Diesel Engine Misbehavin'

[will-max dairy]

Edit: I now see that I'm a little confused about Mahindra's brand of exhaust treatment. I used strikethrough to take out some of my initial verbiage and replaced it, albeit with possibly snarky verbiage due to my frustration...

So... about three feet, give or take, of snow fell on the farm in the past few days. This is going to be a long explanation; but maybe in reading it, you'll understand why I'm happy with the results of what I did; but I'm not sure what I did that cleared the problem...

Anyway...

Our main tractor with loader is a 2018 Mahindra 6075 with a regenerative exhaust filter a Mahindra-specific tier IV exhaust treatment system...(which may or may not be important here). It has about 1500 hours on it.

I plugged the block heater in Thursday night, anticipating a big job for it cleaning driveways and such on Friday.

Friday did not disappoint. I was outside for about four hours, between cleaning the driveways and touching up the compost/manure pile.

When doing loader work, I run the RPMs right at 1500 (the economy setting) for light work. 1800 for heavy work. Friday was an 1800RPM day.

At the end of the day, I figured that I would run it full throttle for a minute or so, as I drove back to the barn and up the ramp into the hayloft dryfloor, where I park it. As soon as I went to go full throttle, the "check engine" light came on, and the engine dogged. It had about 50% power going up the ramp into the hayloft; which made for an interesting drive up the ramp, as I wondered if it was going to make it. Weather conditions at the time: about 25F and heavy snow squall in the air. Big, fat, wet flakes of snow.

It did. I shut it down for the night and made plans for Saturday to do a little bit of maintenance. More snow was predicted over the weekend; and I knew that I would have to be back at it for final cleanup on Sunday.

So... what did I do Saturday?

I put some Diesel 911 in the tank, and I put some cetane boost in the tank.
I checked the coolant. It was just below minimum. There is something about the block heater on this tractor. If I plug in the block heater for a long time, I end up losing coolant when I drive it. No block heater use, no coolant loss. I'll go all summer without losing a drop; and then I lose a pint the first time I plug in the block heater overnight.
I also took the air filter out to check it. I was a little dirty; and there was a little snow packed in the end of the housing. I blew the filter out; and blew the little bit of packed snow out of the housing. I made a note to order an air filter. Looks like it's due.
Checked the oil. Oil was OK. It could use an oil change. I'll do that some sunny weekend in February; when there is no snow to plow and no hay to bale.
I did not check the fuel filter. If I recall, this tractor has a fuel filter sensor; and a specific light would come on. Not just "check engine"

Note: The temperature gauge on the tractor was always pegged right at its operating temperature. At no time did it overheat.


So Sunday, I go out for round two of snow cleanup.

I start the tractor. It starts fine. The "check engine" light stays on for about thirty seconds after startup; and then it clears.

I go out and start clearing the snow from the loafing yard; where we let our cattle out while we clean their pen. The ground is still soggy under the snow; and the tractor is grunting quite a bit, between three to four feet of wet snow and the occasional scalp of mud from the ground. I strain it a little too much, and boom "check engine" comes on again. Engine starts to dog. It runs, but it has no guts whatsoever. I get the loafing yard clean and get the manure pile pushed up and run the tractor up into the hayloft to park it. Weather conditions: about 25F and heavy snow squall in the air. Big, fat wet flakes of snow.

Coolant level is fine. The tractor was not plugged in from Saturday to Sunday. I only used the glow plugs to start it.


My wife comes out, we put the cows out and start cleaning their pen. I'm thinking out loud to her; wondering why the tractor still has issues after cleaning the air filter, levelling up the coolant and putting additive in the fuel. I start thinking about the diesel exhaust regeneration ... ...whatever Mahindra does to the exhaust system at shutdown. It only does it when the tractor is shut off. Maybe the exhaust filter (Mahindra documentation says no Diesel Particulate Filter) is overloaded?

So, what do I do? After we clean the pen, I need to throw down three types of hay from the loft. 1st cut, 2nd cut and bedding. Each time I go up, I start the tractor; which starts easy; since it's still warm. I let it run for about five minutes, and I shut it down. Each time, I hear the relay clicks and buzzing that is indicative of the exhaust filter regen. What was the behavior during these three restarts?

