[AT] Diesel Fuel Question

Sun Nov 21 18:35:39 PST 2021

 I find it easier to trace diesel leaks on a dirty engine. Just follow the wet/clean area back to the source.  Never had the luxury of dye and UV leak detector lamp.
GaryRenton, WA.

-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com>
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sun, Nov 21, 2021 3:54 pm
Subject: Re: [AT] Diesel Fuel Question

Always an important safety tip, glad you mentioned it farmer.  My shop manual is modern enough to have been written mostly by lawyers so of course it gets into this warning in a pretty big way.  Nonetheless, I can totally see how easy it would be to just want to poke around a bit.  Hearing reminders from real folks rather than the nameless faceless lawyers goes a long way.
I have a UV leak detector lamp, and need to check but I think I have diesel-compatible dye too.  If not, you can get it at NAPA. This is all stuff we had laying around at work, a throwback to the days when one of our bigger lines was mechanic-oriented portable worklighting, and that once upon a time when we took a hard look at the leak-detection market.  Somehow it all followed me home, a perk of being in management ;-) I get first dibs on the dumpster-diving.  My problem is the grunge buildup is pretty heavy so a good thorough power-wash will be necessary before the leak-detection makes sense.  However we're getting below freezing so all the garden hoses are put up for winter, which is keeping me from pursuing it right now.
SO

On Sun, Nov 21, 2021 at 3:12 PM Indiana Robinson <robinson46176 at gmail.com> wrote:

Hi SteveI'm going to post a warning here, not for you, I'm sure that you are well aware of the risk... Many others may not be as aware...When looking for fuel leaks on diesel engines NEVER ! ever look with your fingers.The line pressure is so high that a tiny almost invisible leak can cut flesh even through gloves.I can't begin to tell you how many guys I have seen check for leaks by fingering around the injectors, lines and fittings... If you need to check, use something like a strip of cardboard.BTW, as cheap as I am, I wouldn't use that fuel in an engine. I do keep some similar materials around for rough washdowns.Now, I do use filtered old gasoline, usually filtered through a couple of old pieces of bedsheet. I only use that in old tractors, never in an injected vehicle.
I've had better years than 2021. I would like to see it get better or go away...
.

On Sun, Nov 21, 2021 at 1:01 PM Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks everyone, so far.  This has nothing to do with frugality.  It's like $3.00 worth of fuel.  This is more about the only two choices I'm seeing at the moment:  burn it; or store it for a relatively long time until I can get around to disposing of it properly.  As for use as a degreaser, I use mineral spirits for that.  Trailer decking, I don't own a trailer.  As for brush burning, I don't.  I either shred brush or cart it to my local transfer station who has a big brush-pile and chipper/composting operation.

On Sun, Nov 21, 2021 at 12:40 PM Jason <dejoodster at gmail.com> wrote:

Your 5 to 1 idea sounds fine as long as it's older non-electronically controlled injection system.  
IH 1066 sure. Case IH MX 285 with CAPS fuel system, never in a million years.
Jason
On Sun, Nov 21, 2021, 9:31 AM Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com> wrote:

I recently discovered I have a diesel fuel leak, and while trying to find time for diagnosis and repair, I started parking the tractor over a big drip-pan.  The pan collected roughly a gallon over the course of ... well, I can't say precisely but around a week or two.  That fuel dripped thru the normal grime found on engines, so it's pretty dirty.  (And I since discovered that turning off the fuel petcock effectively controls the leak)

I have filtered it multiple times.  First thru paper towel; clogged three or four getting that done.  Next thru coffee filters, again, it took 4 to finish the job.  Finally thru a Covid mask (regular surgical type not N95).  That one never clogged and captured very minimal additional material.
What I have now is therefore free of particulate big enough to catch in coffee filters and surgical masks.  It remains discolored; if fresh diesel was the color of Budweiser, this stuff looks like a nice brown ale.
What says the list?  Burn it?  Will the tractor's fuel filter take out everything big enough to cause problems with the pump or injectors?  (Seems like that should be a design criteria for that filter, no?)  If I do burn it, I will dilute it about 5:1 with fresh fuel.  

If I don't burn it, it will eventually be carted away to our local Hazardous Waste Day held annually about 25 miles from here - I manage to remember and get over there only about once every 3-5 years.
Steve O.
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Francis Robinson
aka "farmer"
Central Indiana USA
robinson46176 at gmail.com

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