This week in the hay field I noticed the tractor running a little warm. It wasn't overheating but it would start to warm up while cutting and I would drop a gear. It would go back to normal then I would speed back up. I also noticed it smoking a little more. The smoke was black. It was constant at idle and would leave a trail of smoke at pto rpm. The air filter is clean. The turbo was new last year and I checked it again. I pulled the intake off the turbo and it still looks good. The tractor still smokes without the intake on. I'm thinking injectors. Any ideas?
M9540 black smoke
- Thread starter Whitaker Farms
- Start date
Check and make sure your hoses from the turbo to the ATA and back to the intake are tight and free from leaks. Sounds to me like your boost isn't getting back to the intake. That is really a common issue that people with turbocharged engines overlook.
Check the ATA as well. They can crack and lose boost pressure.
I was going to ask right off it the air filter was clogged, obviously, it isn't.
Why was the turbo replaced anyway? I've never had any turbocharger issues with my M's.
Know you will ask me how to check them. Simple answer is a soapy water solution and look for bubbles as you throttle up the engine manually. Bubbles will indicate a pressure leak from the boost pressure. Kubota uses synthetic rubber hoses instead of the better and longer lasting silicone rubber hoses. Not even sure if you can buy the silicone hose for a Kubota.
I'll bet you find a cracked hose or a loose Witek clamp or possibly both.
Check the ATA as well. They can crack and lose boost pressure.
I was going to ask right off it the air filter was clogged, obviously, it isn't.
Why was the turbo replaced anyway? I've never had any turbocharger issues with my M's.
Know you will ask me how to check them. Simple answer is a soapy water solution and look for bubbles as you throttle up the engine manually. Bubbles will indicate a pressure leak from the boost pressure. Kubota uses synthetic rubber hoses instead of the better and longer lasting silicone rubber hoses. Not even sure if you can buy the silicone hose for a Kubota.
I'll bet you find a cracked hose or a loose Witek clamp or possibly both.
Neither of mine ever smoke unless I really lug them, Just a wisp at startup and then always clean, well, as clean as a pre-tier 4 motor can be.
Easy to tell if the turbo is making positive pressure too. Just observe the hose that goes from the turbo outlet to the ATA and throttle up the motor. You should see the hose visibly expand is size as the pressure goes from negative to positive boost.
You could have a wastegate issue as well, but highly unlikely. The wastegates are factory preset and have tamper proof screws. Never had any issue with either if mine.
Don't believe it's your injectors at all. It does run smooth does it not?
Easy to tell if the turbo is making positive pressure too. Just observe the hose that goes from the turbo outlet to the ATA and throttle up the motor. You should see the hose visibly expand is size as the pressure goes from negative to positive boost.
You could have a wastegate issue as well, but highly unlikely. The wastegates are factory preset and have tamper proof screws. Never had any issue with either if mine.
Don't believe it's your injectors at all. It does run smooth does it not?
M9540 doesn't have a CAC (intercooler). When the turbo was replaced, was it replaced with a geniune replacement or a chincanese version or??? Why was it replaced? What is your intake manifold pressure under a load? Is the wastegate opening too soon (check intake pressure under load)? What does the engine oil look like? I've seen a lift pump fail and fill the crankcase will diesel, then the engine's trying to burn the diesel that's in the crankcase, causes smoke. What is the air temp you're running at? As ambient air temps increase, exhaust smoke sometimes will too, particularly when we start getting into air that's 100 deg+. Power also decreases and smoke goes up. Do you get smoke at idle with no load?
Have you or do you use any kind of injector cleaner?
May have a injector trying to stop up and it's not spraying fuel like it should.
May have a injector trying to stop up and it's not spraying fuel like it should.
The hose from the turbo was replaced last year. It was soft and oil soaked. The tractor started smoking last year and burning lots of oil. The turbo shaft was loose and leaking oil into the intake. It was replaced with a chinese version. The factory turbo was almost $3k. The oil is a little dirty and will be changed in about 20 hrs. (I change every 100 hrs so about 3x a year). Tractor has 4,278hrs. It black smokes at idle like it use to under a load at wot and increases as you give it throttle. It runs smooth but the temp increases more than normal.
