Fuel Tank with "crud" in it

[bnew17]

I have a 2001 JD 5310 I purchased last week. Low hours at 1,200. It is my first tractor and I have enjoyed it thus far. I have been looking around and checking different things out on the tractor and decided to look in the fuel tank and I saw some "crud" and what looked to be pieces of vinyl, maybe from a sticker? (the white pieces). I asked the previous owner who I bought the tractor from and he said he had never noticed it and that the tractor always ran and started up great (which it does). A friend of mine said he used to get similar stuff in his gas tank and that I just needed to make sure I never let the fuel get "real low" and I shouldn't have a problem. Is this something that I need to get corrected immediately or what should I do?

 

[Diggin It]

Yes, it needs to be cleaned out. None of that should be there. Not sure why your fuel is blue-green either, but it shouldn't be.

I'd drain that entirely, get new, fresh fuel and add some biocide.

 

[3930dave]

I'd try and fish those floating chunks out.

That floating slick may just residue from a label, or maybe not. When I got my old tractor, it had a bigger slick of "something" floating on top of the fuel, and a loose fitting fuel cap. I threw some biocide (read the safety label carefully) into my first fillup, and changed my fuel filter as soon as I could after the first tank. (I did get the proper new cap ASAP too ).

You may be able to get away with ignoring that, but IMO, starting ownership as clean as possible is a good investment of time. Bacterial growth is common in ULSD, and can take substantial work/filter changes once it takes hold - Murphy can make sure that happens with really bad timing too.....

Clean it up, and enjoy ! If you are new to diesels, a good practice is to store with the tank full. (Slow typing, I see DI already voted for biocide).

Rgds, D.

 

[bnew17]

Would the the tank need to be drained, or is there a way to "fish out" the crud in there, as Dave recommended? Could it be pumped or siphoned out, with a large enough hose?

 

[pmsmechanic]

The first thing I would try is a rag wrapped around a stick. Make sure the rag is well wired on and just see if the crud will stick to the rag when you fish for it in the tank. Once you have the crud out then I would drain the old diesel and replace like others have suggested.

 

[Tinhack]

Siphon as much as you can out of the tank. Whatever is left, you don't want. Water will be on the bottom. Use a wet-vac to get the rest.

Watch when vacuuming around the valve in the bottom. There might be a replaceable screen on the valve that could be dislodged or broken. After you've siphoned most all of the diesel, it would be better to pull the shutoff valve out and clean it separately. Also be gentle around the fuel level sender arm and float.

 

[radios1]

I'd drain the tank, remove it, add 1/2 gallon of fuel, slosh it around, then dump it by turning the tank upside down..

 

[bnew17]

Do you think it is some type of fungus type growth,or debris of some sort?

 

[Jstpssng]

Do you think it is some type of fungus type growth,or debris of some sort?

Yes. And I reiterate what others have said. Dirty fuel can make your life miserable; and if you're in the snow belt, you will soon find out if you have water in your fuel.

 

[bnew17]

I am in Georgia.