PT1445 Deutz fuel filter spewing diesel onto hot engine block

[2manyrocks]

Went to blow the debris out of my 1445 this afternoon after finishing mowing and noticed that the engine was smoking. Then I saw diesel fuel spewing out of the top of the fuel filter onto the engine block. This machine still has the original fuel filter with 68 hours on the machine. No fire this time.

I haven't touched the fuel filter. It hasn't been bumped or damaged.

I've never had this to happen on a piece of equipment. I don't know what happened or why.

Thoughts?

 

[ponytug]

Only that a hose is somehow loose, or has a bit of dirt on the hose barb, or that the barb is loose in the filter housing. The Deutz hose clamps are amazing. I have never had one leak, so I wonder if the clamp perhaps wasn't tightened fully. There is a series of little ratchets.

I guess it is possible that filter holder is cracked, but I have never seen that.

All the best,

Peter

 

[5030]

Love that term 'spewing'...lol

I'd think leaking would be more correct. A failed sealing ring maybe? Things do happen you know.

 

[m5040]

The Deutz can produce a lot of vibration and more at some RPMs, so depending on your style of operating the machine, it may see more vibrations then others (the vibrations can also move around on the machine as vibration RPM changes). You need to clean and find where the leak is. Hose clamp, loose fuel filter, chaffed hose, cracked fuel filter can or ??

When you set the machine at your operating RPM, open the hood and see if fuel filter assembly is vibrating.

 

[2manyrocks]

Fuel isn't just leaking when the machine is running, it is actually spewing out from the top of the filter housing on the side facing the engine block. I don't have a way of making a photo of the back of the filter, but you can see where fuel has been on the side of the filter in the oval area.

I suspect either the seal has failed or something isn't right with the housing. Not having another filter on hand, I parked the machine until I sort this out.

 

[ruffdog]

You could just spin the filter off to have a look see. If the filter is the problem, just screw the old one back on until you do get a new one. If it is not the filter, at least having it off allows you to see behind there better.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Also don’t panic. I have had the hose pop off the injector and spray diesel everywhere. Diesel is really hard to ignite. Not saying to drive it around for a long time like that but it isn’t like gas

 

[2manyrocks]

I am going to wait until the new filter arrives. What sort of wrench is good for removing the filter in this tight space? A strap wrench?

How are the hose clamps removed? Haven’t seen this style before.

 

[ponytug]

I am going to wait until the new filter arrives. What sort of wrench is good for removing the filter in this tight space? A strap wrench?

How are the hose clamps removed? Haven’t seen this style before.

A standard band clamp type filter wrench will get it on and off easily. Personally, I would check to see how tight the filter is first. If it is loose, I would tighten it up. If not, I would try tightening the filter first by a 1/4 turn or so, and see.

As @woodlandfarms points out some diesel spray isn't an instant hazard, though I would not want it to happen for more than a second or two.

Those clamps are very strong and reusable. If you look closely, you can see that they have a small tab that overlaps some hooks on the band. I find that with a small screwdriver they pop loose easily and can be re-tightened with a pair of pliers easily.

All the best,

Peter

 

[LHF2019]

I am going to wait until the new filter arrives. What sort of wrench is good for removing the filter in this tight space? A strap wrench?

How are the hose clamps removed? Haven’t seen this style before.

These would be my choice. Have similar set up and they work good

channel lock oil filter pliers - Google Search