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Richard-tx

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
It has been so hot for so long that I have not had a reason to start the tractors in a while. Out of 8 tractors, 2 were completely out of gas due to evaporation, 3 smelled like varnish when I first started them and 2 others had less than 1/8 of a tank of gas.

I can see now that I will have to run them more often.
 
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Discussion starter · #3 · (Edited)
It has been many a year since I has seen anything that bad. That almost looks like water contamination.

Ethanol itself leaves nothing behind after it evaporates. It is it's affinity for water that makes it nasty.

Here is the south, varnish is a big issue because of the heat. Doubly so this year.
 
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#4 ·
Either run em dry or add little marvel or water remover to gas. Have some in garage cost 22 for about a quart. Is blue in color and available at any auto parts store . Too lazy to go to gargage and get name on bottle,
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
It wasn't all that bad $$ wise. I think overall about $35 in gas went away due to the heat wave.
 
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Discussion starter · #8 ·
I am just going to add a little Techron to the gas and burn it. I am not thrilled with Seafoam.
 
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#9 ·
Ethanol is bad JuJu on carbs. I just had to rebuild the carb on my Yamaha 4 wheeler because of it. Be careful with the Seafoam. It will breakup the gunk and clog up the small jets in the carb. I have started using Stabil in all my tanks where gas will sit for more than a month.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Ethanol mix is all that is available around here.
 
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Discussion starter · #11 ·
Richard-tx said:
I am just going to add a little Techron to the gas and burn it. I am not thrilled with Seafoam.
Click to expand...
Has anyone ever read the MSDS on Seafoam?

Pale oil 50%
VM&P Naptha 30%
Iso-propyl Alcohol 20%

That is an expensive mix of non-ferrous cutting oil and other solvents.
 
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Discussion starter · #13 · (Edited)
The worst one I can recall was a cast iron one that had water collect and sit for at least two years. Scraped out the rust, blew it out, put it together and it fired on the 2nd pull.

The most aggravating one was where the gasoline turned lumpy. Nothing would dissolve those lumps that were about the size of coarse sand. I tried every solvent I had in my shop including epoxy paint thinner and no joy. I wound up removing the tank, power washing it, replacing the fuel lines and fuel filters and then I got rid of it.
 
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#14 ·
Richard-tx said:
The worst one I can recall was a cast iron one that had water collect and sit for at least two years. Scraped out the rust, blew it out, put it together and it fired on the 2nd pull.
Click to expand...
Gimme' an old cast iron carb. anytime.
 
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#16 ·
Using Seafoam, Marine Stabil, Marvel Mystery, et al, still won't stop evaporation, will it???

If I lived down there, I believe I would install an in line full shut off and run out the carb fuel before parking.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
LilysDad said:
Using Seafoam, Marine Stabil, Marvel Mystery, et al, still won't stop evaporation, will it???

If I lived down there, I believe I would install an in line full shut off and run out the carb fuel before parking.
Click to expand...
The interesting part was that with the temps around 101-110 for about 6 weeks straight, gasoline is evaporating out of the tanks. Tractors that sit in the sun get hotter yet. I suspect that in some cases the gasoline is boiling off. I believe that draining the entire fuel system is the only real solution under these conditions. In winter, keeping the tanks full and running the engines once a month keeps things free of deposits. In winter I shut off the fuel and run it until the carb is dry every month.
 
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#18 ·
Though I didn't experience any dry tanks, as a probable result of the heat, one of my Pro 8's had a needle hang up. I hadn't had that problem in a while. So I tore her down and cleaned her up - starting to see those darn carbs in my dreams these days............. :fing20:
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
So far I have had zero problems like that after taking Don's advice of installing a second fuel filter right before the carb.

When I did an inspection of the fuel pump on my Pro-16 it confirmed my suspicions and why the addition of a second fuel filter helps. The Vanguard fuel pump has a clear plastic gasket and I could see the dirt that had collected in the pump area. The dirt was due to the minimalist screen type fuel filter that was installed. In short the fuel pump acts similar to a sediment bowl with no way to drain it so when the fuel system gets contaminated, the crud will stay in the pump with the occasional chunk coming out for weeks afterward. I chased an issue similar to that on my 18 hp Onan last year. Even after cleaning the tank, replacing the fuel lines, and filter I would still get the occasional clog in the idle circuit of the carb for weeks. Had I installed a second filter, I would not have had any issues. Live and learn.
 
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