1st restart: "check engine" stays on for about thirty seconds, then clears. Stays clear. The exhaust looks a little "steamy" while it runs at 1500RPM for about five minutes. I shut the tractor down and the exhaust filter regens...does whatever Mahindra does at shutdown... which is unclear to me at the moment...
2nd restart: No trouble lights at all at any point. The exhaust looks clear. I shut the tractor down and the exhaust filter regens.
3rd restart: Same as 2nd.

After we bring the cows back in, my wife goes in the house; and I take the tractor out for a final cleanup of the driveways and such. Weather conditions: about 25F and clear.

Tractor runs fine the whole time. I'm out for about two hours. I have to get off and shovel about six or eight times during that stretch. Each time, I shut down the engine and let the exhaust filter regen do whatever Mahindra does at shutdown... which is unclear to me at the moment...

At the end of that time, I horse the engine to climb the ramp into the hayloft; and the tractor steams up the ramp as if it was brand new.

So... I'm at a loss for what fixed my issue.

Is it a matter of the exhaust filter needing more regenerations needing more of whatever Mahindra does at shutdown...per run time?
Is it a matter of the tractor drawing snowflakes into the air breather during heavy, wet, snowfall?
Is it a matter of the fuel filter was gummed up; and it just needed more operating time for the Diesel 911 and Cetane boost to take effect?
Is the block heater boiling some coolant into the cylinders; which causes my exhaust filter to get gummed up during the next operation, requiring more regens to clear?

I really don't know.

I despise these "check engine" lights. I think the tractor has an OBD II port. I think we have a scanner around the farm. (Our son-in-law that lives with us has one in his tools.) I need to make sure I know where that scanner is, if this happens again.

 

[will-max dairy]

So... about three feet, give or take, of snow fell on the farm in the past few days. This is going to be a long explanation; but maybe in reading it, you'll understand why I'm happy with the results of what I did; but I'm not sure what I did that cleared the problem...

Anyway...

Our main tractor with loader is a 2018 Mahindra 6075 with a regenerative exhaust filter (which may or may not be important here). It has about 1500 hours on it.

I plugged the block heater in Thursday night, anticipating a big job for it cleaning driveways and such on Friday.

Friday did not disappoint. I was outside for about four hours, between cleaning the driveways and touching up the compost/manure pile.

When doing loader work, I run the RPMs right at 1500 (the economy setting) for light work. 1800 for heavy work. Friday was an 1800RPM day.

At the end of the day, I figured that I would run it full throttle for a minute or so, as I drove back to the barn and up the ramp into the hayloft dryfloor, where I park it. As soon as I went to go full throttle, the "check engine" light came on, and the engine dogged. It had about 50% power going up the ramp into the hayloft; which made for an interesting drive up the ramp, as I wondered if it was going to make it. Weather conditions at the time: about 25F and heavy snow squall in the air. Big, fat, wet flakes of snow.

It did. I shut it down for the night and made plans for Saturday to do a little bit of maintenance. More snow was predicted over the weekend; and I knew that I would have to be back at it for final cleanup on Sunday.

So... what did I do Saturday?

I put some Diesel 911 in the tank, and I put some cetane boost in the tank.
I checked the coolant. It was just below minimum. There is something about the block heater on this tractor. If I plug in the block heater for a long time, I end up losing coolant when I drive it. No block heater use, no coolant loss. I'll go all summer without losing a drop; and then I lose a pint the first time I plug in the block heater overnight.
I also took the air filter out to check it. I was a little dirty; and there was a little snow packed in the end of the housing. I blew the filter out; and blew the little bit of packed snow out of the housing. I made a note to order an air filter. Looks like it's due.
Checked the oil. Oil was OK. It could use an oil change. I'll do that some sunny weekend in February; when there is no snow to plow and no hay to bale.
I did not check the fuel filter. If I recall, this tractor has a fuel filter sensor; and a specific light would come on. Not just "check engine"

Note: The temperature gauge on the tractor was always pegged right at its operating temperature. At no time did it overheat.


