much. :laughing:
Ask anyone you know in the Air Force or Navy, that has to do with fueling aircraft, if their fuel is treated for bugs.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Same here. Well I have heard of them but never had a issue. Just did the math yesterday to close out the month and I used 13,761 gallons of fuel last month alone. I have owned diesel equipment for 25 years and not one single issue. I wonder if climate has to do with a lot of it? Say a warm wet area is worse??? Some of the stuff we use only gets started once every 2 years and fires up usually no problems with a jump start and some ether.

Chris

I'm not saying there is a bug epidemic, but they can pose a serious problem when detected. Yes, climate has a lot to do with it. Bugs like warm, humid and/or condensed atmospheres. It helps a lot to keep your fuel tank full - less chance for condensation to form.

Completed the end-of-month report yesterday, went through 83,000 gallons (typical) with no bug problems, but we centrifuge our fuel as well as run it through coalescer filters.
We have had bug problems in the past.

All I am doing is offering advice based on personal experience and education. Take it for what it's worth, or just blow it off.

 

[robert421960]

Guess you don't get out much. :laughing:
Ask anyone you know in the Air Force or Navy, that has to do with fueling aircraft, if their fuel is treated for bugs.

yea i live under a rock up a holler in kentucky so i dont know anything
i have traveled all over the US in my 49 yr life and lived in jax fla for 10 yrs near 3 naval bases
my dad retired from the airforce too
also i have owned and operated tractors and small heavy equiptment most all my life
and NO i have never heard of these bugs
i guess im just an ole dumb hillbilly

 

[Bob Rooks]

Then I guess you could call it advanced knowledge

 

[SPIKER]

yea i live under a rock up a holler in kentucky so i dont know anything
i have traveled all over the US in my 49 yr life and lived in jax fla for 10 yrs near 3 naval bases
my dad retired from the airforce too
also i have owned and operated tractors and small heavy equiptment most all my life
and NO i have never heard of these bugs
i guess im just an ole dumb hillbilly

Might be that you have not seen them yet, they do exist, and look usually like small black specs in the fuel (like floating soot) they will grow if given a chance and clog filters like mentioned.

Mark

 

[civesnedfield]

I have been having fuel delivery problems for about three weeks now. The tractor starts and idols but when I put it under a load it dies. The problem starts with a loss of power, the engine stumbles and finally cuts off. I have replaced the fuel filter. When the tractor dies I have to bleed the air from the lines from the fuel filter to the injectors. What do I do? I need the tractor running again. Leo

Fuel systems are fairly straight forward.

It sounds like the machine is starving for fuel. You have already taken the filter out of the equation. I would pull the filter again. With the filter off, turn the fuel back on, you should have a good flow of fuel spilling out. If you don't the pick up tube screen is clogged.

If you do have a good fuel flow my guess would be that there is a leak. Either you have a pin hole in a fuel line or a gasket is not seated properly at the filter or the water separator.

 

[SPIKER]

I forgot to say there are several screens in the banjo fittings on many of the machines though I cant remember what yours is.

mark

 

[Bob Rooks]

Either you have a pin hole in a fuel line or a gasket is not seated properly at the filter or the water separator.

In my case I found the valve seats in the lift (transfer) pump were pitted so badly it would barely pump (see pictures). And even though I didn't disassemble it, I could tell that the pressure relief valve was corroded too.

Before: YouTube - Lift pump 1.mpg


After: YouTube - New valve 1.mpg

Note: The new pressure relief valve is adjustable and repairable, the old one is not, it's a sealed unit.

 

[Turbo]

more info on bugs...


Bugs in my fuel