I took my L2501 in for repair because it was losing power and sputtering when the engine gets hot. I did everything I could possibly try without voiding the warranty before taking it back to the dealer. It constantly gets water in the fuel system and 1 of the 3 injector ports is not pumping. Tractor has 200 hrs on it and has been acting up for almost a year. Well, they drained the fuel and tried to tell me it was fixed. I went to the dealer and got the owner and mechanic outside to ask questions and we found that there was water in the fuel again, before it had even left their shop. We all agreed that there was a leak in the tank and the injector pump was most likely damaged from all the water. Well 3 weeks later they told me it was fixed and I could come pick it up. After asking questions they said it had not gotten any more water in the tank and they had looked at the injectors and they were fine. They did not replace the tank or the pump. Needless to say I am gearing up for a fight with Kubota. Anyone else had the water issue?
L2501 water in fuel
- Thread starter Kcotten
- Start date
I would change where you are getting your fuel from.
My guess is the have watering there fuel tanks
My guess is the have watering there fuel tanks
Russell King
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
You can install a water separator on the fuel line out of the tank.
You can also use a funnel to remove water from the fuel you put into the tank like a Mr. Filter
If you get one get a higher flow rate version and some method to dispose of a few ounces of water and fuel left in the bottom of the filter
You can also use a funnel to remove water from the fuel you put into the tank like a Mr. Filter
If you get one get a higher flow rate version and some method to dispose of a few ounces of water and fuel left in the bottom of the filter
I wish that was the case. I drained the fuel before I took it to the dealer. It sat at their shop a week before they looked at it. They drained the fuel and said it was fixed. When I went to pick it up 2 weeks later it had water in the tank again. Kubota mechanic said it had to be rainwater and they would warranty the tank and injector pump. 4 weeks later they called and said it was repaired. Says they cleaned the injectors and no more water has gotten in the tank since last time. Never changed the tank. They’re full of bullch!t or incompetence, or both.
fried1765
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
It is very obvious that you actually have two problems.
A water problem,....... and a dealer problem!
Added a 12 volt fuel pump and it seemed to somewhat fix the bogging down problem. Still runs fine without the extra pump until the engine gets hot. No ideas how to permanently fix at this point.
If you added a second pump and it ran fine, it seems like it is starving for fuel. Did you replace the fuel filter?
GreensvilleJay
Well-known member
Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
hmm... Tractor has 200 hrs on it and has been acting up for almost a year.
wow, sounds like wherever you got the diesel from, it came with a LOT of water.
since you've replaced the filters/drained the tank...... but I suggest you start 'fresh', again. TOTALLY drain the tank, replace the filters, drain the lines,run the lift pump for a few seconds too.....
Pour methanol into the tank,blow it out with compressed air, let air dry/drain for a day or two
Clean out or buy a new 5G yellow fuel can. Buy 4-5 G of diesel,pout into an open,clean,dry, 5G bucket.I use a glass wine making carboy. Cover with a clean cloth and let sit undisturbed for 24 hours or more. Look to see if ANY water on the bottom ( diesel floats...)
WHERE are you getting your diesel from ?
FYI. in 5 years, I've never got water INTO the tanks from pressure washing,so very unlikely 'rain water' got into yours......
wow, sounds like wherever you got the diesel from, it came with a LOT of water.
since you've replaced the filters/drained the tank...... but I suggest you start 'fresh', again. TOTALLY drain the tank, replace the filters, drain the lines,run the lift pump for a few seconds too.....
Pour methanol into the tank,blow it out with compressed air, let air dry/drain for a day or two
Clean out or buy a new 5G yellow fuel can. Buy 4-5 G of diesel,pout into an open,clean,dry, 5G bucket.I use a glass wine making carboy. Cover with a clean cloth and let sit undisturbed for 24 hours or more. Look to see if ANY water on the bottom ( diesel floats...)
WHERE are you getting your diesel from ?
FYI. in 5 years, I've never got water INTO the tanks from pressure washing,so very unlikely 'rain water' got into yours......
Russell King
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
I know that there are funnels that will separate the water out of fuel. Mr. Funnel is one brand. They come in different flow capacities so think about that if you get one.
You could drain your tank through a Mr. Funnel to see if there is any water in your tank currently.
You could drain your tank through a Mr. Funnel to see if there is any water in your tank currently.
Did you ever note water in the fuel filter bowl? That thing can hold about 4 oz of water before it becomes a problem. .
I can see only 2 places on the system for significant water infiltration to originate from- fuel tank cap, fuel station.
I can see only 2 places on the system for significant water infiltration to originate from- fuel tank cap, fuel station.
North Idaho Wolfman
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Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
So your telling us for a year now you've been running on mutiple occasions knowing there is water getting into the fuel? 