So Sunday, I go out for round two of snow cleanup.

I start the tractor. It starts fine. The "check engine" light stays on for about thirty seconds after startup; and then it clears.

I go out and start clearing the snow from the loafing yard; where we let our cattle out while we clean their pen. The ground is still soggy under the snow; and the tractor is grunting quite a bit, between three to four feet of wet snow and the occasional scalp of mud from the ground. I strain it a little too much, and boom "check engine" comes on again. Engine starts to dog. It runs, but it has no guts whatsoever. I get the loafing yard clean and get the manure pile pushed up and run the tractor up into the hayloft to park it. Weather conditions: about 25F and heavy snow squall in the air. Big, fat wet flakes of snow.

Coolant level is fine. The tractor was not plugged in from Saturday to Sunday. I only used the glow plugs to start it.


My wife comes out, we put the cows out and start cleaning their pen. I'm thinking out loud to her; wondering why the tractor still has issues after cleaning the air filter, levelling up the coolant and putting additive in the fuel. I start thinking about the diesel exhaust regeneration. It only does it when the tractor is shut off. Maybe the exhaust filter is overloaded?

So, what do I do? After we clean the pen, I need to throw down three types of hay from the loft. 1st cut, 2nd cut and bedding. Each time I go up, I start the tractor; which starts easy; since it's still warm. I let it run for about five minutes, and I shut it down. Each time, I hear the relay clicks and buzzing that is indicative of the exhaust filter regen. What was the behavior during these three restarts?

1st restart: "check engine" stays on for about thirty seconds, then clears. Stays clear. The exhaust looks a little "steamy" while it runs at 1500RPM for about five minutes. I shut the tractor down and the exhaust filter regens.
2nd restart: No trouble lights at all at any point. The exhaust looks clear. I shut the tractor down and the exhaust filter regens.
3rd restart: Same as 2nd.

After we bring the cows back in, my wife goes in the house; and I take the tractor out for a final cleanup of the driveways and such. Weather conditions: about 25F and clear.

Tractor runs fine the whole time. I'm out for about two hours. I have to get off and shovel about six or eight times during that stretch. Each time, I shut down the engine and let the exhaust filter regen.

At the end of that time, I horse the engine to climb the ramp into the hayloft; and the tractor steams up the ramp as if it was brand new.

So... I'm at a loss for what fixed my issue.

Is it a matter of the exhaust filter needing more regenerations per run time?
Is it a matter of the tractor drawing snowflakes into the air breather during heavy, wet, snowfall?
Is it a matter of the fuel filter was gummed up; and it just needed more operating time for the Diesel 911 and Cetane boost to take effect?
Is the block heater boiling some coolant into the cylinders; which causes my exhaust filter to get gummed up during the next operation, requiring more regens to clear?

I really don't know.

I despise these "check engine" lights. I think the tractor has an OBD II port. I think we have a scanner around the farm. (Our son-in-law that lives with us has one in his tools.) I need to make sure I know where that scanner is, if this happens again.

It's days like these that get me to thinking about selling both newer tractors, keeping the 2N... and training a horse or ox...

I wager the Amish don't need online forums to diagnose their horses... but also... when the 6075 runs right, between the 4WD, loader and reverser... man... does it do a number on the snow in a hurry...

 

[DRussell]

My guess it needed more regens, and you shutting it down and allowing the extra regens is what fixed it.

I don't understand how the block heater could be getting coolant into the cylinders without their being some other problem like a gasket, crack, pinhole, etc. Are you sure you don't have a coolant leak somewhere?

 

[will-max dairy]

My guess it needed more regens, and you shutting it down and allowing the extra regens is what fixed it.

I don't understand how the block heater could be getting coolant into the cylinders without their being some other problem like a gasket, crack, pinhole, etc. Are you sure you don't have a coolant leak somewhere?

I've been told that this could be an issue if there is a seal or o-ring that leaks when cold and then seals up when warm.

