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7420 JD

B

Big Muddy rancher

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Feb 10, 2005
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Big Muddy valley
I was having fuel trouble with my tractor again today. I made it back to in front of the shop before it died but not inside, :roll:

I but the shot gun heater at the side and tarped it over and put a blow dryer on the electric fuel pump on the frame. I could not get fuel out the bleed screw.
As i was looking it over i saw what looks like the fuel line running over the Rad to a little "OIL Cooler" looking device in front of the radiator and back over the rad to the tank or filter. I put the blow dryer on that for a while then covered it with some cardboard. The tractor started and ran fine all afternoon. Only one picture of the thing in the manual and no mention of what it is, If it is cooling the fuel that's probably where my problems are. Hope I got them solved.
 
Yep found out today that the 20 and 30 series tractors have a fuel cooler. :shock: As if it isn't cool enough at -40.

But JD came up with a solution, Sell a $100 heater kit to put in the first filter so the fuel is warm enough to get through the cooler. :???:

Ya I have another job, doesn't look to hard to put in as well as the relay and fuse. I will leave the cardboard that I got for free on until it warms up.
 
I wonder why in h377 they would put a fuel cooler on a tractor. :roll:

Is there not enough room to wrap those lines or bypass the cooler altogether?

I got most of my 6410 back together today, waiting for a gasket that they forgot to pack. It will be here tomorrow evening.
I will be able to see if I are a mechanic or if I can just spell it. :D
 
'08 ford diesels come with a fuel cooler too. I don't understand the logic, but I suppose I'm not meant to.
I've had good luck with Melt Down. Put it in the tank of frozen tractor, go to the house and drink a pot of coffe, and by the time you get back that stuff has somehow magicaly made it's way through the entire system and you're good to go. It's not a bad idea to run it in every tank of fuel at this time of year.
 
Bypass the cooler and save the expense. If it causes and issue vapor locking in the heat then hook it back up. Or put a loop around it that has valves to switch back and forth. Maybe the heat kit is less work!
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
Yep found out today that the 20 and 30 series tractors have a fuel cooler. :shock: As if it isn't cool enough at -40.

But JD came up with a solution, Sell a $100 heater kit to put in the first filter so the fuel is warm enough to get through the cooler. :???:
Click to expand...

The engineer that thought of that must have been a former bureaucrat... :roll:
 
reading over on agri-ville that fuel dealers say the fuel density doesn't really change for the seasons anymore they just change the additives in it. i think this would explain some of the problems because we've been having trouble, off and on too. it's another case of the manufacturer saving money by taking a shortcut and it doesn't cover the situation like the old method did. this is the second winter we've had some problems. the suppliers insist we've got junk in our tanks but after they finally put enough anti-gel into their tanks it seems like our junk disappears.
 
I have a 6320 and they tell me the reason for the fuel cooler is to make the engine more efficient and burn less fuel by cooling it before it goes into the cylinders. Maybe a good thing for a hot hayfield but not so good for winter feeding.
 
With the higher pressures that modern day injection systems run, the fuel that is returned back to the tank can get real toasty. The fuel coolers work well in the summer, and are pretty much a necessity, especially down south. But they are a pain for us northern types.

As for bypassing, thats ok until spring when you'll get wild variations in ambient temperature. The fuel heaters are thermostatically controlled with the intake air temperature sensor, so they'll heat the fuel the proper amount to maintain proper viscosity.

As for the summer versus winter fuel, my father manages the local PetroCanada, and there are definite differences in the fuels between the seasons. But all its ever really amounted to are different additives to thin the fuel out versus any kind of different refining. Perhaps decades ago they used to refine the fuels differently, but it hasn't been that way for years and years.

When I ran out of winter fuel this last weekend, I went over to the summer fuel tank and had a heckuva time getting it to run through the filter (gravity feed). Tossed in a few ounces of LubeTec and it run just like the winter stuff did.

One of the big issues with winter fuel is that you actually require HIGHER cetane ratings when its cold outside, however almost all winter diesel has lower cetane due to the thinning agents. A more cost effective solution to a diesel fuel conditioner is a straight cetane booster added to winter diesel. You'll get much of your power back that was lost with the thinner diesel, and it'll cost you less.

On the Meltdown product: Good stuff, but running it in every tank is kind of a waste of money. Its not a cold weather conditioner (ie: won't lower pour point), but rather a chemical that is designed to bond with water and lower its melting point. Thats how it spreads so fast through the system. If you're really concerned about freezing up, run a standard winter fuel conditioner. Its cheaper in the long run and actually reduces pour point.

Rod
 

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