What to do when you run out of fuel?

Fueling a modern tractor is slightly different than older machines.

[ghallums]

Well I learned something today. Good to know. I'm old school and would have tried bleeding the injectors. Thanks Neil!

[stephengmeiner]

Thanks Neil. I’ve always heard “Never run a diesel out of fuel” so thankfully I haven’t. But I almost did 2 days ago on my L3301. I was using the backhoe for a long time at high RPM with my back to the fuel gauge. When I finally turned around, the needle was well into the red. I honestly didn’t know what to do if I had run it dry but now I know! Thanks again.

[DLTJR]

Was taught this many years ago by my father. Back in the day we had an old Cat dozer. Those old ones you had to crack the lines like Neil stated. Some of the newer ones have a bleeder valve that can be cracked open while cranking. I would guesstimate this Kubota does also. The old advise of never run a diesel out of fuel still applies.

[KIHOK]

It’s good to admit your mistakes! At least it is easier to fix now than in days past. I’ve had to do the old crack the injector line loose on a couple of VW (alh) engines when I got stupid and ran them out. I always carried a 17mm wrench in those cars.

[trevorhorvath]

I don't know if you guys have a video yet about this but if not you should make one about why it's important to let a diesel idle after running it on high rpms before shutting it off.

[lowermichigan]

This is very useful information.

I learned the old way on a Ford 1910 and had to bleed the system.

[MajDisaster]

Did not work out this way on my L2501 last summer. Ran it dry, filled it up and it WOULD NOT START. Kubota dealer recommended cracking the injectors and that DID work. Things that make you go "hmm".

[curtanderson]

The place I used to work had diesel forklifts and the big thing was no matter what you are doing at a 1/4 of a tank go fill it. Also I stay away from bio-diesel year round. Bio-diesel will plug your filters in a heart beat in the winter. Tractor on from west central Illinois

[baronallison]

An old farmer buddy taught me never to let the tank go below half, esp. in the cold, to prevent condensation on the inside of the tank. My L3901 takes 5 gallons when the needle is at 1/2, or 6 gallons if it's anywhere below that. And like my sales weenie told me when I bought it, "at 11 gallons this tractor will last longer than you will."

[clintonjarman]

Oh boy, I watched 2 videos prior to this and was about to go about bleeding lines and was even going to put an in-line fuel bulb to pump fuel through the line. Could you imagine how much I could have stuffed up if i didn't watch this video!! New 75hp chinese tractor.

[paulmaxwell]

My main tractor is a 1986 Kubota L2550, a 30hp 3 cylinder diesel. I deliberately ran it out of fuel soon after I bought it to get a feel for just where 'empty' really was on the fuel gauge. It was a bit below the 'empty' line.
I refilled the tank and opened the bleed valve on the injection pump by hand (it's a small knob or wheel). I cranked the engine, it started and ran badly. But over the next minute or so it cleared the air from the lines and ran better and better. Once it was running well I closed that valve and went back to work. It was that easy.
So....it's best to avoid running any equipment out of fuel. Even a chainsaw. But it's not a big deal, as Neil showed here. Only truly ancient diesels can be a headache to bleed.

[jifi-]

Well, it used to be more of a deal, or so I've heard. Never ran any engine out of fuel unless winterizing it, for example (gasoline only, never diesel). Thanks, Neil, a very useful and timely topic.

Another fuel topic I've heard a LOT about and would like to see you cover are issues with cold weather diesel fueling and all the things people do for the variety of condtions encountered because of the cool-to-frigid spectrum.

[bobbyharvill]

Should have titled it: when you wife decided to mow, without letting you know, and you come home and find the tractor in the middle of the lot.

[chrisburton]

Yeah thanks good to know. I am old school too learn something new everyday

[Brookside]

Wow...that is a lot different that when it happened to me once about 30 years ago! Wonderful progress!

[bryanblake]

Learned on a 76/77 international 364 how to bleed the system when doing a fuel filter change, it can be time consuming and some people would get lost on it it

[samengler]

Nice job I learned something. Just bought a new B2650 . I love it I just won’t run it out of fuel .

[tomtillman]

Then why does the manual for my 5 year old L2501 say to open the bleed valve?
My tractor would not start by just filling it up. Had to bleed it.
They are not all the same.

[hphillips]

My 1993 Kubota had bleeds at the filter and pump. Glad to know my new b2650 will be easier. Good video and keep them coming👍

[uio]

Biggest thing to know if you are on an older tractor is that once the engine stops, and you suspect you have run out of fuel, don't continue to attempt to start the engine. Open the cap and see if the tank is dry (on most older tractors you can see the bottom of the fuel tank). If it's dry, add fuel, then start cranking. It will usually start after 3 or 4 attempts if you haven't run it bone dry by attempting to crank it initially before adding fuel.