Oil & Fuel fuel system on Kubota M5400S

[tstex]

Hello to all,

I have owned a M5400S since the Dec 2005 and it has been great. I used to buy my diesel in four plastic 5-gal containers and go to the fuel depot to buy it, then store them in my garage from the elements, but the garage was not climate controlled.

I changed the fuel filter a couple of times over the yrs, and it had, I guess, the normal gunk and sediments. About 5-6 yrs ago, I went to a 50gallon drum that is stored in my wooden shed with the tractor [really not climate controlled]. I get it refilled whenever it is 20-30% from empty. I cleaned my fuel sediment bowl yesterday and I was lucky I had an extra fuel filter. The metal top and bottom portion of the filter had a lot of rust on it and the bottom was really full of X. It was also really difficult getting the fuel sediment bowl free because there was some corrosion the top of the fuel shut-off valve head [underneath side] and the large ring that that screws on and off...the corrosion was within the threads and where the rubber o-rings seals the screw ring to the upper body of the shut-off valve. I would assume there was some water in there and that is why the fuel filter rusted.

My hand pump for my 50 gal drum does not have a filter, so should I get one? The drum is not exposed to the sun and the comp said the inside is coated and it should not condensate. I also try to keep my tractor fuel tank, which is plastic, full as possible. Are there any other recommedations you can make to prevent any possibility of water getting into my fuel tank/system? Should I drain my fuel tank? If so, what is the proper process for cleaning the tank and can I salvage the remaining diesel? It is about 3/4 full.

Finally, If I do have water in my 50 gallon drum [and since diesel floats on water], how do would you recommend getting it out? I have a telescopic rod that goes to somewhere near the bottom to suction the diesel up when I pump it, so I was just trying to determine the best option here.

Thank you very much and I look forward to your responses, they are greatly appreciated.

Regards,
tstex

 

[SSdoxie]

A filter on your pump would be a great idea going forward. One way to get water off the bottom without draing the barrel is use a clear tube or hose going to the bottom and syphon it off into a container. You will be able to see when water stops coming and start getting clean fuel.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Clean, water free fuel is a must for a diesel engine. Condensation can happen in any kind of tank, plastic or metal. Keeping the tractor's fuel tank as full as posible can help minimize , but not eliminate, condensation. I use a vertical 55 gallon drum for our ranch diesel and I treat it with PS Diesel Clean (no I don't work for PS) and I also have a filter on the pump. When I empty the tank, I drain the dregs and l put it in a clear container and look for water. After five years of use, I found 1 tablesoon of water in the tank dregs. I also keep the fuel pump inlet tube off the bottom of the tank so I minimize picking up any crud as well as water from the bottom.
I bought tractor a few years ago and it had water contaminated fuel in it. I bought a HF siphon pump and tied the inlet tube to a wire rod and held that so the inlet was at the bottom of the tank. I then pumped the fuel/water out of the tank bottom. I didn't get it all but the water seperator on the tractor got what I left behind.

In your situation, here's what I'd recommend:

1)Install a fuel filter on your fuel storage tank and treat fuel with something like Diesel Kleen.
2) Install the pump inlet tube about 1 '' off the tank bottom
3) Install a new filter(s) on tractor(Allready done per your post)
4)Drain the bottom of the filter before every start up and collect in a glass jar and look for water.
5)Keep your tractor fuel tank as full as possible, filling it at the end of the day, if possible.
6)Replace your fuel filter before freezing weather if you live in a cold climate
7)Before re-filling the fuel storage tank, drain the dregs and see what you find. If lots of rust, you may be needing a new tank.

 

[MHarryE]

I got a tractor in 2002 and spent the next 8 years carrying fuel in 5 gallon plastic containers, always using on-road diesel. I changed the fuel filter once in those 8 years - no sign of dirt or water when I changed it. I retired and had a lot more time to spend on my farm so traded up. Hauling fuel in 5 gallon cans was no longer reasonable so I got a 109 gallon transfer tank and filled up from the off-road pump at the only station in town that sells off-road. My first problem came when I had less than 40 hours. Fuel filter plugged - water mainly and some dirt. I talked about it here and the best suggestion was to put a water separator filter on the tank outlet. That plugged due to water with about the 3rd tank. Last week with about 190 hours on my tractor I lost power. Filter just like you said - rust on top, dirty, and water in the fuel - you could see the water separated out from fuel on a flat cover over the steer cylinder on my tractor where some spilled when I was changing the filter. I have since found that the owner of the station has been having a lot of complaints about his off-road fuel and has determined he has a leaking underground tank - source of dirt and water. I checked with filter people and they tell me a water separator is about 90 percent effective so some water is going to get through. So I am going back to on-road fuel from the more reliable source in town (they don't sell off-road). I flushed out my tank and am making a clean start with a fresh water separator out of the tank and filter on my tractor. But from experience, water in the fuel is going to happen, condensation, supplier, whatever. You can never have too much filtration or water separation.