JD 318 dirty fuel tank

Arvin Haslem · Nov 1, 2022

I just purchased a John Deere 318. It has been parked for a couple of years. The fuel has gone bad and there is a lot of brown crud in the tank. What is the best method to clean it out? The tank is plastic. Is there some kind of cleaner I can use that won't damage the plastic?
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Next question. It has a John Deere 44 front end loader. What oil should I use in it?

farmer52 · Nov 1, 2022

Download the 44 manual from here https://techpubs.deere.com

The manual shows JD Hy-Gard 1-1/4 gallons

steve_in_mo · Nov 1, 2022

Unless you plan to pull that tank out, the best thing to do is siphon out as much old fuel as you can.
At two years, you shouldn't be seeing a significant varnish buildup. Suspect a longer storage time.
You can clean the tank with lacquer thinner or methanol. Disposal is an issue with them, however.
You can also just fill the emptied tank with premium fuel, ruin the tractor, and plan on a couple of
filter changes if you have a filter or carb cleanings if you don't.

T.R.K. · Nov 1, 2022

I am thinking you can disconnect the seat switch, remove the fuel cap and remove four bolts and the fender/platform comes right off. (I have a 318 but its been at least 10 years since I had it off.) After you remove the fender/platform, the tank is right there and it should be easy to remove it if you want to wash the tank out.

kris Jensen · Nov 2, 2022

Hello: Like TRK said. Platform is easy to remove. It should have four cap screws (bolts)
lift off the platform, and the fuel tank just lifts off. Should take about five or six minutes. I did this a couple of times with an LX188
I washed the system with soap and hot water. Used a stick with a rag tied on and gave it a scrubbing.
Let it dry in the sun for a few hours or blow it with air. Check your fuel line to the filter. I would use some
carb cleaner in your first tank of gas. Good luck

504 · Nov 2, 2022

The best thing I have found for bad gas is E-85,let it soak,it will cut the old stuff. While you have the tank off replace the gas lines,there are two of them. One is the reserve and the other is the main line.(buy the good stuff from JD,regular black fuel hose tends to come apart in the tank) And for all things lawn and garden with green machines spend some time over at weekendfreedomachines.com

wore out · Nov 2, 2022

There's a screen on each of the two fuel pickups, the ''reserve'' line has a check valve, as well.

Also, there's a length of flexible fuel tubing on the ''reserve'' line inside the tank.

If the fuel is ''nasty'', likely the screen and check valve are, as well, and the flexible hose is probably swollen and sticky and gummy, as well as the ''grommets'' where the lines enter the tank.

The parts are still available from DEERE and there's ebay sellers who sell a $$$ ''kit'', Auction #284662334803 will show you what's involved.

504 · Nov 2, 2022

try this
Untitled URL Link

Arvin Haslem · Nov 5, 2022

Thanks to everyone for your comments and advice. I took the tank off and took it to the car wash along with the tractor. I washed a lot of crud out of the tank and also off of the tractor. I plan to install a see through fuel filter. I need to get a service manual and an owners manual.

JD 318 dirty fuel tank

Arvin Haslem

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farmer52

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steve_in_mo

Well-known Member

T.R.K.

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kris Jensen

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504

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wore out

Well-known Member

504

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Arvin Haslem

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