Fuel boogers

[olsarge]

Every so often on my L250l I suffer some fuel starvation. Usually after nearly stalling the engine or getting a little out of kilter in the balance. Most of the time it recovers just fine but other times it just shuts off. If it shuts off and doesn’t restart I have to drain the fuel filter and some times drain some fuel through the lines. It seems as though something gets into the line (after the filter) and needs to back wash out. Some times with a shot of compressed air. Any ideas whats happening?

(I use a fuel strainer funnel when adding fuel)

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

It's possible that you have algae growing in the tank.
Get an fuel treatment, that treats for algae.

 

[olsarge]

It's possible that you have algae growing in the tank.
Get an fuel treatment, that treats for algae.

I'll try that. Is it something I could see looking in?

 

[mickeyd]

One time when my tractor had algae buildup and my tractor was doing the same thing, the top of the fuel filter had something black on it but another time I didn't notice anything.

Now I put a little Bio-Cide in each tank full and have never had the problem again.

 

[SDT]

Every so often on my L250l I suffer some fuel starvation. Usually after nearly stalling the engine or getting a little out of kilter in the balance. Most of the time it recovers just fine but other times it just shuts off. If it shuts off and doesn’t restart I have to drain the fuel filter and some times drain some fuel through the lines. It seems as though something gets into the line (after the filter) and needs to back wash out. Some times with a shot of compressed air. Any ideas whats happening?

(I use a fuel strainer funnel when adding fuel)

I agree with Wolfman. Check for algae.

Is this tractor used only rarely?

SDT

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'll try that. Is it something I could see looking in?

You won't be able to see it in most tanks, sometimes you'll catch evidence in the filter, it will be black or greenish sludge or small specs.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

I think it was on this forum that someone mentioned a friend with a Diesel Mercedes that had recurring algae problems. They kept going into the dealer and getting it flushed out but, in a month or so, it would be back and clogging up the fuel system. Finally, after the third trip to the dealer, they took the car to an independent shop where they treated the car with algaecide immediately after a fuel system flush. They drove the car with algaecide and then filled the fuel tank up to overflow and let the car sit two days.

The problem never re-appeared.

 

[olsarge]

I'll try the algae killer in each tank and see what happens. The filter is black each time I change or clean it. Use varies from once a week to every day. Some times it takes a while to go through a full tank of fuel. Thanks all!