In these circumstances; I have found a tiny drop of coolant here and there in the snow under the front of the engine when I park the tractor.

My guess is that there could be a seal in the water pump that doesn't seal well when cold. Then it warms up and seals. It's only a guess, because it is a very minor and intermittent leak, and I can't trace it up to the block, hoses or radiator.

As for the regen. I need to read up on Mahindra's flavor of regen. It was a selling point at the time of purchase. It needs no DEF; and I think it compares favorably to Kubota's version of exhaust filter, with respect to cost of ownership... but I can't remember if there were some caveats regarding run time between regens whatever Mahindra does to the exhaust at shutdown.

 

[will-max dairy]

My guess it needed more regens, and you shutting it down and allowing the extra regens is what fixed it.

I don't understand how the block heater could be getting coolant into the cylinders without their being some other problem like a gasket, crack, pinhole, etc. Are you sure you don't have a coolant leak somewhere?

I'm an electronics engineer, and... if it IS an issue with just needing more regens...it peeves me to no end that they didn't design a specific "REGEN" light into the dash. If this is the problem. The engine control unit knows enough to put the engine into limp mode and make your life miserable... but they couldn't just add another LED to say "REGEN"... as opposed to the anxiety-producing "check engine"... The cost of implementing a specific light or indicator would be infinitesimal...

Especially if this is a known thing; where the filter may need an extra regen here and there there is a known maintenance that could be required on the exhaust system...

 

[will-max dairy]

My guess it needed more regens, and you shutting it down and allowing the extra regens is what fixed it.

I don't understand how the block heater could be getting coolant into the cylinders without their being some other problem like a gasket, crack, pinhole, etc. Are you sure you don't have a coolant leak somewhere?

So...

Mahindra calls this their mCRD system with a DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst). The Mahindra website offers quite a bit of information about why this is more cost effective than typical modern systems that use DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid); and say that the DOC does not need regen cycles...

But, it seems that this is maybe a play on words; because whatever goes on after shutdown is some kind of heating of the exhaust system to clean something... maybe it's not a "regen"... but it's a needed process.

mCRD Technology - Mahindra Canada

Does mcRD save you time & money? The answer is YES! A DPF left unchecked will collect soot and ash – resulting in damaging or destroying the filter, reduced performance, unwanted repair costs and unscheduled downtime. But not with mCRD; you get better fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs...

www.mahindracanada.ca

 

[DRussell]

So...

Mahindra calls this their mCRD system with a DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst). The Mahindra website offers quite a bit of information about why this is more cost effective than typical modern systems that use DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid); and say that the DOC does not need regen cycles...

But, it seems that this is maybe a play on words; because whatever goes on after shutdown is some kind of heating of the exhaust system to clean something... maybe it's not a "regen"... but it's a needed process.

mCRD Technology - Mahindra Canada

Does mcRD save you time & money? The answer is YES! A DPF left unchecked will collect soot and ash – resulting in damaging or destroying the filter, reduced performance, unwanted repair costs and unscheduled downtime. But not with mCRD; you get better fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs...

www.mahindracanada.ca

I freely admit that I know very little about the regen process that Mahindra uses. My thought on that being the problem is that 25F isn't cold enough for fuel gelling issues so I doubt there was any fuel restriction issues.

I know it's a different machine, but I have a 2015 VW diesel that uses DEF and also does a regen for the particulate filter. You can only tell when it is going through a regen because the engine will idle faster and will tell you to shift differently to maintain higher engine RPMS until the regen is finished. It's a manual. If you ignore the shift recommendations it will take longer to regen, but otherwise I've had no issues.

Personally, if I had a tractor modern enough to have emissions stuff on it. I'd want one with DEF. There appears to be something about the DEF system that makes for longer lasting particulate filters. Again, I freely admit that I'm no expert on these matters, just my opinion.

 

[will-max dairy]

I freely admit that I know very little about the regen process that Mahindra uses. My thought on that being the problem is that 25F isn't cold enough for fuel gelling issues so I doubt there was any fuel restriction issues.

