BX Fuel Pump Freezing

[chris153]

I have a 2012 BX 2370. Starts great and runs great in the summer. as soon as the temperature drops below around -10'c (14'f) it still starts fine (as long as the block heater is plugged in for 1/2 and hour beforehand) and runs great for about 15-20 mins. it then looses all power and the RPM becomes erratic before the engine dies (this seems to happen as soon as the engine gets up to temperature).

On initial start up from cold, I can hear the fuel pump running and it sounds normal (a steady rapid ticking sound). after it dies on me the fuel pump will sometimes run for a second or 2 where it sounds normal, then it will run very slowly or not at all, then pick up again etc.. I'm wondering if its freezing up as i am using the tractor to clear snow (moisture in the fuel causing ice crystals), although there is no build up of snow underneath. I've tried changing the first fuel filter, but that didn't help. I add winter additive to the fuel when i fill the tank, but that make little difference as well.

Would insulating the diesel line and fuel pump underneath the tractor make any difference? when i disconnect the line from the inlet to the pump (after the 1st filter) the fuel flows out freely.

This is a problem i have had since the unit was new. my local dealer could only recommend putting additive in the fuel.

Thanks for any input/feedback.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

#1 I would think you just have a bad pump since your the first one i have ever heard of to think the pump is freezing.
99.9% of the time the pump creates more than enough heat to ever keep that from being a possibility.

Other options couple be junk in the tank clogging the outlet, which is super common with these tanks.
Or water in the tank that is freezing thus blocking the flow of fuel.

I would get the tractors fuel tank above freezing (with a heater around the tractor if needed), disconnect the line before the second filter and pump all the fuel out of the tank into a bucket, cover bucket and place in freezing conditions then next day check for ice chunk on the bottom.

If while draining tank it lags or doesn't flow stop and start pump and see if it changes.
If it does then it's got something blocking the outlet in the tank, algee or leaves or other debri.
If it doesn't it could still have something blocking or just could be a bad pump.

 

[rjcorazza]

I have not heard of these pumps freezing up either, but from my experience with my zd mowers they are garbage pumps. If your pump does in fact end up proving to be bad, consider replacing it with a Mr Gasket 12d pump.


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[chris153]

Thanks for the info guys. Im thinking the pump may be the issue. Just seems odd that it runs perfectly in warmer (non freezing) weather as well as on initial start up in any weather. As I said, when it crapped out on me last night, I pulled the line going into the pump and there was a steady flow of fuel past the 1st filter and into the pump, just nothing seeming to come out of it. Thats why I dismissed a blockage or freezing in the system before the pump. Should also be noted that it was only -16;c (3f) when I was working last night, so the diesel fuel gelling up shouldnt be an issue, but moisture in the fuel could be. The pump also felt as cold to touch as the tractor frame itself.

 

[Wbk]

Are you sure that your tank vent isn't freezing, that's if you store the unit in a heated area then going into the cold it would take a bit to freeze up. Just a thought!

 

[chris153]

I don’t think the vent is the issue. It’s stored cold, in an unheated garage. Plus there was a steady flow of diesel coming out of the line when I disconnected it just before the pump. I’m going to try a different additive. The one I have been using prevents the fuel from gelling, but I don’t now that it does anything against water in the fuel. Any recommendations on a good addictive would be appreciated. I’m currently using power start winter diesel treatment.

 

[Wbk]

Maybe try cracking the fuel tank cover about ten minutes after you start running it just to be sure. We used to use Howe's try a local truck shop or garage, now we never use anything in ours just #1 fuel. One of them is inside (heated) and two are in cold storage.

 

[RCW]

As I said, when it crapped out on me last night, I pulled the line going into the pump and there was a steady flow of fuel past the 1st filter and into the pump, just nothing seeming to come out of it. Thats why I dismissed a blockage or freezing in the system before the pump. Should also be noted that it was only -16;c (3f) when I was working last night, so the diesel fuel gelling up shouldnt be an issue, but moisture in the fuel could be. The pump also felt as cold to touch as the tractor frame itself.

Chris - if you had good flow TO the lift pump, I'm thinking you're on the money as far as cause. That would dispel vent in my mind.

North Idaho Wolfman suspected the lift pump initially, along with a couple other possibilities. I think he was heading in the right direction then too.

rjcorazza mentioned an after-market lift pump for his zero turns. I remember several guys saying some of the after-markets are better than OEM, for much less $$. I think if you search for lift pump or electric pump on the forum, you may find what other guys have used for a BX.

As far as additives, cruise a local Tractor Supply or similar in Canada. I was at TSC yesterday, and several options exist. I use Power Service (White bottle in Winter), and others like Stanadyne. TSC has both, and several others. While the PS White doesn't speak to water dispersion, there are some that do. They will say water dispersent, or similar.

Now it is possible there's something going on in the fuel line between the lift pump and the second filter near the injection pump, but I would more suspect the lift pump, especially if it's sounding different when this stuff happens in the cold.

Good luck!

 

[chris153]

Wow; if only my Kubota dealer was this helpful!!! I’m going to pick up some power service diesel 911 to add along with the PS winter treatment I have been using (one to prevent gelling in extreme cold, the other to prevent and disburse water. My mother in law swears by this cocktail for her skid steer and her farm truck but they are not as prone to freezing as the little BX.

If that doesn’t work, I’ll try disconnecting the line out of the pump to check for flow (then the next connection down and so on until I find the issue).

Thanks again everyone, for the help comments and feedback. I’ll let you know how my diesel cocktail works out.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Chris I have a dim memory of someone more knowledgable than I warning about mixing too much of the diesel 911 or using both at the same time on these little Kubota engines but I can't remember the context or why. Hopefully somone who knows will log in...

 

[sheepfarmer]

Two other thoughts: if you are worried about water in the fuel in general, use a Mr Funnel water filter when you pour fuel into the tank. Don't mix in the additives first though, they can take the coating off the screen. Pour them in separately.

Second, are you snowblowing with a front snowblower or kicking up a lot of powder? Check your airfilter if so. I don't think it could explain what you see, but it wouldn't help matters if it was getting clogged and freezing after a few minutes.

 

[chris153]

Thanks for the heads up....the research I’ve done indicates that mixing additives won’t harm anything as long as you watch the ratios. Basically treat a full tank with enough of each additive for half a tank each, so as not to over treat. The net result means not as much defence from gelling, and not as much water protection either, but hopefully it will be enough......I still don’t understand why in an area where it is constantly-20ish for 6 months of the year, they can sell a diesel fuel that is suitable. But that’s a separate rant for another day, lol.

 

[RCW]

Chris I have a dim memory of someone more knowledgable than I warning about mixing too much of the diesel 911 or using both at the same time on these little Kubota engines but I can't remember the context or why. Hopefully somone who knows will log in...

Chris - sheepfarmer brings up an important point about Diesel 911.
I honestly don't remember the issue either, but it's not intended for steady use. Seems like it was a lack of lubricity.

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[chris153]

so I added some 911 to my fuel and pushed snow for 2 hours this morning. The little BX ran great and i had no freezing issues at all. Agreed that its not a long term fix, but I'm going to let this tank burn through and just add the PS winter service to the next tank. hopefully that will be fine, but if i have issues again then may have to add a splash of 911.

Thanks for the tips advice warnings etc.... Now if i could just my ear buds to work properly with my Iphone, i could rocking and rolling.