And your telling us that the dealer said it's fixed but didn't say how they fixed it, or what work they did to it?
Somethings not adding up.
If it's getting water in the fuel system, the most likely candidate would be the fuel sending unit or gasket.
Another not very common issue would be a bad cap, but that should be obvious.
That does not require replacing the tank, and maybe no parts if it was just loose.
Simply using low pressure on the tank inlet would have pointed it out immediately.
The injection pump and the injectors on that model don't really care about water getting run through them.
But if you did run water through them you would know it as it would smoke like a mad man and not just bog down.
It bogging now is probably a combination of crud (algae / bacteria) in the tank, fuel system from having water in it.
The most likely candidate is the filter housing, simple check pull the fuel line off of the in or out and fuel should flow effortlessly and strong on the in and on the out.
Yes the lift can effect the over all performance but if you've added an electric pump to it, and you still have issues there is a fuel flow issue, and it's not at the injection pump or the injectors.
And your telling us that the dealer said it's fixed but didn't say how they fixed it, or what work they did to it?
Somethings not adding up.
If it's getting water in the fuel system, the most likely candidate would be the fuel sending unit or gasket.
Another not very common issue would be a bad cap, but that should be obvious.
That does not require replacing the tank, and maybe no parts if it was just loose.
Simply using low pressure on the tank inlet would have pointed it out immediately.
The injection pump and the injectors on that model don't really care about water getting run through them.
But if you did run water through them you would know it as it would smoke like a mad man and not just bog down.
It bogging now is probably a combination of crud (algae / bacteria) in the tank, fuel system from having water in it.
The most likely candidate is the filter housing, simple check pull the fuel line off of the in or out and fuel should flow effortlessly and strong on the in and on the out.
Yes the lift can effect the over all performance but if you've added an electric pump to it, and you still have issues there is a fuel flow issue, and it's not at the injection pump or the injectors.
All that is correct. And I would agree with everyone that if water was getting in the system white smoke would make an easy diagnosis and I would never have taken it to a kubota shop. But, while the 2501 was at Seal tractor in Woodville, MS they drained the fuel and replaced it with clean fuel. When I went to pick it up, magically there was water in the fuel filter housing again. Since it was out of warranty period, they decided to 'clean the injector pump' instead. After dealing with them, I do not think they have the competence to diagnose or fix the problem. It ran like a new machine for a couple months, and now has started bogging down again when the motor gets hot. Adding an electric fuel pump seems to fix the problem, which I would assume is the trashy lift pump design that kubota uses. No-one on earth can explain to me why the tractor runs fine until the motor gets hot. You would assume that algae or crud would make the machine run bad all the time. All the fuel lines have been replaced, and I added an aftermarket water filter/separator as well to make sure there are no cracks or leaks in the fuel delivery system.So your telling us for a year now you've been running on mutiple occasions knowing there is water getting into the fuel?
And your telling us that the dealer said it's fixed but didn't say how they fixed it, or what work they did to it?
Somethings not adding up.
If it's getting water in the fuel system, the most likely candidate would be the fuel sending unit or gasket.
Another not very common issue would be a bad cap, but that should be obvious.
That does not require replacing the tank, and maybe no parts if it was just loose.
Simply using low pressure on the tank inlet would have pointed it out immediately.
The injection pump and the injectors on that model don't really care about water getting run through them.
But if you did run water through them you would know it as it would smoke like a mad man and not just bog down.
It bogging now is probably a combination of crud (algae / bacteria) in the tank, fuel system from having water in it.
The most likely candidate is the filter housing, simple check pull the fuel line off of the in or out and fuel should flow effortlessly and strong on the in and on the out.
Yes the lift can effect the over all performance but if you've added an electric pump to it, and you still have issues there is a fuel flow issue, and it's not at the injection pump or the injectors.
North Idaho Wolfman
Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Bottle feed the injection pump!
That will bypass anything except the injection pump and injectors.
If you then have the same issues, Pull the injectors and the injection pump and shot them to a good Injection shop or Oregon Fuel Injection and have them tested and rebuilt if needed.
FYI: If you do remove the fuel injection pump, remove and save all the shims under the pump, as that sets the timing, and it will be the same shim count with a new or rebuilt pump to get the timing right.
That will bypass anything except the injection pump and injectors.
If you then have the same issues, Pull the injectors and the injection pump and shot them to a good Injection shop or Oregon Fuel Injection and have them tested and rebuilt if needed.
FYI: If you do remove the fuel injection pump, remove and save all the shims under the pump, as that sets the timing, and it will be the same shim count with a new or rebuilt pump to get the timing right.
After much analysis, I have managed to fix the problem. I bypassed the lift pump with an electric pump.