I know it's a different machine, but I have a 2015 VW diesel that uses DEF and also does a regen for the particulate filter. You can only tell when it is going through a regen because the engine will idle faster and will tell you to shift differently to maintain higher engine RPMS until the regen is finished. It's a manual. If you ignore the shift recommendations it will take longer to regen, but otherwise I've had no issues.

Personally, if I had a tractor modern enough to have emissions stuff on it. I'd want one with DEF. There appears to be something about the DEF system that makes for longer lasting particulate filters. Again, I freely admit that I'm no expert on these matters, just my opinion.

The website says that the Mahindra mCRD system has "no regen" and "no Diesel Particulate Filters"...so the plot thickens... I'm a firm believer in the theory of "there is no free lunch..." there has to be a trade-off somewhere. Either more of these "cleaning" cycles (which I won't call "regen" anymore... or something...

Defining things by what they aren't is also a peeve of mine. OK... I get it... "no DEF"... "no regen"... "no Diesel Particulate Filters"... but... what maintenance DOES it need? It has to need something.

I need to re-read my manual.

Thanks for the perspective.

 

[DRussell]

The website says that the Mahindra mCRD system has "no regen" and "no Diesel Particulate Filters"...so the plot thickens... I'm a firm believer in the theory of "there is no free lunch..." there has to be a trade-off somewhere. Either more of these "cleaning" cycles (which I won't call "regen" anymore... or something...

I need to re-read my manual.

Thanks for the perspective.

I doubt the regen process is as efficient as when the tractor was new. That and it being winter and cold, I'm sure has an effect on how effectively it regens.

A suggestion, if it's not too hard to get the particulate filter off take it off and put it in an electric oven on the cleaning cycle. They aren't quite as hot as necessary to really get them cleaned, but better than nothing and cheap if you can do it yourself.

International, in their early Tier IV trucks, I think 2010-2012 or 2013, used to have to take the particulate filters off the trucks and periodically clean them. I talked to the service manager at the local Five Star dealer here in Harrisburg several years ago and he said their cleaning process was to take them off and put them in an oven at about 700-800 degrees for about 3 hours. Then put them back in the truck and all was well for about 50,000 more miles.

As I understand it, International was trying to meet the Tier IV standards without a DEF system, but their Regen system wasn't robust, efficient, capable, whatever, of actually getting the particulate filter clean. I wonder if your Mahindra has similar problems.

 

[Jim.ME]

What general area are you in? Gelling can start above 25F in some fuels but that is not common with current fuels. Do you know how recently you have put fuel in it and if that fuel was blended for winter use? If in doubt get 5 gallons of K! and dump in the tank.

The 9-1-1 instructions tell you it does not prevent gelling. 9-1-1 is intended to be used to get an engine with gelled fuel or icing going, not a general additive as you description sounds, as improper use can wear/damage injection pumps. The Power Service product for regular use is Diesel Fuel Supplement + Cetane Boost, in the white bottle to reduce fuel gelling temperature.

For the price of a fuel filter, if I thought I had a fuel problem, I would not wait to see a fuel filter sensor light to come on. If your fuel had gelled the filter would be waxed up and need changing.

I don't think the coolant heater is causing you to lose coolant. I quicker expect a hose leaking due to temperature changes. I have seen the hose at a tank type heater leak due to the temp cycles. As they warm from cold the hoses seep and the coolant evaporates on the heater's surface, such can be hard to spot. Go over all the hose clamps, when the engine is hot, so the hoses are pliable, for starters.

​

 

[DRussell]

The website says that the Mahindra mCRD system has "no regen" and "no Diesel Particulate Filters"...so the plot thickens... I'm a firm believer in the theory of "there is no free lunch..." there has to be a trade-off somewhere. Either more of these "cleaning" cycles (which I won't call "regen" anymore... or something...

If it doesn't have a particulate filter, then what is it regenning?

 

[MARK ROBKE]

So... about three feet, give or take, of snow fell on the farm in the past few days. This is going to be a long explanation; but maybe in reading it, you'll understand why I'm happy with the results of what I did; but I'm not sure what I did that cleared the problem...

