Extra Filtration?

[eddiebob]

Just curious if anyone is running extra fuel filtration or bypass oil filtration on their machines. My Kubota L3800 is brand new. I drive a diesel pickup and have run extra filtration on it for years with no problems. Worth the time or no issue on a tractor....Thanks, Ed B

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Just put clean dry fuel in it and you won't have a problem.
These tractors are designed to work hard and in very dirty conditions, so they can take a lot more that a pickup trucks system.

 

[cerlawson]

How about filtering the fuel? My two blue tractors have not had any trouble with dirty fuel and with plenty of hours. No plugging ever. Some funnels for these tractors have no screen in them. However, the newer BX (that now is used on a city lot) has two small in-line filters that plug up frequently, possibly due to even some bacteria in the fuel. Or, maybe they are much finer openings than those on blue. But, since I bought a very fine filter funnel, I have not has any trouble with the BX. This funnel filter is so fine that it even filters water that may be in the fuel. The supplier recommends using the water check to prove it is doing its job. My 2 cents.

 

[eddiebob]

How about filtering the fuel? My two blue tractors have not had any trouble with dirty fuel and with plenty of hours. No plugging ever. Some funnels for these tractors have no screen in them. However, the newer BX (that now is used on a city lot) has two small in-line filters that plug up frequently, possibly due to even some bacteria in the fuel. Or, maybe they are much finer openings than those on blue. But, since I bought a very fine filter funnel, I have not has any trouble with the BX. This funnel filter is so fine that it even filters water that may be in the fuel. The supplier recommends using the water check to prove it is doing its job. My 2 cents.

Great idea. I looked at this kind of filter several years ago and then forgot about them. Got one coming to the house.
Wolfman, being an engineer by education and trade I can't help but think that any system designed and manufactured has some sort of weakness. My exposure to diesel engines (not only pickup trucks) seems to suggest that the weakness in general diesel design has been and still is in the fuel delivery system. Common problems reported across the board are injectors, rough idle, hard start, etc. All related to fuel and delivery. Now, that being said this is my first Kubota and you are probably spot on with your comments about extra filtration. Just for the fun of it (really!) I am going to take a critical look at the system when I can find the time. Thanks, Ed B

 

[ipz2222]

Wolfman,,, "clean """DRY"" fuel"????? Do you have your fuel "dry cleaned" before you put it in your tractor?? (BG)

 

[ipz2222]

The cleaner you can keep you liquids, the longer the machine will last. At some point you have to decide, the manufactures recomendations , or better than that. Very clean fuel and oil is a LOT cheaper than repairs.

 

[Stubbyie]

I like the idea of slipstream-type additional oil filtration (and see it in industrial settings), but the biggest problem I've had on all late model tractors is that there just isn't much room to hang the extra hardware and retain filter access. Specifically engine oil, but same is true for hydraulic fluid. My thoughts are to frequently replace the oil filters during the break-in period, and later reduce frequency keeping local operating conditions in mind.

For fuel, nothing beats the old glass sediment bowl with drain valve. I've got one of these on an old diesel (not Kubota) ahead of the supplemental inline fuel filter. Using the same bulk-storage diesel (stored under pressure, not exposed to atmosphere), I drain off a few drops of water and a particle or two (steel tank for storage and aboard machine) every few months.

If you can find a place aboard a Kubota to hang it, one of these type sediment bowl filters should be all you'd need. I'd put it between the tank and the OEM filter.

Same wrt installation specifics, a hygroscopic "water absorbent" canister filter ahead of the OEM filter should work wonders. I use Golden Rod brand on all my bulk fuel tanks (mogas and diesel) and they seem to work as advertised. If riding aboard a tractor and used ahead of the OEM filter, I can see that if a slug of water locked up the filter the machine might die at an inconvenient moment and lead to bleeding air to start.

Please advise back about your experiences so we may all learn.

 

[Wildfire]

While working on our BX a month ago I was under the machine running hoses for the hydraulic thumb when I noticed the lower fuel filter looked a little on the dark side. I removed it and decided to cut it apart to see what was inside. It had a lot of crap in it and the machine only has 70 hours on it.

I decided then to install a filter off a Grand L on the BX. I fabricated the bracket and guard for it. The Grand L fuel filter set up never caused me any grief and to fight the dirt and water issues I also put a filter on the fuel storage tank I have set up as well. A bonus with this mod was that the BX don't have a fuel shut off on it anywhere and now it do because it's built into the Grand L set up. Hopefully this will take care of any dirty fuel & water issues.

 

[85Hokie]

Hey Paul,

I am trying to email you or PM you...
says that your email is "off" or full!
Like to ask you a couple of questions.

 

[Wildfire]

Hey Paul,

I am trying to email you or PM you...
says that your email is "off" or full!
Like to ask you a couple of questions.

That's strange. I went in and I think everything was turned off
Should work now ( I hope)