I have a small Kubota. It's been a great little tractor. I have had it for years with no problems. Today I was going to move some wood. It is in the low twenties here so colder than usual. It fired right up. I drove it about a hundred feet and it shut off. I tried restarting. I'd would idle really low for a few seconds and shut off. Ideas? Suggestions??
Small diesel in the cold...
- Thread starter Mhopper
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Fuel. Sounds like a potential gel up. Do you have the ability to get it someplace warmer? If so - get it pushed in and thawed out. Then get some fuel additive in the tank. Once you get it started, run it long enough that you know treated fuel has been pumped through the whole system.
I'm with Jags, you gelled up.
In my area, this is a very popular additive for emergencies.
![[Hearth.com] Small diesel in the cold...](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/172/172506-8762212448ce252cc1953169cd350e85.jpg?hash=liTW2trr9X "[Hearth.com] Small diesel in the cold...")
Some of the white bottle is generally added at each fuel addition in freezing weather as a preventative.
![[Hearth.com] Small diesel in the cold...](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/172/172507-63ea83099331869f68cef42afef472ee.jpg?hash=7VNp83C8m5 "[Hearth.com] Small diesel in the cold...")
In my area, this is a very popular additive for emergencies.
Some of the white bottle is generally added at each fuel addition in freezing weather as a preventative.
Yup, sounds like gelling, up north the dealers shift to winter blend but the stuff in the tanks lags the weather, a sharp drop in temp will give the tow truck folks a few days of business. Biodiesel is even worse.
Yup, I add additive every tank full in cold weather just to be sure. Very cheap insurance.
It's probably best to replace both your fuel filters. If you have a BX like mine, there is one on the side and one underneath and a total pita to reach if you still have the belly mower on. They're only a few bucks each and you can use non- Kubota ones, just check the flow direction.
It's probably best to replace both your fuel filters. If you have a BX like mine, there is one on the side and one underneath and a total pita to reach if you still have the belly mower on. They're only a few bucks each and you can use non- Kubota ones, just check the flow direction.
You can run a 50/50 Kero/diesel mix with no problem. That should solve the cold weather problem. Diesel fuel in cold weather will gel up, actually it is the wax in the fuel that solidifies and plugs the filter.
lindnova
Feeling the Heat
Up north we have blended fuel with additives to deal with the cold. Good advise in previous posts. If you use diesel 911 be careful and don't use too much as it isn't very good for an engine - other than actually getting it going when gelled. Getting in a warmer garage and some white bottle and some #1 or kerosene mixed in would be the best solution.
If your fuel filters haven't been changed in a while that might be all it takes. We change a lot of fuel filters with mucky water in them in the winter around here.
If your fuel filters haven't been changed in a while that might be all it takes. We change a lot of fuel filters with mucky water in them in the winter around here.
jaoneill
Feeling the Heat
I would seriously doubt it jelled at +20. After living 45 years where temps will hit 45-50 below zero, and having all manner of diesel vehicles, I have never seen fuel jell until ambient temps drop well below zero. I plowed the driveway with a diesel tractor a few weeks ago at +2 degrees with straight #2 fuel that was left in the tractors tank from the fall's field work, because I hadn't gotten around to dumping in the usual ten gallons of #1 (kerosene) to prevent jelling.
What is more likely is a freeze-up. Condensation build-up in the fuel tank from not keeping it full; water in the bottom of the tank or in the fuel line system freezes, shutting off flow to the engine. Isopropyl alchohol or a warm garage is the remedy.
What is more likely is a freeze-up. Condensation build-up in the fuel tank from not keeping it full; water in the bottom of the tank or in the fuel line system freezes, shutting off flow to the engine. Isopropyl alchohol or a warm garage is the remedy.
jaoneill
Feeling the Heat
There is no way it gelled. I have used my duramax many times in -40 degree weather and I have never had that happen. Maybe you have water in your fuel. Good luck!
Remember, just because it is X date, doesn't mean what we all find at the pump is the same coast to coast, north to south etc.
jaoneill
Feeling the Heat
Never trust the crap at the pump. For 45 years I have used nothing in my diesels but #2 oil, treated with the Power Service cetane boost and a biocide. In the winter I use 40/60 #1 and #2 oil.
Several years ago (when the EPA first screwed up the pump diesel) I was on the road, needing fuel, and had no choice but to fill my MB diesel at a pump in the winter. The attendant insisted that they had modified the additives they put into it and I need not worry in the least about it jelling. Two days later temps dropped to -30 and the car, in the garage, wouldn't start. I pulled the fuel filter and, low & behold, the fuel was totally jelled. Lesson learned.
Several years ago (when the EPA first screwed up the pump diesel) I was on the road, needing fuel, and had no choice but to fill my MB diesel at a pump in the winter. The attendant insisted that they had modified the additives they put into it and I need not worry in the least about it jelling. Two days later temps dropped to -30 and the car, in the garage, wouldn't start. I pulled the fuel filter and, low & behold, the fuel was totally jelled. Lesson learned.
