International 384 - Gunk/sediment/what the in the fuel tank.

[The Famous Grouse]

Guys, I've got an International 384 and I have had chronic issues over the last 3 years with some kind of crap in the fuel. I have drained the tank multiple times and flushed them, filtered the fuel through a fine filter/water separator. Sometimes the problem has gone away for a month, and sometimes it's a stuggle to keep the tractor running for an hour.

I added a small screen filter just above the outlet from the right side of the saddle tank. This is the outlet that has the shutoff valve on it and this valve was getting clogged with gunk. This gunk is a fine brown stuff, not like chunks of rust from a rusted tank, but almost like the stuff you see in the bottom of a jug of ice tea for lack of a better description.

Because I'm stopping the stuff in the tank, the fuel filters are not getting clogged, but I'm constantly having to stop and remove this little tank screen and clean it. Then the tractor runs for a little bit and then craps out again when the screen is clogged.

I'm sorry I don't have a picture, it's on my son's phone and he's away for the weekend.

I have drained the fuel multiple times and run it through a funnel with a fine screen. The fuel is not obviously bad, it looks pretty clear and I'm not getting a ton of crud in the fuel when I drain it. I've added Howes diesel treatment and that made no difference.

What is going on here? Is this that bio-crud AKA diesel bug? If so, how do I get rid of it and prevent it from coming back?

Please help this is driving me CRAZY. I'm trying to get work done and yesterday I had to clean the screen 3 times which cost me hours of work. The tractor is great otherwise, a terrific machine, but I've had it 3 years and I've had this issue the whole time.

 

[old]

Guys, I've got an International 384 and I have had chronic issues over the last 3 years with some kind of crap in the fuel. I have drained the tank multiple times and flushed them, filtered the fuel through a fine filter/water separator. Sometimes the problem has gone away for a month, and sometimes it's a stuggle to keep the tractor running for an hour.

I added a small screen filter just above the outlet from the right side of the saddle tank. This is the outlet that has the shutoff valve on it and this valve was getting clogged with gunk. This gunk is a fine brown stuff, not like chunks of rust from a rusted tank, but almost like the stuff you see in the bottom of a jug of ice tea for lack of a better description.

Because I'm stopping the stuff in the tank, the fuel filters are not getting clogged, but I'm constantly having to stop and remove this little tank screen and clean it. Then the tractor runs for a little bit and then craps out again when the screen is clogged.

I'm sorry I don't have a picture, it's on my son's phone and he's away for the weekend.

I have drained the fuel multiple times and run it through a funnel with a fine screen. The fuel is not obviously bad, it looks pretty clear and I'm not getting a ton of crud in the fuel when I drain it. I've added Howes diesel treatment and that made no difference.

What is going on here? Is this that bio-crud AKA diesel bug? If so, how do I get rid of it and prevent it from coming back?

Please help this is driving me CRAZY. I'm trying to get work done and yesterday I had to clean the screen 3 times which cost me hours of work. The tractor is great otherwise, a terrific machine, but I've had it 3 years and I've had this issue the whole time.

If it has to twin sort of tank with a line cross over at the bottom and a tunnel cross over at the top your problem is a common one. You also have to steam clean the tank to even think about getting it as clean as you need

 

[Blackhole49]

You don't say whether you fill with cans or a common tank. You certainly can't hurt anything by using a diesel algae treatment. If a common tank, treat it also. The Howes treatment I use does nothing for algae. I would be removing the tank and cleaning with something like lacquer thinner, then still treat for algae. Good luck.

 

[wore out]

Guys, I've got an International 384 and I have had chronic issues over the last 3 years with some kind of crap in the fuel. I have drained the tank multiple times and flushed them, filtered the fuel through a fine filter/water separator. Sometimes the problem has gone away for a month, and sometimes it's a stuggle to keep the tractor running for an hour.

I added a small screen filter just above the outlet from the right side of the saddle tank. This is the outlet that has the shutoff valve on it and this valve was getting clogged with gunk. This gunk is a fine brown stuff, not like chunks of rust from a rusted tank, but almost like the stuff you see in the bottom of a jug of ice tea for lack of a better description.

Because I'm stopping the stuff in the tank, the fuel filters are not getting clogged, but I'm constantly having to stop and remove this little tank screen and clean it. Then the tractor runs for a little bit and then craps out again when the screen is clogged.

I'm sorry I don't have a picture, it's on my son's phone and he's away for the weekend.

I have drained the fuel multiple times and run it through a funnel with a fine screen. The fuel is not obviously bad, it looks pretty clear and I'm not getting a ton of crud in the fuel when I drain it. I've added Howes diesel treatment and that made no difference.

What is going on here? Is this that bio-crud AKA diesel bug? If so, how do I get rid of it and prevent it from coming back?

Please help this is driving me CRAZY. I'm trying to get work done and yesterday I had to clean the screen 3 times which cost me hours of work. The tractor is great otherwise, a terrific machine, but I've had it 3 years and I've had this issue the whole time.

Use as directed.

 

[MARK ROBKE]

I agree with Old-you have to remove the tank and steam clean it out 6 ways from Sunday. That stuff is most likely fine rust particles, and it will be hard to remove unless you steam clean the tank. Mark.

 

[showcrop]

I have had good luck getting a lot of crud out of tanks by simply siphoning.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Tank needs a through cleaning and then the rust gotten out of the tank the fine rust you are seeing is your problem and will continue tilll you clean the tank and remove the rust bu whatever means you seek. then keep the tank full when setting doesn't cost any more to run on the top half than the bottom and you will not have the condensation to make rust again. Then buy clean fuel and keep it clean just like the cap says.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Appreciate the replies, guys.

So it sounds like the only way to fix-fix this issue is the dreaded tank cleaning. Since this tank looks to be a particular bugger to remove, is there an on-tractor cleaning method I can use? Of course, I don't have a steam cleaning machine, but I do have a pressure washer.

Will completely filling the tank with CLR and hot water and then draining it a couple of times do the trick? Of course, it's prime time right now so taking this thing apart is really unappealing if it can be avoided.

Thoughts?

 

[MARK ROBKE]

You're right-the tank is sort of a job to R&R. But when it is removed, you have 2 large openings-the fuel cap and the float- that you can drain when you turn it upside down. The crossover and its mate on the opposite side are tiny in comparison. Also, the supply I believe, protrudes up into the tank an inch or so.
To remove the tank, drain it, take it off with the fenders, and the seat plat form. Take the seat off the platform first. A helper or better yet, a loader, or forklift, or a chain hoist will be your best option. Use 2 chains around the fuel tank. Then steam clean away! Let it dry in the hot sun before reinstalling. Good luck. Mark.

 

[showcrop]

Appreciate the replies, guys.

So it sounds like the only way to fix-fix this issue is the dreaded tank cleaning. Since this tank looks to be a particular bugger to remove, is there an on-tractor cleaning method I can use? Of course, I don't have a steam cleaning machine, but I do have a pressure washer.

Will completely filling the tank with CLR and hot water and then draining it a couple of times do the trick? Of course, it's prime time right now so taking this thing apart is really unappealing if it can be avoided.

Thoughts?

Tens of thousands of diesels are running perfectly with a little junk in the tank. If you get 80% of what is in yours cleaned out, which you can do in ten minutes by siphoning, and keep the tank full between uses as Cat guy posted, you will be good.