Tractor won't start after adding fuel

whitetiger

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And IMHO common-rail fuel systems DO NOT fall into the 50 yrs ago scenario. My neighbor got some H20 in the fuel tank of his '15 8540. Then some Fungus grew in tank. Engine stopped running. Local Kubota technician replaced IP & injectors to the tune of $8500. I've had H20 in several fuel tanks since I started custom farming in '87 with no major problems. Just remove the water, add biocide treatment. change filter, bleed air out system & start engine. I don't & won't own common-rail diesel system.
As I look back through this thread, I get the impression that we are talking about a B6000 tractor.
 
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whitetiger

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The very first diesel engine was designed to run on gasoline. That engine is not in our tractors. Similarly, old diesel engines sometimes incorporated an ether injection system for cold starts. Those engines are not in our tractors either. For example, the old WD40 had a 16: or 17:1 compression ratio -- well below the 22:1 of the OP's engine -- and was designed to start on high-octane gasoline, switching over to diesel once warmed up. So what some farmer got away with 50 years ago does not necessarily apply to today's diesel engines.

Diesel engines inject fuel under high pressure (in the case of the OP's tractor, about 2,000 psi) into the combustion chamber as the piston nears the top end of it's stroke. At those pressures, the fuel auto-ignites so engine timing is determined by the injectors. Gas engine ignition is controlled by a precisely timed spark since gasoline is more volatile with a lower flash point, requiring much lower compression pressures.

The flame in an gas engine can propagate at 90 to 120 m/s. This is considerably faster than the fuel leaves the injectors in a diesel engine, so assuming both fuels begin to ignite at the exact moment of injection, gasoline is completely combusted long before diesel would be. Combustion chamber pressures are dramatically higher because most or all of that combustion takes place while the piston is still rising. The designed engine timing is dependent upon the slower combustion rate of the diesel.

So: your tractor, your choice. If you want to put gasoline in it, then that's up to you. But don't expect Kubota to warranty it.
I do not think there is any warranty left on his B6200 tractor.
I think you need to go back and see what this thread is about, we were not talking about a modern-day, high pressure, common rail diesel engine.
 
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torch

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I am fully aware of what model the OP has. My comments were written with that in mind, and referenced the OP's specific model.
 

whitetiger

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I am fully aware of what model the OP has. My comments were written with that in mind, and referenced the OP's specific model.
Actually, you did not, I just went back and reread them. Also, the engine in his B6200HST was designed 40 plus years ago.
It is a completely different system than is used in a modern diesel. Bottom line is that cranking the engine over with gas in the fuel tank did not damage it at all.
 
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D2Cat

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Late '80's- early '90's diesel engines (like the B6200 in this thread) were very forging engines. Volkswagen even had in the owner's manual for their diesels it's winter start could be aided with up a 10% mixture of gasoline.

I had an '83 Nisan Maxima diesel. I mistakenly filled it with diesel when the tank was down about 10 gallons. I drove that car about 50 miles before discovering my mistake. Pulled into a fuel station down in the Mo. Ozarks. Had the station mgr. drain the fuel and fill up with new as I drank a couple cups of coffee. Sold the car with 365,000 miles and was running years after I sold it.

Luck? No! It's the difference in the injection pump and fueling system.
 
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torch

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Actually, you did not, I just went back and reread them.
Really? Which specification do you dispute? The 22:1 compression ratio, or the 2,000 psi injection pressure?

It is a completely different system than is used in a modern diesel.
Define "modern". I never said the D850 engine was state of the art today. But it is certainly closer to modern than antique, Regardless, the design is not one that can be run on gasoline without risk of damage.

Bottom line is that cranking the engine over with gas in the fuel tank did not damage it at all.
I never said otherwise. But I attribute that to the lack of bleeding -- gasoline never made it to the engine. It would not have started had he filled it with diesel either.

Bottom line: I believe it is irresponsible to lead a new owner astray by implying it is OK to run his Kubota diesel engine on up to 25% gasoline.

I repeat my endorsement of Russel's excellent advice in post #7.
 
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rentthis

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I have been in the rental business for 30+ years. Customers have put gasoline in my diesel equipment more often than you might think. We get the gasoline completely drained, refill it with diesel and go back to work. Out of a dozen episodes, I have had one bent push rod. $15.00 and 30 min. was what it cost. You will be fine.
 
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aaluck

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Im just curious if he ever got it running. I'm assuming so since he didn't come back
 

Tornado

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I havent read all the replies, just a few of them. I think the OP though may have actually helped himself here by running the engine out of diesel before adding gasoline. If you ran the engine until it died from no diesel, then you likely pulled air into the fuel lines. This is very common. This is one reason it is strongly recommended that you never run a tractor completely out of fuel. It may have saved you in this case however, because you incorrectly refilled with gasoline. Its very likely the air in the lines prevented you from really making a big mistake. you need to empty the tank, and bleed the fuel line, and pull the fuel filter (I would even change the filter for the heck of it) Do all that, then fill the tractor up with diesel and see what happens.
 
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