What happens if I run out of fuel?

Cougsfan · Apr 23, 2019

As I posted earlier, my fuel gauge is now anything but accurate. The 4720CH only has like a 9 gallon or so tank. I told my dealer I was worried about the gauge because I have always been told (and I know this is true on my old Ferguson) that running any diesel engine out of fuel is not a good thing. The dealer said that is true on older diesels. On my tractor, while it is not advised, it is also not that big of deal. Just put some fuel in it and start it up again. No need to bleed the injectors. Is that true? (I haven't experimented)

dragoneggs · Apr 23, 2019

Always wondered this too. My gauge varies wildly depending on incline. Have no idea how accurate it is but never wanted to run out of fuel hearing about how bad it is/was suppose to be on your engine.

oosik · Apr 23, 2019

I fill my tank after EVERY time I use the tractor. So, there has never been a time when the gauge shows lower than half a tank.

My owners manual has a procedure if you run out of fuel. There is a manual "primer pump" that purges all the air out of the fuel lines and get you going again. I've never tried it nor had reason to try it.

4570Man · Apr 23, 2019

I’ve ran out of fuel twice. It started once and the second time I had to bleed. There’s a bleeder valve on it and it’s not that big of a deal. It’s a lot better that trying to loosen each injector while not melting the starter.

Agvg · Apr 23, 2019

Modern diesels are if proper designed self bleeding.

ptsg · Apr 24, 2019

Branson tractors use an electric lift pump. So I would just fill the tank and let the pump run for a bit, then start the engine.

ericm979 · Apr 24, 2019

On my 3725 when the gauge is at 1/3 full while the tractor is on level ground, there is room for 5 gallons of fuel. At the halfway mark there's not, even though the tank is supposed to hold 12 gallons. So before I start working, while it's in the barn's level floor, I check the gauge and fill up a 5 gallon cans worth if it's at or below 1/3.

Gafn · Apr 24, 2019

Gents - if your under warranty - get those fuel sending units/floats replaced.
My 2015, 3520H fuel sending unit went bad - heavy corrosion on the dang thing, clogging filters lines and the like.

I ran out of fuel once with this tractor, refilled the tank and it restarted without incident...
There should be a recall on how badly the sending unit/float was corroded...

deserteagle71 · Apr 24, 2019

I let my old John Deere 2020 run out of diesel once...it will never happen again. I had to loosen each injector line individually at the head and use the manual primer pump until diesel flowed from that line. Took a couple hours before I could get the tractor going again. The fuel gauge on this old unit has never been accurate so I replaced the sending unit, thinking that after 50 years the sending unit might be going bad. It didn't make any difference - gauge is still off. Now I use a very accurate gauge - a steel rod I stick in the tank - and I make sure the tractor never gets close to running out of fuel.