Kubota catastrophic engine failures

[Snobdds]

Another water in the fuel tragedy. Water and high pressure common rail diesels do not mix. Filter your fuel and make sure it has a water block in the filter media.

 

[Turnip]

Kubota insurance should cover the cost if the warrantee doesn't. Less $250. I've had 3 claims on my 2017 M5-111. A DEF header replacement. Front body repair from tree limbs passing by my grapple. And a front windshield replacement. The Kubota insurance people are very nice. And they will ask what dealer you prefer.
Call them. 1-800-348-5802 option 1

https://www.ktacinsuranceagency.com/Claims-Center.aspx

 

[MHarryE]

About the failure - "fuel pump not drawing fuel". The high pressure fuel pump is pressure fed by an electric feed pump. I believe the high pressure pump is a Denso. It is variable displacement holding required rail pressure based on a signal from the ECU. Very unusual failure mode. I have had 5 Tier 4 Kubotas including a M5-111 with no problem but I try keeping my fuel as water free as I can - water block filter before fuel goes into the tank, then the tractor water separators. My M7 does have a water in fuel indicator but all they are is a switch saying that the water level at the bottom of the water separator has hit a certain level. My water separators have shut the engine down by blocking fuel to the high pressure pump before coming close to the switch. The bowls at least 2 of mine are clear plastic and I can see the water level, much more effective than a switch. My M7 actually has notified me of a blocked water separator with the ECU warning "Low Fuel Rail Pressure - See Dealer". That's the indicator the high pressure pump cannot get enough fuel to meet the rail demand. Time to change water separator. To prevent damage, this is a shut down situation. Run it longer and the FIP is running without its lube - fuel.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

Check with the factory on matters of warranty. Not saying you can't trust the dealer, but.....

 

[5030]

I'm pretty sure the dealers technician is parroting what Kubota told him Kubota tech are al\lw3ays under continuing education as the products evolve.

 

[5030]

Another water in the fuel tragedy. Water and high pressure common rail diesels do not mix. Filter your fuel and make sure it has a water block in the filter media.

Racor...

 

[sd455dan]

Deleted not specific enough to Kubota diesel CRS

 

[Bobrown14]

I'm guessing you won't find anyone with the same failure.

There was a guy with the same failure last week. Was a kubota.... something about water in the fuel.

Here's the link

Water in fuel causes $10,000 damage to my Kubota Grand L6060

Like the title says, water in fuel caused me a $10,000 repair bill to my 2017 Grand L6060 with about 1200 hours on it. The water caused rust in the fuel rail which caused damage to the injectors. I have had fuel problems with this tractor since its new. I have a 100 gal. nurse tank that I use...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[quartersaw]

My 2019 M5-111 (tier 4) last month had catastrophic engine failure, 1,200 hours, from the diesel high pressure fuel pump. I only use gas station diesel in 5 gallon containers used only for diesel. Cost estimated $17,000. I wonder how many other Kubotas are having this issue. KTAC, Kubota insurance is not covering the claim.

I will start collecting contact info from other Kubota owners to see if this is a systemic problem of filters not filtering and maybe hold Kubota accountable. Send your contact info to me at Landruma@aol.com if interested.

I know that there were issues with Volkswagen high pressure fuel pumps, that were related, to water in the fuel, grenading the pumps. You may want to do a Google search for VW related HPFP issues. There were extensive discussions about that, and Particulate Filters, over at tdiclub.com. It’s the same technology, so hopefully it will be of some help to you, in terms of cause, and solutions. Best of luck, to you!

 

[Hay Dude]

I still can't get over the fact that Kubota cheaped out so much on such a sensitive fuel system. Considering how they overprice their tractors so much, would it hurt them so much if they include a simple water in fuel sensor and a light on the dash or an error code? That simple gadget could've saved lot's of money on the owners as they would easily caught the water in fuel before ruin an entire fuel system.

Even the so called "cheap brands" have a water in fuel sensor on models with common rail engines.

You’d laugh if you saw the fuel system on my bigger kubotas
A small, cheap typical water/fuel separator and a smallish fuel filter.
No sensors or indicators.

The “indicator” is the tractor starts losing power or sputtering-usually when you need it most. I have simply resigned myself to 3-4 fuel filters per year.