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.
