L3400 Fuel Gauge

[Texas Dodge]

I just recently purchased a L3400 Kubota Tractor. From the specifications it says it has a 9 gallon fuel tank. When using the tractor hard for about 4 hours, I was almost on empty so I decided to fill it up. I put in 5 gallons of diesel and it was full again. What gives? How can I only add 5 gallons and it be full again? Is this a bad fuel sending unit or is it suppose to be this way so as to not get much condensation in the tank?

Thanks,

 

[Marcussen]

My L2800 has problems with fuel levels too, on mine when it gets to between E and 1/4 tank I can put 6 gallons in it. It will then run 3-4 hours before the needle starts dropping. So the gauge measures E with 2 plus gallons left and full when the tank is down 3 gallons.

 

[bigballer]

mine will appear to be "full" for a long time and then all of the sudden (over an hour or so) it will drop to just over 1/4. i have let it run pretty low but am unable to get anywhere near 9 gallons into it. could it have something to do with the shape of the tank?

 

[clenhart]

Mine behaves the exact same way... I can run for a long time before it comes off Full, but when it does it drops to 1/4 quickly. I have run it a long time below empty and still put way less than 9 gals. in it...

Chip

 

[KubotaTerry]

Mine does about the same think. Empty on the gauge means I got about half a tank left.

Terry

 

[Texas Dodge]

That's good to know that I am not the only one. Thanks guys

 

[Huntthomas]

My 07 L2800 with low hours also says it is full, I check the tank and only about an inch left in it. I am going to call my dealer to see if there is a recall or this is a issue that they are aware of?

 

[wushaw]

Empty in mine means it's empty or I should do something about it pretty soon since I have put 8 gallons in it when the needle was a needles width above "E".
It does act like an old chevrolet PU though, it stays on full a good while then drops quickly.

 

[Fossil Farm]

After a few years, you'll never pay attention to the fuel gauge. You know how many hours you've run her, and know it is time for fuel. On an old Ford, we would run about 4 hours, and know it was time to fill her. On the old Massey it was about 6 hours of field time before checking the tank.

Best to always keep the tank full anyhow. Reduces condensation issues, and if you end up working a job longer than expected, there is less stress, worrying about running out of fuel, especially with diesels. Enjoy.

 

[Goog]

Had to do this test myself because I thought that the gauge seemd a bit off also. I ran mine to below E then below the red line that is below E. I have never ran it that low before. It took about 7 gallons to fill it to the neck. Now at least I know that the E is pretty conservative which is ok with me. I will probably never run it that low again. Brian

 

[teg]

I was chipping brush for a hour or so and thought... I better not run out of fuel... I forgot the last time I put some in. I looked at the gauge and yep, sure enough, it was on "E"... Stopped everything, drove up to the barn and topped off the tank with 4 gallons What good is a 9 gallon tank, if the fuel gauge only measures 4 gallons???

Are there any Kubota dealers that can tell us if the fuel gauge can be adjusted??





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[Texas Dodge]

I was chipping brush for a hour or so and thought... I better not run out of fuel... I forgot the last time I put some in. I looked at the gauge and yep, sure enough, it was on "E"... Stopped everything, drove up to the barn and topped off the tank with 4 gallons What good is a 9 gallon tank, if the fuel gauge only measures 4 gallons???

Are there any Kubota dealers that can tell us if the fuel gauge can be adjusted??





.

I talked to my dealer about this and he said he talked to the mechanics and it is that way so you don't run out of fuel or let the tank get to low.

 

[teg]

Thanks for the info., Texas_Dodge...

If I know that only half the tank is gone... I'll keep running it... WHY even have a fuel gauge? The purpose of a fuel gauge is to show you when you are close to being out of fuel?? (not half a tank!!!)

I used to drive the tractor from a friends place to my land, It was so low on fuel that as soon as I got off the pavement, I shut it off and walked 3/4 of a mile to my house to get more fuel... I think, 5 gallons topped it off.

So, NO adjustment at all to the gauge?? Is there any after market products for fuel gauges to fix this problem?? (beside a clear fuel cap)



.

 

[FL4400]

Try here to get some more information oon the fuel gauge problem http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...466-fuel-gauge-problem-l4400-psb-2007-023.pdf

 

[beersngars]

Mine is a L3400HST and the fuel gauge seems fairly accurate. The needle sits above "full" a bit and sits there, (I do fill it to the brim) but when it does move, it seems very close. When it registers "half", I can't quite put 5 gallons in it.

 

[Texas Dodge]

Mine is a L3400HST and the fuel gauge seems fairly accurate. The needle sits above "full" a bit and sits there, (I do fill it to the brim) but when it does move, it seems very close. When it registers "half", I can't quite put 5 gallons in it.

When my L3400 is right at the E mark it only takes 5 gallons to fill it right up to the top

 

[teg]

Try here to get some more information oon the fuel gauge problem http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...466-fuel-gauge-problem-l4400-psb-2007-023.pdf

Thanks FL4400... Looks like what's on page 5 might be the problem... I'll bring up my wife's ohmmeter and check what the reading is. I have a full tank and I have to change the fuel filter so I'll just drain the tank and watch the reading as it drops. Since I have 2 five gallon Diesel/Gas Cans, I should be able to get a good sense of half a tank.

"Measure with an ohmmeter, Measure the resistance of the fuel sensor across the terminal and the sensor body with an ohmmeter. Empty: around 110 ohms Full: around 3 ohms"

 

[Dieselmh]

I didn't know anyone ever had a fuel gauge on a tractor that was accurate. My uncle bought a JD at the same time I bought my Kubota. We were both complaining about the gauges being wrong. My Dad's Kubota is the same way, as is his Ford and my wife's uncle's little compact JD. I think it's a conspiracy to get us to buy more diesel, even when we don't need it!

 

[FL4400]

I hope it helps you out.

 

[cp1969]

My L3000DT (and I think the 3400 and 2800 are similar) is shaped such that you can't see the bottom of the tank when looking in the fuel fill opening. What you see is "a" bottom, but it is not "the" bottom. It is kind of a "┌" shaped (with the outlet at the bottom of the vertical leg) and it would take some work to make a fuel gage read linearly throughout the range of fill of a tank shaped like that. As you would expect from that arrangement, the fuel gage comes down very slow when full and goes down very fast towards the end.

It could be engineered away, but why bother? Like an airplane, a fuel gage on a tractor is a superfluous accessory anyway.