Anyway...

Our main tractor with loader is a 2018 Mahindra 6075 with a regenerative exhaust filter (which may or may not be important here). It has about 1500 hours on it.

I plugged the block heater in Thursday night, anticipating a big job for it cleaning driveways and such on Friday.

Friday did not disappoint. I was outside for about four hours, between cleaning the driveways and touching up the compost/manure pile.

When doing loader work, I run the RPMs right at 1500 (the economy setting) for light work. 1800 for heavy work. Friday was an 1800RPM day.

At the end of the day, I figured that I would run it full throttle for a minute or so, as I drove back to the barn and up the ramp into the hayloft dryfloor, where I park it. As soon as I went to go full throttle, the "check engine" light came on, and the engine dogged. It had about 50% power going up the ramp into the hayloft; which made for an interesting drive up the ramp, as I wondered if it was going to make it. Weather conditions at the time: about 25F and heavy snow squall in the air. Big, fat, wet flakes of snow.

It did. I shut it down for the night and made plans for Saturday to do a little bit of maintenance. More snow was predicted over the weekend; and I knew that I would have to be back at it for final cleanup on Sunday.

So... what did I do Saturday?

I put some Diesel 911 in the tank, and I put some cetane boost in the tank.
I checked the coolant. It was just below minimum. There is something about the block heater on this tractor. If I plug in the block heater for a long time, I end up losing coolant when I drive it. No block heater use, no coolant loss. I'll go all summer without losing a drop; and then I lose a pint the first time I plug in the block heater overnight.
I also took the air filter out to check it. I was a little dirty; and there was a little snow packed in the end of the housing. I blew the filter out; and blew the little bit of packed snow out of the housing. I made a note to order an air filter. Looks like it's due.
Checked the oil. Oil was OK. It could use an oil change. I'll do that some sunny weekend in February; when there is no snow to plow and no hay to bale.
I did not check the fuel filter. If I recall, this tractor has a fuel filter sensor; and a specific light would come on. Not just "check engine"

Note: The temperature gauge on the tractor was always pegged right at its operating temperature. At no time did it overheat.


So Sunday, I go out for round two of snow cleanup.

I start the tractor. It starts fine. The "check engine" light stays on for about thirty seconds after startup; and then it clears.

I go out and start clearing the snow from the loafing yard; where we let our cattle out while we clean their pen. The ground is still soggy under the snow; and the tractor is grunting quite a bit, between three to four feet of wet snow and the occasional scalp of mud from the ground. I strain it a little too much, and boom "check engine" comes on again. Engine starts to dog. It runs, but it has no guts whatsoever. I get the loafing yard clean and get the manure pile pushed up and run the tractor up into the hayloft to park it. Weather conditions: about 25F and heavy snow squall in the air. Big, fat wet flakes of snow.

Coolant level is fine. The tractor was not plugged in from Saturday to Sunday. I only used the glow plugs to start it.


My wife comes out, we put the cows out and start cleaning their pen. I'm thinking out loud to her; wondering why the tractor still has issues after cleaning the air filter, levelling up the coolant and putting additive in the fuel. I start thinking about the diesel exhaust regeneration. It only does it when the tractor is shut off. Maybe the exhaust filter is overloaded?

So, what do I do? After we clean the pen, I need to throw down three types of hay from the loft. 1st cut, 2nd cut and bedding. Each time I go up, I start the tractor; which starts easy; since it's still warm. I let it run for about five minutes, and I shut it down. Each time, I hear the relay clicks and buzzing that is indicative of the exhaust filter regen. What was the behavior during these three restarts?

1st restart: "check engine" stays on for about thirty seconds, then clears. Stays clear. The exhaust looks a little "steamy" while it runs at 1500RPM for about five minutes. I shut the tractor down and the exhaust filter regens.
2nd restart: No trouble lights at all at any point. The exhaust looks clear. I shut the tractor down and the exhaust filter regens.
3rd restart: Same as 2nd.

After we bring the cows back in, my wife goes in the house; and I take the tractor out for a final cleanup of the driveways and such. Weather conditions: about 25F and clear.

