Possible Fuel Jelling Problem

[BertP]

I have a BX23S and it exhibits some fuel problems occasionally.

Last year, I was plowing the snow from our driveway and everything was 100% for a while. Then, it started what I can only describe as an out-of-fuel condition - the engine started missing and the rpm would drop, then recover and drop again until the engine finally quit. There was lots of fuel on board so I thought that my lift pump had failed. I replaced the pump and everything went back to normal so I thought I had nailed the culprit.

This year, I had two incidents. In the first one, the symptoms were exactly the same as last year. But, it was colder than normal so I thought I may have a fuel jelling issue. I added some anti-jell to the fuel and everything went back to normal and I was able to finish plowing the driveway. That was a few weeks ago. Yesterday, I was back plowing again and the same thing happened with exactly the same symptoms. But, I was running treated fuel so jelling should not have been an issue. The tractor was now blocking the driveway and I wasn't sure what the problem was. So, I decided it was time for a coffee. After I had my coffee and played on the internet for a bit, I went back out primarily to see if I could figure out how to get the tractor out of the driveway without power. Just for the halibut, I decided to try to start it. It fired up right away and I was able to finish plowing the driveway.

So, what is the problem here? I can't see it being jelled fuel because I was running treated fuel and, after it quit, I didn't do anything to it. I just let it sit for about an hour and it self rectified the issue. Why would jelled fuel un-jell itself? If this isn't a jelled fuel issue, what else could it be?

TIA

 

[Workerbee]

It could be an obstruction in the fuel lines.

 

[BertP]

It could be an obstruction in the fuel lines.

Thanks, I hadn't thought of that. But, if it is an obstruction, why did it run properly for so long and then quit? Then, why did it start and run after sitting for a bit? I would think that if there is an obstruction, the problem would be constant until I cleaned out the fuel line. Am I missing something?

 

[whitetiger]

You probably have something floating around in the tank that intermittently plugs the tank outlet. After the tractor sets, it floats away from the outlet.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Other possibility is that the air filter is getting snow in it.

 

[BertP]

You probably have something floating around in the tank that intermittently plugs the tank outlet. After the tractor sets, it floats away from the outlet.

I'll keep this in mind, thanks. This will be a bear to address, especially in winter, so I'll put it on the back burner for now.

 

[BertP]

Other possibility is that the air filter is getting snow in it.

Is snow in the air filter an issue with these machines? This certainly fit the symptoms, especially the fact that it fixes itself after sitting for a bit. Is there any solution like relocating the intake that isn't a huge undertaking?

 

[GreensvilleJay]

As others have pointed out the top two reasons will be
1) semi floater in the tank
2) plugged fuel cap

Unlikely to be 'snow in the air filter'. It's up 'high,dry and warm', and the cooling fan blows air at hot engine not up into air intake.

Easy test. unscrew the fuel cap a bit, drive around. If the engine keeps running(past when it would have died) , ,it's a plugged vent in the cap.

If it dies, probably a 'semi-floater' in the tank. Now to get that out means removing the tank and properly cleaning it. Due to the shape of the tank ,it's unlikely you can suck out the 'debris'. but heck you might get lucky, maybe. In my case, a small sliver of black plastic finally went into the exit spigot. Even the borrowed borescope didn't see it ! Tank had to be removed to clean it out.

Buy a cold coffee Mason jar filter ( <$20 ), it fits in the fuel tank filler neck and traps any 'debris' from getting into the tank. So far 1100+ hours and no fuel issues.

 

[BruceMc]

A few years ago, with my BX25, I had the same experience and it was the first fuel filter coming off the tank. It's tucked up underneath and I had overlooked it during regular maintenance.

 

[Blue2Orange]

Other possibility is that the air filter is getting snow in it.

Somewhere here at OTT someone posted an image of a really snow plugged air filter that IIRC resulted from snow backwashing during snowblowing. Personal worst case was the screen of the cover that wraps around the rear below the steering wheel/ dash was caked in snow. Did inspect the air filter. All was fine.

 

[BertP]

As others have pointed out the top two reasons will be
1) semi floater in the tank
2) plugged fuel cap

Unlikely to be 'snow in the air filter'. It's up 'high,dry and warm', and the cooling fan blows air at hot engine not up into air intake.

Easy test. unscrew the fuel cap a bit, drive around. If the engine keeps running(past when it would have died) , ,it's a plugged vent in the cap.

If it dies, probably a 'semi-floater' in the tank. Now to get that out means removing the tank and properly cleaning it. Due to the shape of the tank ,it's unlikely you can suck out the 'debris'. but heck you might get lucky, maybe. In my case, a small sliver of black plastic finally went into the exit spigot. Even the borrowed borescope didn't see it ! Tank had to be removed to clean it out.

Buy a cold coffee Mason jar filter ( <$20 ), it fits in the fuel tank filler neck and traps any 'debris' from getting into the tank. So far 1100+ hours and no fuel issues.

I forgot to mention that the first time this happened, I thought of a plugged vent in the cap. I removed the cap and I didn't hear any "woosh" of air going in and it didn't make any difference so I think the cap vent is OK.

I was kinda hoping that it isn't a floater of some kind but, as Sherlock Holmes once said " When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ". I guess I'll be cleaning out my fuel tank in the not too distant future.

Thanks for the pointer on the mason jar coffee filter. I ordered one and will install it as soon as it gets here.

OnEdit: Now that I think about it, this has never happened in the summer and I use the tractor more in the summer than in the winter. So, unless there is some ice floating around in the tank, I can't see the problem being a floater of some kind.

 

[BertP]

A few years ago, with my BX25, I had the same experience and it was the first fuel filter coming off the tank. It's tucked up underneath and I had overlooked it during regular maintenance.

I replaced both filters (and the fuel pump) not that long ago as part of my preventative maintenance.

I have to admit that I really don't like the set up in this tractor for fuel filtering and pumping. I would like to replace both filters with a single spin on one and the fuel pump with something more robust like a Fass pump. I haven't found a Fass system small enough for my BX yet, though, so I'm not sure if they make one that small or not.

 

[BertP]

Somewhere here at OTT someone posted an image of a really snow plugged air filter that IIRC resulted from snow backwashing during snowblowing. Personal worst case was the screen of the cover that wraps around the rear below the steering wheel/ dash was caked in snow. Did inspect the air filter. All was fine.

I was plowing, not blowing, the snow so there wasn't much airborne snow around me or the BX. Although I didn't think to check, I don't remember any accumulation of snow around the screen below the steering wheel. If it happens again, I will be sure to check that screen and the intake filter.

 

[Hugo Habicht]

OnEdit: Now that I think about it, this has never happened in the summer and I use the tractor more in the summer than in the winter. So, unless there is some ice floating around in the tank, I can't see the problem being a floater of some kind.

Water is heavier than Diesel and so is ice. So it would collect at the lowest point where the fuel outlet of the tank is.

 

[BertP]

Water is heavier than Diesel and so is ice. So it would collect at the lowest point where the fuel outlet of the tank is.

Good point. I'm normally very careful to ensure that the area around the filler cap is clear of snow before I refuel but you can never be 100% in getting it clear. Maybe I knocked some snow into the tank while refueling.