diesel fuel?

MI-Bill · May 10, 2021

I have a Toro mower with a 58 hp Kubota diesel. it was running well, sat for a long time, started up last time and ran it for a short while. went to start it 2 days later. no go. I think it is a fuel problem. Lots of additives out there . is there any chance that a fuel additive would get it going again,
OR do indeed to clean out the fuel system?

Hdonly · May 10, 2021

How long is "a long time"? You may have algae growing in the diesel fuel. Add algaecide and change fuel filters.

DoubleO7 · May 10, 2021

I would siphon out what is in the tank and then use a flashlight to look inside and see what is left.
Also pull fuel filter off and see what is in or on it if it is a cartridge filter.
If you find globby, loose jello soup you need to get it out of tank, lines, filters etc.

I would do that before dumping in any additives.

paul · May 10, 2021

I agree with draining out what is in there, adding fresh fuel, adding the algae killer (you have to look a little to find...) and change the filter.

You might get by with just changing the filter, but Without being there Id be concerned about sitting a long time and the algae starting up in your tank where the water and fuel meet, that stuff likes to start up.

Paul

rustred · May 10, 2021

Maybe check your fuel shut off to make that is working first.

Steve@Advance · May 10, 2021

What happens when you crank it?

White vapor out the exhaust means it's getting fuel through the injectors.

No vapor=no fuel.

What I understand about algae is it requires sunlight to grow. If it has a white plastic tank it very well may have algae.

Water could also be a factor. Try replacing the filters, but catch what's in them first. If there is water or jelled fuel the tank needs to be cleaned and the lines flushed.

That it started and ran recently is a good sign. That means the pump is not gummed up.

I suspect filters and cleaning everything up, fresh fuel, new fuel hoses if needed, purge the air, check the glow plugs if equipped, good hot battery, it should start.

Blackhole49 · May 11, 2021

Long time as in months or years? Forget the snake oil. Start at the tank and get fuel flowing through new filters to the injector pump. Then try starting. Bleed at the injectors if necessary.

rustred · May 11, 2021

Maybe check your fuel shut off to make that is working first.

Mr. T. Minnesota · May 12, 2021

Bill,
Check the bottom of the fuel tank. Last summer I was checking the fuel level on the HD3 Allis dozer and there was a molasses like gunk at the bottom of the tank 1/2-3/4 inch deep. Removed and cleaned the metal tank with acetone.Then changed the filters.Tried to make it inject fuel into the injectors but the pump was also clogged with the brown gunk. Cleaned the pump using Seafoam turning over the pump with a variable speed drill and homemade extension to fit the pump. It took time but did get it done. Now I believe the gunk has gotten into the injectors and may have to remove them and clean. This all happened over 6 months because the HD3 is 170 miles away at my cabin. There is a algae additive out there at $35 a pop. Learned my lesson about fuel additives.Some claim it is due to additives to diesel that are causing problems.HTH

DoubleO7 · May 13, 2021

The jelly junk we call "algae" is actually microbes (fungus, mold and bacteria) that grow in the tank because of the ultra low sulfur thanks to epa.

Sulfur is a good biocide and with virtually all of it removed, we get the junk in the tank.

beefey · May 13, 2021

(quoted from post at 09:11:34 05/13/21)
The jelly junk we call "algae" is actually microbes (fungus, mold and bacteria) that grow in the tank because of the ultra low sulfur thanks to epa.

Sulfur is a good biocide and with virtually all of it removed, we get the junk in the tank.

Not to thread jack but I just did this yesterday and look what I found in the bottom of my tank...

diesel fuel?

MI-Bill

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Hdonly

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DoubleO7

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paul

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rustred

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Steve@Advance

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Blackhole49

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rustred

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Mr. T. Minnesota

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DoubleO7

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beefey

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