Stupid mistake with Deere 4010, how bad?

MattCatlin · Sep 26, 2012

The radiator had a crack in the neck so I took the hood off to see where it was leaking and fix it. Of course the radiator and fuel caps come off to get the hood off. After I fixed the leak, I foolishly poured a half gallon of coolant into the fuel tank. Not sure why, I guess used to the coolant being closes to the radiator, which its not on these. Tractor has not been run, thankfully I realized it as last of coolant when into the fuel. I have to get a better pump to get the last few inches of fuel out. Will it be ok once I fill the tank after draining it (holds 34 gallons so should dillute)?

tomstractorsandtoys1 · Sep 26, 2012

You are not the first person to do that.There is a drain in the bottom of the tank,completly drain it they flush it with a few more gallons of fuel and refill and it will be fine.When draines remove line at fuel filter and blow air back into the tank flushing the line.I would remove tank drain plug completly not just open it.They are the same as a radiator drain plug and you usually have to brake the little ears off with plyers and use a socket to remove.While you have everything drained you should change fuel filters as well.

Mike M · Sep 26, 2012

The tank should have a drain on the bottom of it. Our gas 4020 does.Hard to reach but there through a hole in the bottom of the frt. support.
I'd get it all drained out and flush it too. Use the old stuff to burn brush ?

Dick2 · Sep 26, 2012

I don't know for sure, but I think that anti-freeze would be a death threat for injectors.

MattCatlin · Sep 26, 2012

Thanks for the advice. Is the drain also the fuel shut off valve?

Anonymous-0 · Sep 26, 2012

I remember what my dear old dad said at times like this but I cannot post it here. My brother once stripped 3 of th 4 spark plug holes on his Johnson 75 outboard. Dad asked him if he thought it would run after he stripped the first one. When he brought the heads back from the machine shop he laughed out loud. The fourth hole already had a heli coil, it was why it didn't strip that one too.

Mike M · Sep 26, 2012

Should be 2 seperate valves.

RodinNS · Sep 26, 2012

Just drain the tank. If the filter hasn't been changed in some time, change that. Then be ready to change the filter again after you run it some. As long as you have good filters I wouldn't get worried about it.

Rod

37chief · Sep 26, 2012

It isn't a wonder I have not done that myself. Don't feel too bad it's easy to do. A diesel will run on a mixture of 1/3 diesel, and 2/3 thirds gas. But you will be changing the pump a few weeks later. Don't ask my how I know. Humans make mistakes machines don't Stan

Tx Jim · Sep 26, 2012

4010 parts schematic doesn't list a fuel tank drain cock unlike 4020. AT13740 drain cock only shows up for radiator and block but not fuel tank.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 26, 2012

I work as a jd mechanic and about 8 years ago a customer came in saying he needed some coolant to add to his 4440. He left with 2 1/2 gallons and came back a hour later after another 2 1/2. Finally he called asking "how much coolant does a 4440 hold?" He was dumping it in the fuel tank!!!

tomstractorsandtoys1 · Sep 26, 2012

Yes you are right,I though about that while back in the field chopping snaplage and just came in for lunch. I would remove the fitting to make sure that the tank is completly empty. The 20 series tractors do have a drain fitting.

tomstractorsandtoys1 · Sep 26, 2012

I am sorry that I posted wrong. The 10 series do not have a drain just the fitting for the fuel line that is also a shut off.I would remove that fitting completly because it sticks up in the tank about an inch or so.The 20 series has the drain valve that I refered to.

Tx Jim · Sep 26, 2012

No problem but I just wanted MattCatlin to have the correct info. I hate it when I make mistakes and it seems the mistakes are coming more often with my Golden/olden years. :wink:

DRL · Sep 26, 2012

Don't have anything to add about your problem, but just reminded me about something that happened a few years back. Farmer was haying on some public grounds that he had won the bid for. Left his 3010 out there overnight. The next morning he found the radiator cap on the ground, his radiator low on coolant. He had noticed a car on the side of the road on his way to the field. Guess they got a tank full of coolant instead of gas.

donjr · Sep 26, 2012

I have to add to this. Back years ago, dad had a David Bradley roto tiller with a B+S engine onit and it had an oil bath air cleaner. Gdad went to use it, an decided to check the oil first. He removed the top, and noticed the 'oil level' mark on the outside. So he poured about a quart or so of oil into it until the oil came up to the mark. He managed to fill the carb and cylinder full, but had trouble figuring out why the starter rope only went a few inches before it locked up----

teddy52food · Sep 26, 2012

If you use a siphon hose with a piece of tubing, you can siphon it out of the bottom. When it runs pure fuel & no anti-freeze., you are done. The filters should catch the rest.

Tx Jim · Sep 26, 2012

(quoted from post at 14:19:50 09/26/12) If you use a siphon hose with a piece of tubing, you can siphon it out of the bottom. When it runs pure fuel & no anti-freeze., you are done. The filters should catch the rest.

I agree with you. That's better than throwing away $3+ diesel fuel. Back when I worked for a JD dealer I made several service calls for people putting coolant in fuel tank on those series tractors.

37chief · Sep 26, 2012

Just another note. My old brain being what it is I marked my fuel caps, and water caps.with a marker. Stan

Dave in GA · Sep 27, 2012

We all do things like that. I sprayed weed killer on part of the lawn 2 weeks ago with a hose-end sprayer. After it killed everything, even the grass, I realized that I had poured a bottle of Weed AND GRASS killer into the sprayer.

If you fill your radiator with motor oil, you'll have a John Deere Oil Pull. And you won't have any rust in your radiator.

Stupid mistake with Deere 4010, how bad?

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