Off-road diesal vs regular type

sweep · Jun 14, 2008

I have a 2006 model TC 45 with 45 hours. I've had it a little over one year. Tractor starting smoking heavily out of the blue the other day. Air filter is not plugged and fuel filter appears fine.

The dealer asked if I was using off road diesal. I replied I was using the diesal from BP at the local gas station. I asked when I bought the tractor if I had to use any special diesal and he replied that's fine (when I told him I bought mine at th elocal gas station BP)

By not using the off road diesal could I have harmed the tractor?

I taken immaculate car of the tractor. Even letting it run for 1-2 minutes before moving it and it's covered with a blanket when not in use etc.

jinman · Jun 15, 2008

I think your injector pump could be the culprit. If it is feeding too much fuel, you may have a case of diesel slobber into the exhaust system. If it smokes at startup only, then it could be glowplug related (not working), but if it smokes continually, then I think that points at the mixture being far too rich.

There should be no problem with running "road" diesel. That's all I've ever run in my TC45D with 1200 hours. My tractor only puts out a puff of smoke when it starts and may smoke a little when loaded heavily.

Oh yes...one other thing. Do you have more blowby coming out of the crankcase vent? There is a chance that you might have a defective piston ring. If so, the smoke would get a lot worse when you put the tractor under load and the crankcase vent should be showing signs of blowby.

sweep · Jun 16, 2008

Jim
Thanks for the reply. The smoke comes out of the tractor upon startup and also when you raise or lower the throttle so much so that in one hour the inside of the drivers tire and rim has blackened from the soot. It also comes out when under light load.

There is a "hissing sound/rubbing sound from the engine at idle. I never heard before.

The tractor never smoked like this before (just the normalpuff at startup)
My Dad drove the tractor down to the dealer the other day about 2.5 miles one way
to take back a yard rake we rented. About halfway home is when he said it started smoking. he drove 25 mph or less the whole way and kept the throttle at a reasonable speed.

It also looses power going up a small grade and that's when it smokes..

VAChesterfield · Jun 16, 2008

The only differences between on and off road diesel is that off road is colored with a harmless red dye and has no taxes added to the price ... so it's cheaper.

If off road diesel is available in your area, you should use it simply because you'll save some change.

There is no operational advantage or disadvantage to using on or off road diesel. Nope, not one. It's just about the money.

WTA · Jun 16, 2008

There is no difference in how good it works unless you buy it at a place that only fills their tank once a year like I did. I will never do it again either. That garbage plugged up my fuel system so bad it took all day to clean it out. Whatever diesel you decide on just make sure it is fresh.

jinman · Jun 16, 2008

sweep said:
There is a "hissing sound/rubbing sound from the engine at idle. I never heard before.

Suddenly, this is starting to sound like a blown headgasket: smoke, low power, hissing. If a gasket is blown, it could be sucking oil and/or coolant into the cylinders. I'd open the radiator when it is cold and then start up the engine. Let it warm up and put the engine under slight load. If you see bubbles in the radiator, that's another good sign of a blown headgasket. I think you have something that has gone very wrong on your low-hour tractor. I'd be looking for a dealer to get it checked and a lot more definitive answer than I could ever give from a verbal description of symptoms.

sweep · Jun 16, 2008

Jim
The dealer picked it up on Friday. Still sitting on their lot. Should have an answer in several days.

LBrown59 · Jun 16, 2008

VAChesterfield said:
The only differences between on and off road diesel is that off road is colored with a harmless red dye and has no taxes added to the price ... so it's cheaper.

If off road diesel is available in your area, you should use it. simply because
you'll save some change.

I saved 42 dollars worth of change on the 60 gallons of off road i had delivered the other day.

sweep · Jun 23, 2008

Wanted to give an update. Tractor came back with a clean bill of health. Dealer changed the air and fuel filters and the tractor no longer smokes. Just the little puff at startup

Mystery what caused this happen. Hopefully this is the end of the problem.

BTW: Dealer has two son's who work at the dealership. I pulled each one aside individually to get an answer about on road vs off road diesal. Each gave a different answer.
Oh well. Will continue to use on road but may put in an occasional fill up with off road to be safe.

I will only be putting about 45-50 hours per year on the tractor.

Skyco · Jun 24, 2008

sweep said:
BTW: Dealer has two son's who work at the dealership. I pulled each one aside individually to get an answer about on road vs off road diesal. Each gave a different answer.
Oh well. Will continue to use on road but may put in an occasional fill up with off road to be safe.

Ya know I've found over the years that most dealers, be they car/truck/tractor/boat/you name it, are some of the least reliable sources of info

Not to say ALL are that way but most are...

Many "enthusiasts" have better/more knowledge, to most at the dealer it is just a job. One they do because the have to, not because they love it and are passionate about it

Can't tell you how many times I've been to a big car/truck dealer with a warranty issue and have to point out TSB info to them because they don't even know about it...not encouraging.

BTW your statement to run off road D occasionally "to be safe" puzzles me- mind elaborating? There is no need ever to run off road D except to save a little money...