Kubota diesels and fuel gelling?

gdheck · #1 12-13-2014, 08:41 PM

Since I haven't used my 1782 in the winter yet, but I plan to use it for a backup on the blade, I have been wondering if they have any more problems with the fuel gelling up than most diesels do? If they do, besides a good quality anti-gel, is there anything else I can to prevent it?
Geoffrey

J-Mech · #2 12-13-2014, 10:06 PM

I seriously doubt you will ever gel your fuel. Diesel fuel goes to winter blend in the cold months. Been around farm machines all my life. Owned a few small diesels over the years, and ran diesel trucks for the last 15 years. Ive never had fuel gel and I don't run any additives. Temps here can drop to well below 0.

dvogtvpe · #3 12-13-2014, 10:32 PM

up here (Wisconsin) We see allot of fuel gel. last winter was a real hard winter for us. We were getting trucks towed in constantly with fuel issues. primary fuel filters that are of small micron cause allot of problems. We started taking 10 micron primary elements out and install 25 micron elements which helped allot. 911 power service works well. Like I said. last winter was bad, we had weeks of well below 0 and it started to take its toll.

J-Mech · #4 12-14-2014, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvogtvpe

We were getting trucks towed in constantly with fuel issues. primary fuel filters that are of small micron cause allot of problems. We started taking 10 micron primary elements out and install 25 micron elements which helped allot.

That's the biggest issue. We saw it all winter here too. My ol' Dodge didn't have a single issue, but most all the newer machines with the high micron filters were. We did the same thing, went to lower micron filters. Although, the little paper element on the CC GT is more than likely low enough to keep from plugging.

gdheck · #5 12-14-2014, 02:37 AM

That's what I wanted to know. I've been around farm machinery on my uncle's farm most of my life too, but all the diesels sit in the barn for the winter. I won't mention what I think of how a JD starts below 80°.

He uses the gas tractors to feed cattle with in the winter. The Oliver and IH gassers start just fine.

BTW, I did find out that the primary filter is a 10 micron.

Sam Mac · #6 12-14-2014, 05:58 AM

From back in my ready mix concrete and rock quarry days (20 + years ago) we used to run a blend of 1/3rd kero and 2/3rds diesel, stopped the gelling problems. The Cats were the worst because they didn't have a fuel return to the tank like the Cummins or Detroit's. The returned fuel helped to warm the fuel. The Kubota's also have a fuel return. I still run some Kero in my BX in the winter.

dvogtvpe · #7 12-14-2014, 08:14 AM

on the new engines we saw allot of regen issues to. the fuel in the line to the doser would gell . it just stays in the line waiting for the doser to open, no constant flow its just dead headed till a regen is requested. extra idle time in the cold temps. and it didn't take long to plug the DOC /DPF. I noticed on the 2013 emission engines they added a purge to the fuel line to the doser to blow the fuel out when the engine isn't running.