North Idaho Wolfman
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I'll go with failing injectors or water / contamination in fuel.
I'd run some cleaner through it before anything else.
And yes check the oil level too, if it's over full there is a lift pump issue.
I'd run some cleaner through it before anything else.
And yes check the oil level too, if it's over full there is a lift pump issue.
Oil level is ok. It uses a little and we have still been having to add oil like before.
If an injector is dumping fuel would you not be worried about burning a piston or scorching a cylinder? I would like to run some cleaner but I'm worried about more damage to the motor.
If you want to get to the bottom of any injector problem remove them, take them to a diesel service shop and have them tested. Then you'll know exactly their condition and if that was your problem.
Sounds like a typical Kubota part. I think I'd have had the turbo rebuilt rather than installing a Chinese knockoff.
My open station M9 has 4500 hours on it and the turbo is tight.
I do have to ask, is the radiator clean? I know Bulldog and I keep our radiators clean, I clean mine after every field session and haying makes a lot of chaff, especially round bailing wheat straw. I'll blow mine out daily followed by a wet wash weekly. Is it a cab unit or open station? That makes a difference in cooling air management too. Reason I ask is, I have 2 identical M's but one is an open station, the other had an Ultra Cab and the cab unit will run hotter than the OS unit in the same given parameters because the cab tractor has additional items the cooling air has to pass through before it gets to the radiator.
I didn't know your tractor didn't have an ATA unit (I prefer calling it ATA or air to air not a CAC unit because in reality the cooling air is cooling the charge air which is air (cooling air) to charge air cooling. I get that from heavy trucks. They are all referred to as ATA not CAC.
irregardless, the same thing.
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I checked on having it rebuilt locally and was told to replace it. The tractor has a cab. I blow the radiator, oil cooler, and condenser out at least once if not twice daily. Its not as bad cutting hay, but tedding, raking, baling, and bush hogging it seems to gather everything. I'm even planning on putting an electric pusher fan in front of the condenser and relocating the battery to help keep the A/C colder. We just finished pulling the injectors. I'm gonna have them tested tomorrow. Kubota wants $452 per injector. I can get Denso aftermarket replacements for $67. The service manual even mentions Denso. Why does kubota inflate their prices so much? It just doesn't make sense. We run Case, Deere, Kubota, Massey, and several other brands if I included everything and Kubota seems to be the highest on parts.
The wife went and got the injectors tested this morning and the shop said they are all good. Does anyone have any other ideas?
I'd probably run some good conditioner thru it to make sure the entire fuel system gets a cleaning. I've been using the Amsoil all in one and it's worked great for me.
As far as the running to warm, when was the last time the coolant was changed?
Unless you're using ELC it needs to be changed every 2 years. It looses it's ability to dissipate heat.
As far as the running to warm, when was the last time the coolant was changed?
Unless you're using ELC it needs to be changed every 2 years. It looses it's ability to dissipate heat.
I run ELC and it was changed a few years ago. It will be changed again as I'm waiting on parts to put the injectors back in. I'm going to flush the system, change the thermostat, and radiator cap. Then I will try to find the problem. I'm thinking it might be something to do with the wastegate.
It's hot outside now. Hot air is less dense than cool air. The job of the turbocharger is to force air into the engine at a higher density than it could normally aspirate. That chincanese turbo....how much intake pressure are you seeing out of it? I know you saved money with it but turbochargers are not created equal. Nowhere near equal. A few lb/min of airflow difference can make ALL the difference in the world, particularly on a non intercooled diesel engine. I personally think you're seeing a lack of air into the engine. Chincanese turbos are cheap for a reason. Lot of guys get away with them, but then there's people like me who don't. I had one fail on my Mustang and it sent shards of metal through the engine, hurt the cylinder heads, all the valves, piston tops and a host of other things. Never again. This time I paid a guy up the road for a good OEM TB0344 and the difference is like daylight and dark. IAT went way down for one thing, almost 100 degree difference. Lights up quicker too.
When's the last time a valve adjustment was done to your tractor?
When's the last time a valve adjustment was done to your tractor?