Tractor runs fine the whole time. I'm out for about two hours. I have to get off and shovel about six or eight times during that stretch. Each time, I shut down the engine and let the exhaust filter regen.

At the end of that time, I horse the engine to climb the ramp into the hayloft; and the tractor steams up the ramp as if it was brand new.

So... I'm at a loss for what fixed my issue.

Is it a matter of the exhaust filter needing more regenerations per run time?
Is it a matter of the tractor drawing snowflakes into the air breather during heavy, wet, snowfall?
Is it a matter of the fuel filter was gummed up; and it just needed more operating time for the Diesel 911 and Cetane boost to take effect?
Is the block heater boiling some coolant into the cylinders; which causes my exhaust filter to get gummed up during the next operation, requiring more regens to clear?

I really don't know.

I despise these "check engine" lights. I think the tractor has an OBD II port. I think we have a scanner around the farm. (Our son-in-law that lives with us has one in his tools.) I need to make sure I know where that scanner is, if this happens again.

I don't know what your tractor was doing at shut down, especially now that you don't think you have diesel particulate filter. But that is not how a 'regen' works. The engine has to be running. I had thought at first all the relay clicking was the DEF system purging it's lines. Maybe it was heating the DOC for minute after shutdown. But that could not last long because it would kill the battery. I am interested to learn how Mahindra makes this work.
I also thought when you drove it up the steep ramp that the low coolant sensor was uncovered going uphill, and that derated it. But that's not it either apparently. Let us know what you do find out. Mark.

 

[will-max dairy]

I doubt the regen process is as efficient as when the tractor was new. That and it being winter and cold, I'm sure has an effect on how effectively it regens.

A suggestion, if it's not too hard to get the particulate filter off take it off and put it in an electric oven on the cleaning cycle. They aren't quite as hot as necessary to really get them cleaned, but better than nothing and cheap if you can do it yourself.

International, in their early Tier IV trucks, I think 2010-2012 or 2013, used to have to take the particulate filters off the trucks and periodically clean them. I talked to the service manager at the local Five Star dealer here in Harrisburg several years ago and he said their cleaning process was to take them off and put them in an oven at about 700-800 degrees for about 3 hours. Then put them back in the truck and all was well for about 50,000 more miles.

As I understand it, International was trying to meet the Tier IV standards without a DEF system, but their Regen system wasn't robust, efficient, capable, whatever, of actually getting the particulate filter clean. I wonder if your Mahindra has similar problems.

yeah...

I feel that. My "regen" aint what it used to be either. We cleaned the pen and shoveled snow on Friday... and then again on Sunday... and apparently both myself and the tractor needed that day of rest in between...

 

[will-max dairy]

If it doesn't have a particulate filter, then what is it regenning?

I don't know... that's the mystery. There is definitely a process that goes on after shutdown. You can hear the relays. You can hear a buzz coming from the exhaust system... it's definitely some kind of exhaust system "cleaning"... even if it isn't an official "regen"...

 

[DRussell]

I don't know... that's the mystery. There is definitely a process that goes on after shutdown. You can hear the relays. You can hear a buzz coming from the exhaust system... it's definitely some kind of exhaust system "cleaning"... even if it isn't an official "regen"...

Any chance you can upload a picture of the exhaust system on the tractor?

 

[will-max dairy]

What general area are you in? Gelling can start above 25F in some fuels but that is not common with current fuels. Do you know how recently you have put fuel in it and if that fuel was blended for winter use? If in doubt get 5 gallons of K! and dump in the tank.

The 9-1-1 instructions tell you it does not prevent gelling. 9-1-1 is intended to be used to get an engine with gelled fuel or icing going, not a general additive as you description sounds, as improper use can wear/damage injection pumps. The Power Service product for regular use is Diesel Fuel Supplement + Cetane Boost, in the white bottle to reduce fuel gelling temperature.

For the price of a fuel filter, if I thought I had a fuel problem, I would not wait to see a fuel filter sensor light to come on. If your fuel had gelled the filter would be waxed up and need changing.