Been running all kinds of diesels for 30+ years and in my opinion it's highly unlikely that your diesel gelled up in the low-20s. Be really careful about cutting diesel with kerosene as the kerosene has much lower lubricity which has a negative impact on (especially) modern diesel pumps and engines. I'm with the water in the fuel line/filter crowd, especially if you have been leaving the tank less than full and have been experiencing unusual cool temperature swings. Also, if you have been running biodiesel, that could be a likely suspect.
jaoneill
Feeling the Heat
Speak of lubricity. Since they removed the sulphur I have been adding a dose of 2-stroke oil to my diesel fuel; I have heard that it helps and is certainly cheap insurance. The new additives they put in the fuel also play hell on the seals in the older injection pumps. I had to replace delivery valve o-rings on all of my diesels within six months of the sulphur ban, and just had to have the injector pump on the Allis completely rebuilt with less than 4,000 hours on it.
ErikR
Burning Hunk
It sure sounds like a gelling problem... idling with no ability to rev up.
Seeing that the OP is in South Carolina, I doubt that the fuel he's running was a winter blend fuel, and who knows how long ago he bought it. And, I doubt he's ever used an anti-gel additive or a fuel conditioner. At temps in the low 20's I could easily see his diesel gelling. He's never replied to this thread. It would be interesting to hear if a little of the red bottle 911 and some new filters fixed his problem! Regular filter replacements are a good thing... So would clearing any water in the tractor tank and maybe a treatment of biocide... and fresh fuel
![[Hearth.com] Small diesel in the cold...](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/diesel-gelling-on-filter-gif.173333/ "[Hearth.com] Small diesel in the cold...")
Up here, I see -20°F temps in the winter. My diesel tractor has never had a gel problem. I add a fuel conditioner to my jugs and keep just enough on hand to refill the tractor tank.
Seeing that the OP is in South Carolina, I doubt that the fuel he's running was a winter blend fuel, and who knows how long ago he bought it. And, I doubt he's ever used an anti-gel additive or a fuel conditioner. At temps in the low 20's I could easily see his diesel gelling. He's never replied to this thread. It would be interesting to hear if a little of the red bottle 911 and some new filters fixed his problem! Regular filter replacements are a good thing... So would clearing any water in the tractor tank and maybe a treatment of biocide... and fresh fuel
Up here, I see -20°F temps in the winter. My diesel tractor has never had a gel problem. I add a fuel conditioner to my jugs and keep just enough on hand to refill the tractor tank.
Josh Carmack
New Member
Our January temps here dip into teens and single digits and I have never had a gelling issue.I have never used any additive. D2 needs colder than 20 to gel. Most likely water frozen in the filter. Any time I have ever had a no run or no crank situation in the cold it has always been water in the filter.
Now, on the kerosene / d3, lubricity issues in a standard diesel engine. I worked at an airport years ago. In that airport we had a little John Deere, (Yanmar) 30-40HP, don't remember, that mowed the 100 or so acres of grass, and was the push/pull tractor for the civilian commuter jets up to about 40 passengers or so.Years later I saw the tractor on the dealership lot. It was unable to be mistaken for any other tractor due to certain modifications that had been done to the front of it to allow it to hook to the nose gear of the jets and turbo props. Feeling nostalgic I stopped to inquire about it. They had just replaced the hydro stat pumps. and placed it up for sale. It had over 10,000 hours on it. From the first day on the ramp when it was new, and to the last day before it was traded in, it NEVER saw anything but JET-A. Jet-A is more or less kerosene, like 90 percent, with some other additives that keep turbines a little happier in colder temps and higher altitudes.
That's right, 10,000+ hours... no fuel additives, no added oils, essentially kero. That little tractor worked year round. Some days it had it easy just tugging on a few jets, and others it worked 24 hours cutting grass, plowing the occasional snow,,,etc...Take that into consideration if your worried about lubricity, thinner fuel etc.
Now, on the kerosene / d3, lubricity issues in a standard diesel engine. I worked at an airport years ago. In that airport we had a little John Deere, (Yanmar) 30-40HP, don't remember, that mowed the 100 or so acres of grass, and was the push/pull tractor for the civilian commuter jets up to about 40 passengers or so.Years later I saw the tractor on the dealership lot. It was unable to be mistaken for any other tractor due to certain modifications that had been done to the front of it to allow it to hook to the nose gear of the jets and turbo props. Feeling nostalgic I stopped to inquire about it. They had just replaced the hydro stat pumps. and placed it up for sale. It had over 10,000 hours on it. From the first day on the ramp when it was new, and to the last day before it was traded in, it NEVER saw anything but JET-A. Jet-A is more or less kerosene, like 90 percent, with some other additives that keep turbines a little happier in colder temps and higher altitudes.
That's right, 10,000+ hours... no fuel additives, no added oils, essentially kero. That little tractor worked year round. Some days it had it easy just tugging on a few jets, and others it worked 24 hours cutting grass, plowing the occasional snow,,,etc...Take that into consideration if your worried about lubricity, thinner fuel etc.
mark cline
Minister of Fire
All my equipment is diesel and never gelled until at least -10 F and that is with the summer blended diesel.. Moisture and dirty filters are your problem ,I'll bet
It's most likely the fuel filters clogged. I used to run a small kubota, there should be 2filters. Usually one near the engine and one near the fuel pump. It's weird they run fine then they completely get clogged. If it starts for a second then quits it's the filter.
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