Boiling Fuel

Gene Stevens · Sep 6, 2010

I have posted this over on the Ferguson board also. I have a Ferguson TO 20. I know I have seen some discussion on fuel getting so hot it boils on one of the boards. I have done a search and have not found anything. What is the fix. It was 95 here today and I was using the brush how mowing johnson grass for about four hours. When I got done my fuel was boiling. I think this has happend before but am not sure. Thanks for any help. Gene

Allan in NE · Sep 7, 2010

Hi ya, Gene!

Hey ol' Bud, you're gettin' all lathered up over nothing. That is a totally normal occurance.

Allan

Dean · Sep 7, 2010

Gene:

If you use fuel with ethanol in it in older Fords, Fergusons and other gasoline powered tractors having the fuel tank mounted above the engine and/or muffler, the fuel will commonly "boil" in the fuel tank when working the tractor hard on hot days.

Using gasoline without any ethanol will eliminate such problems in all but the most extreme cases.

Dean

IaGary · Sep 7, 2010

Huh, been using 10%ethanol in my tractors for 30 years and never had a problem with boiling fuel.

Only thing I had any problems with ethanol in was a 1971 Ford Torino back in 1973. I had to change the fuel fiter about 3 times before I got all the dirt and water out of the fuel tank. Once the tank got cleaned up the problems were gone.

Haven't had to use any injector cleaner, carb cleaner or anti water snake oils in any car, pickup or tractor since then.

RayP(MI) · Sep 7, 2010

Didn"t some have a baffle between the engine and the fuel tank?

RayP(MI) · Sep 7, 2010

Didn"t some have a baffle between the engine and the fuel tank?

Anonymous-0 · Sep 7, 2010

I get so sick of ethanol fuel getting blamed for every problem known to man.I doubt 10% ethganol changes the boiling point substantionally. I have no problems using it (as we have had it in Mn since the late 70's) and many people burn e85 in their old tractors. Thank God the ethanol plants are using up last years poor quality corn or we would have mountains of $1.00/bu corn.

Mike Aylward · Sep 7, 2010

Amen Gary. Like you, I have been using ethanol in my tractors for over thirty years. No problems whatsoever. My guess is that the people who are talking about their fuel boiling are using gasoline from the winter time that has a much lower boiling point than summer fuel. I doubt it has anything to do with ethanol. At a 10% concentration the boiling point of the fuel couldn't be substantially different from straight gasoline. I suspect other problems. Mike

Russ from MN · Sep 7, 2010

My brother-in-law used to add some diesel to his chain saw gas in hot weather, said it reduced that problem. Now all the harvesters and delimbers run on diesel and have air conditioned cabs!

buickanddeere · Sep 7, 2010

Figuring how much fuel you are loosing to evaporation. I would be building a heat baffle and re-routing the exhaust.

rustyfarmall · Sep 7, 2010

There is supposed to be a heat shield under the fuel tank to protect it from the hot exhaust system, but even with the shield in place, sometimes the problem persists. You might try a different style of exhaust system. One that will get as much of the system out from under the hood as possible. Particularly if the present muffler is located under the hood, you need to relocate it.

rhouston · Sep 7, 2010

IF you were unlucky enough to sell the this ethanol plant in the end you didn"t even get that.
Bankrupt ethanol co. wants refund from corn farmers

Mike (WA) · Sep 7, 2010

Make a heat baffle out of copper sheet- I guarantee it will work!

I had a woodstove that was about a foot away from a brick wall, and the brick would get so hot you couldn't put your hand on it. I was concerned about the studs behind it.

I made a heat shield out of sheet copper, attached to the brick with long bolts and mollies- so the sheet was about 2 inches out from the wall, therefore about 10 inches from the stove. When the fire was roaring and so hot you couldn't put your hand in front of the shield, the shield itself was actually cool to the touch (when felt from behind)! And of course, the bricks behind were room temperature. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

Dave in Tx · Sep 7, 2010

was raised on a to30. It was a common occurance for the fuel to boil if you worked it hard for a period of time. Even when it was new. Being 12 years old at the time, didn't think much about it.

John S-B · Sep 7, 2010

As a quick fix you could get a fluffy towel big enough to cover the tank and soak it with water so it could keep the tank cooler. I'd use a bungee to keep it from falling off. Now I don't know how the tank is configured on the Ferg., but if it's on top like a farmall it should be easy to do until you get a more permanent solution.
Make sure it's not one of your wifes good towels or you'll have something else boiling!

Allan in NE · Sep 7, 2010

Fer sure,

Bet some would really go nuts if they knew that even the fuel in their car's tank will boil on a real hot day.

Folks fret over the sillest things. Sure glad I was raised on a NE farm. Those darned hayfields get hot in the summer and fuel boiling in a tank is just an everyday thing. :>)

Allan

Allan in NE · Sep 7, 2010

Fer sure,

Bet some would really go nuts if they knew that even the fuel in their car's tank will boil on a real hot day.

Folks fret over the sillest things. Sure glad I was raised on a NE farm. Those darned hayfields get hot in the summer and fuel boiling in a tank is just an everyday thing. :>)

Allan

Dblair · Sep 7, 2010

are they getting the corn back ? it's 4.30 a bushel around here , what did they sell it for ?

Mark - IN. · Sep 7, 2010

I've got an old Lombard that makes the gas boil like crazy, and she goes through a lot of gas. All pot metal enclosure for oil and gas and engine cover. When I lay her on her side and open her up to fill her, is like a deep fat fryer boiling in there. Hasn't blown up in my hands yet.

Mark

Anonymous-0 · Sep 7, 2010

interesting subject.. i have a 1990 polaris 4 wheeler with a rebuilt engine..its in great shape but if run for 30 minutes at above 60 degrees and it is stopped, it is hot and will not start until cooled off.. it could be several hours and lotsa miles from home..gimme some good common sense solutions. no i dont wanna get rid of it it was bought new and used very little.i know, you guys have great advise that i use every day on my tractors. lets get my 4wheeler fixed, thanks dave

teddy52food · Sep 7, 2010

Did you ever check the spark when it is hot? Maybe a bad coil. Shut the gas off before you stop it. It may be flooding.

Gene Stevens · Sep 7, 2010

Fresh fuel, full tank at start. Looks as if I only have about 1/2 to 3/4 of na inch between the tank and valve cover. My ehaust goes down with the muffler below the running board or step. Was thinking about incerting a piece of styro foam or cement board. Ideas? Gene

oldart · Sep 7, 2010

clean your radiator check the fan belt also checktimeing so it is not late move all the air you can under there enen put a heat shieldover the muffler allthe little things add up

Boiling Fuel

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