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bad fuel and overheating

March 19, 2018, 09:04:37 am

FYI I went on a family vacation last week pulling a 25' trailer loaded with sxs and wheelers which is normal for us. I put 100 gallons of fuel in it and after about 75 miles it started to run hot, I thought it was the load on hills until the alarms went on and the engine quit. I thought it died cause of overheating so I checked coolant and it was two gallons low I continued and bam it did it again three more times each time adding a gallon + of water, being there was no catch can and no leaks i made one out of the coolant jug and replaced the cap with new one. the fourth time i noticed the filters which I had just replaced were reddish brown in color so I removed them and it was just horrid so I made some phone calls got new filters primed and on my way only to have it happen six more times each time having to replace my filters so what I am saying is check the fuel you put in and if your unit starts to run hot it could be bad fuel. now I have to totally drain my tank and clean it.  So bad fuel = very expensive and time consuming week

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Re: bad fuel and overheating

Reply #1 – March 19, 2018, 09:33:48 am

Your coolant is a closed system so I dont understand where it was going if you had no leaks and not in the oil? There has to be a leak somewhere no? sorry to hear of your issues.. Which filters did you change? Fuel or Coolant? is this a diesel or gas?

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Reply #2 – March 19, 2018, 09:50:37 am

Sounds like a little gas might have been mixed in.

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Reply #3 – March 19, 2018, 10:17:22 am

How about finishing your signature with more information on your coach with engine/trans so we know if it's a diesel or gas, etc. so we can better help with your problem?

Mercedes used to allow up to a quarter tank of gasoline to be added with a fill up in cold weather. You could have fuel contamination from something else like a gas/diesel/water mix from a bad filling station load or a mistake by the fuel supply truck. Unless you have a lot of gasoline in the diesel, contamination is the likely problem. Pain in the butt to have to drain the tank but you need to get clean fuel before you can address the heating problem. Don't want to have this go on long at all.

Pierce

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Reply #4 – March 19, 2018, 01:18:27 pm

David is right, coolant is going somewhere and it can't be mixing with the fuel supply. Have to find it first. If you have clogged fuel filters it is a sole and separate issue. I know I may be spending a little more but I fuel at the majors. Flying J, Travel America, or a major truck stop that moves a lot of fuel. Always decent access to the pumps and fresh fuel. They have a lot of corporate accounts so I feel they are making sure that their fuel does not become an issue. Lot's of sharp folks here on the forum, with a little more info sure someone will have some answers.

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Reply #5 – March 19, 2018, 03:29:19 pm

bad radiator cap letting coolant out my unit did not come with an overflow tank so I made one on this trip and replaced my cap no more coolant loss.

3208t engine  any diesel that is starved for fuel will overheat or should I say run much hotter than normal.

with new filters it ran normal temps till the fuel filters started getting glogged. I changed the spin on filter and the two square glass filters, one is a water separator and the other is an element filter.

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Reply #6 – March 19, 2018, 03:42:29 pm

Two work computers and two profiles same person . I can anyone tell me how to combine or just delete one profile. NYD and me are the same. I was wondering how my picture disappeared and my build # and info wasn't here for you.

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Reply #7 – March 19, 2018, 03:48:19 pm

I do fuel at major truck stops the last 100 gal was from a flying J. I  am always pulling a 25' or longer trailer behind me so I tend to need the turning room at fuel stops

I do know all my problems I was just trying to maybe help someone else if they happen to go through what I had to experience. and not be on the side of the road waiting for that expensive help. I will from now on carry more than one set of filters.

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Reply #8 – March 19, 2018, 04:34:58 pm

Hopefully, something like a cap.

Unlike gas engines, less fuel in a diesel combustion chamber means less temperature. No such thing as a "lean" mixture with a diesel. Contaminated fuel can change the temperature the fuel explodes. Could cause a temperature rise with bad fuel.

Pierce

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Reply #9 – March 19, 2018, 05:07:13 pm

If you have a fuel return line, as the tank gets lower there is less remaining diesel to absorb the heated returning fuel and the tank get hotter.  Recommend never letting tank get so low that it can take 100 gallons to fill.

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Reply #10 – March 19, 2018, 06:24:25 pm

I try to not let tank get below 1/2. Not for reason above but I can't stand seeing the huge cost on the pump! DW says Grand Villa should really be Grand -to- Filla !

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Reply #11 – March 19, 2018, 09:48:50 pm

We had an 84 ored with the 3208 and I always carried at least 2 sets of fuel filters after it left me twice setting on the side of the road. At least there is a bottom drain plug on the fuel tank that is easy to get to.

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Reply #12 – March 22, 2018, 12:21:39 pm

Red Tractor  did your unit get hot
 before you changed the filters ?

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Re: bad fuel and overheating

Reply #13 – March 22, 2018, 09:09:32 pm

I sent you a message Ron

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