Can you figure this one out? Answer post 12!

[Jpatrick]

There are a lot of smart and experienced folks here. See if you can figure out this puzzle, based on the information I give you in the next paragraph.

A few days ago I needed my L210 to haul some firewood. It was about 20 F in the barn, so I did what I always do when it's cold. I pointed the 80,000 btu space heater at the tractor engine block and ran it for about 40 min. When I came back from loading the trailer, I found a big puddle of liquid beneath the tractor.

Here's what you need to figure out.

1. What liquid was it?

2. Why and how did it get there?

Here's hoping someone nails this one. If not, I will explain all in due time.

 

[NHSleddog]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

You drove over the heater leaving the barn and all the fuel ended up on the ground?

 

[BruceP]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

Melting Ice from the LAST time you ran your tractor in the snow ?

 

[Jpatrick]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

Good guess, Bruce, but that's not it.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

condesate from the gases the heater gave off hitting the cold tractor and condensing from water vapor to liquid H20

 

[D2Cat]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

The heater got the fuel tank too warm and the rust hole started leaking. Diesel on the ground. Or, maybe it was a melted fuel line.

 

[BAP]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

At 20 degrees, why did you need a space heater on your tractor? Not that cold.

 

[KennysNewFarm]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

Just like anything metal that sits in the cold. Heat displaces the cold and condensates causing more or less a defroster. My tools in my work truck when left overnight and brought inside to a job the next time develop condensate all over them. Then after they warm completely up the water evaporates. My guess is the inside of the tractor could do the same causing water to develop in the oil. After running the machine up to operating temp it should however evaporate.

 

[motionclone]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

coolant, popped a freezeplug

 

[sheepfarmer]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

Coolant from the overflow tank.

 

[Jpatrick]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

I was afraid I'd popped a frost plug, but that wasn't it, thankfully.

 

[Jpatrick]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

D2Cat. right fluid, wrong reason, but close enough.

Here's the answer.

The fluid was diesel fuel. I filled the tank full of fuel the night before, and when I heated it up, the tank overflowed. How much? I figure in the range of 200-300 ml. Some detail given below.

From Stack Exchange, The thermal expansion coefficient of diesel fuel is .00046 per degree F. So, the diesel fuel in the tank will expand when heated. Figure the temp of the fuel rose from about 20 F to about 50 F, and that the fuel tank capacity (from the service manual) is 6.3 gal (24 liters) So, .00046 x 24000hml x 30 F = about 330 ml

Now it's true that the fuel tank will expand when heated as well, so if we want to be really strict, we should consider that. From Engineering Tool Box, the thermal expansion coefficient of steel is about .000011. That's less than the value for diesel fuel. While we can't disregard the tank expansion, that information makes it clear the tank will overflow, and that's what happened.

So, the lesson taught here is that I shouldn't fill the tank full to the top when it's cold.

 

[KennysNewFarm]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

I will keep that in mind moving forward. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Mak65]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

You melted a hole in the lower radiator hose.

I see I missed the answer post.

 

[Dvan]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

Your dog discovered a nice warm place to relieve himself.

 

[Jpatrick]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

At 20 degrees, why did you need a space heater on your tractor? Not that cold.

This tractor is cold blooded. She really doesn't like to wake up it it's colder than 50 F. Takes about 90 sec of glow plug at that. More modern units like our Bx don't take nearly as much to get going.

 

[DustyRusty]

This is why fuel oil delivery trucks now utilize temperature compensating meters and registers on the delivery hose. In the old days, the trucks were filled in the late afternoon, and then kept in a warm garage, so the fuel would expand, and was still warm for most of the deliveries. You were paying for the "expanded" fuel, and it would shrink after it was in your tank for a few hours.

 

[dsims]

Re: Can you figure this one out?

We've had that happen where I work. Our fuel barrel is outside, but our snow plows stay in a heated building when not in use. If someone tops off a truck too much then puts it inside, it will overflow overnight. Most of us have learned to leave them down a little bit. When the truck holds 200+ gallons, there is no reason to squeeze in that last gallon anyway.

 

[skeets]

How the hell much is 200/300 ml ? You are from Buckingham PA USA, not Buckingham England

 

[ehenry]

What skeets said X10 ! ! ! ! !