Oil & Fuel Mahindra Cold Weather Cranking Experiences

[Grumpa Wally]

Since my joining this forum I have read many great tips from other members of their wisdom learned from their experiences. The most recent being cold weather diesel start ups. I will say also, I've had several problems, related to cheap workmanship, with my 2011 Mahindra 5035PST, which is a Tier 3 engine. I have been using the anti gel diesel fuel brand made by Blue Def. The fuel in the tractor was purchased at a local country Shell station in the late fall. We have a few cold stretches here when it drops below 15 degrees for several nights. In 2016, we had a similar cold stretch, down to 7 degrees and when I attempted to crank the tractor, it wouldn't crank. Being a diesel novice about such matters I called the dealer mechanic and he stepped me through filter removal and injector bleeding. It so happened that during this process I found a faulty manual pump diaphragm in the top of the filter. I ordered new parts, in addition to new flexible fuel lines that the dealer said Mahindra had problems with. After removing, we found the flexible lines were deteriorating from the inside. The mechanic made a house call, repairs made and all was fine until this week. Again, below 15 degrees, the tractor ran about a minute or so, and shut off. I got the heat gun and warmed all the fuel system and bled the injectors. It then cranked and ran fine.

In the future, I am going to use the recently purchased Mr. Funnel, Howe's diesel anti gel and purchasing my cold weather fuel from a truck stop instead of the rural store. I looked for some Howe's last night at the Wal Mart, there were plenty bottles of other brands, Power Service, Lucas, etc. and the Howe's was sold out. I will find some.

 

[jbrumberg]

It could be water in the fuel system as well as crud. I am not familiar with Howes additives.

PowerService White bottle lowers cloud point/gel point. PowerService removes water only. It seems to work.

I never had a problem with cold weather operation when using decent seasonally adjusted fuel, an additive formulated to reduce gel point, and a Mr. Funnel

I go to the stations that seem to have a decent volume of commercial traffic and/or school buses.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

If you can't find Howe's, then Power Service will work just fine. They both do the same thing, and neither one is made with dragon or unicorn whizz.

But those only help if you have them in the fuel system BEFORE there is a problem. Supposedly Power Service 911 is made to be used if your filter is currently gelled up, but I've never had to use it. Winter grade fuel and Power Service additive is all I've ever had to use.

 

[Phillip w]

Big 10-4 (totally agree)

 

[RSKY]

I was having trouble and went to a NAPA store to get the 911. The clerk said not to get it for my little 22-hp diesel. Said it would remove all the water at once and I would have to change filters several times. So I got the stuff in the white bottle instead. The glass bowl for the filter had ice in it when I changed. Even after putting the additive in the tractor would crank and run for maybe two seconds then shut off. The solution was to get a small fan-type space heater and leave it blowing hot air on the injector pump for more than a half hour. Also had 200-watt magnetic heater on bottom of fuel tank. After that it crank and ran like July. Guess there was some water frozen in the lines somewhere. Seems like the heater on the fuel pump for a half hour worked better than anything else I have tried. Guess I will find out next cold spell.

RSKY

 

[s219]

Since my joining this forum I have read many great tips from other members of their wisdom learned from their experiences. The most recent being cold weather diesel start ups. I will say also, I've had several problems, related to cheap workmanship, with my 2011 Mahindra 5035PST, which is a Tier 3 engine.

I don't think that machine was Tier 3 -- that only covered tractors over 75HP, from 2008-2011.

 

[Bud Soda]

I am in NC. Have not had trouble with my tractors cranking. I use red off road fuel and put nothing in it. On my tier 3 tractors the glow plugs run for 30 sec. before start up. My 2016 TYM starts right up without glow plugs on. It was around 10 at night but I wait until it is 25f to crank and run the tractors.

 

[Grumpa Wally]

I don't think that machine was Tier 3 -- that only covered tractors over 75HP, from 2008-2011.

If I am reading the chart correctly, the deadline for 50hp tractors meeting the Tier 3 emission standard is 2008. The chart link is below.
Emission Standards: USA: Nonroad Diesel Engines

 

[s219]

If I am reading the chart correctly, the deadline for 50hp tractors meeting the Tier 3 emission standard is 2008. The chart link is below.
Emission Standards: USA: Nonroad Diesel Engines

Here is the Tier chart that applies to your tractor:

A 2011 machine in your HP range would have been Tier 4 Interim.

 

[Grumpa Wally]

Here is the Tier chart that applies to your tractor:

A 2011 machine in your HP range would have been Tier 4 Interim.

View attachment 536843

Thanks for clearing up the confusion I had about the stages/years. I think it's gov't meddling in areas where there is not a significant problem.