I don't think the coolant heater is causing you to lose coolant. I quicker expect a hose leaking due to temperature changes. I have seen the hose at a tank type heater leak due to the temp cycles. As they warm from cold the hoses seep and the coolant evaporates on the heater's surface, such can be hard to spot. Go over all the hose clamps, when the engine is hot, so the hoses are pliable, for starters.

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I agree about the 911. I don't run it normally. My take on 911 is that it's more for icing than gelling.

The instructions for failure to start call for removing the filter, putting 911 in the filter, and then adding a proscribed amount to the fuel.

If the vehicle is just a hard start/run, due to water/ice, etc... it calls for just adding some to the fuel without pulling the filter.

In my case, the tractor still started. I'm all for changing the fuel filter, but I wasn't going to get a fuel filter between Friday night and Sunday.

I am going to replace the filter in the near future; but yeah... I'm going to have to run about 20 gallons of 911-treated fuel through the tractor, at some expense to the life of the engine...hopefully out at 5000 or more hours.

 

[will-max dairy]

To be clear about the 911 use...

We often get diesel fuel with 5 gallon jugs during the winter. I'm always concerned about water in the fuel. My understanding is that, of the Power Services fuel additives...

911 is for water/ice
The winter additive is for cetane boost and gelling prevention.

In my original post, I used "gummed up"... as a catch-all... for ice, wax, gel... whatever. The tractor has a two-prong water sensor in the fuel filter (I remember from the last time I changed it...) I'm not sure if it would work on ice.

I may have been a little premature on the 911, but this is the biggest piece of equipment on our farm. If I let it stall outside, in the middle of a snowstorm... I have no way to pull it out of the way or get it back undercover. Nothing else on our farm can move this tractor, if it's disabled...

So... I pre-emptively keep it from absolutely stalling at all costs...

 

[will-max dairy]

Any chance you can upload a picture of the exhaust system on the tractor?

Sure

 

[DRussell]

To be clear about the 911 use...

We often get diesel fuel with 5 gallon jugs during the winter. I'm always concerned about water in the fuel. My understanding is that, of the Power Services fuel additives...

911 is for water/ice
The winter additive is for cetane boost and gelling prevention.

In my original post, I used "gummed up"... as a catch-all... for ice, wax, gel... whatever. The tractor has a two-prong water sensor in the fuel filter (I remember from the last time I changed it...) I'm not sure if it would work on ice.

I may have been a little premature on the 911, but this is the biggest piece of equipment on our farm. If I let it stall outside, in the middle of a snowstorm... I have no way to pull it out of the way or get it back undercover. Nothing else on our farm can move this tractor, if it's disabled...

So... I pre-emptively keep it from absolutely stalling at all costs...

In your first post you said you ran it for about 4 hours at 1800 RPMs and had no issue until the end of the running time when you revved it up to full throttle, and immediately on going to full throttle it dogged down to 50% throttle. I would think if you had any significant ice in a fuel line, or gelling issue it would have shown up during the 4 hours at 1800 RPMs.

 

[will-max dairy]

In your first post you said you ran it for about 4 hours at 1800 RPMs and had no issue until the end of the running time when you revved it up to full throttle, and immediately on going to full throttle it dogged down to 50% throttle. I would think if you had any significant ice in a fuel line, or gelling issue it would have shown up during the 4 hours at 1800 RPMs.

hmmmmmmm

That's why I went after the air filter first. I figured it was clogged with snow. I had just finished about a half hour straight of making a pile as tall as the tractor could pile it. There were big wet flakes in the air... I had cleared the air screen on top of the hood numerous times...but the engine never overheated...

The "derating" is also why I checked the coolant... I've had issues with coolant loss after a long time of block heater use.

It would seem that both of those issues would have cleared permanently with cleaning the air filter and checking coolant levels...without needing a bunch of shutdown cycles... Admittedly, the 911 and cetane boost was just "defensive medicine", brought on by my anxiety over this thing stalling and becoming an immoveable object in a snowbank...

Unless the engine got some air bubbles in the coolant that needed to be essentially "burped" out of it...