T20 Fuel

She has a split fuel tank, with a small section currently holding petrol, ansd a larger section which is currently empty.

There is a changeover switch on the fuel line which switches between the two tanks.

Can i use diesel in the second tank, or does it need to be Parrafin / Kerosene.

You have probably a TED 20, which means it is a Petrol / Kerosene tractor.

Use gas in the smallest tank, which is 4.5 liter, or one UK gallon, The big tank is for Kerosene.

Start the engine always on petrol, then when engine is about 75 C hot you switch over from petrol to kerosene.

If you have only light work it may be hard to run well on kerosene and you might use petrol in both tanks.
In case you run the engine on only petrol you will have a better result if you remove the aluminum shield over the manifold.

Remember to put the shield back on when you turn back to petrol / kerosene. If not you will have even more trouble useing kerosene.

At harder work, and on road in high speeds you should have no problem using kerosene.

If you want to use Diesel, I would think you need to mix petrol and some diesel. Pure diesel will not work well. I have tried 10 % diesel, and even 15 % on other engines. That is no problem, but I have no idea about higher percentage of diesel.

Remember, kerosene / paraffin is a relatively dry fuel with very low octane. Diesel is a fat fuel, with high octane. Actually it is called cetane, but anyway, compared to kerosene it is high.

Also, don't use a low viscosity engine oil if you run on kerosene. if you normally use 10W-30, change to 15W-40 with kerosene.

Bill Brox

: I have recently acquired a Ferguson T20, and am unsure what fuel to run it on.

: She has a split fuel tank, with a small section currently holding petrol, ansd a larger section which is currently empty.

: There is a changeover switch on the fuel line which switches between the two tanks.

: Can i use diesel in the second tank, or does it need to be Parrafin / Kerosene.

Bob Klein

: I have recently acquired a Ferguson T20, and am unsure what fuel to run it on.

: She has a split fuel tank, with a small section currently holding petrol, ansd a larger section which is currently empty.

: There is a changeover switch on the fuel line which switches between the two tanks.

: Can i use diesel in the second tank, or does it need to be Parrafin / Kerosene.

The only rock I'd throw at the general design is that eventually the transmission can lock in gear. But it doesn't happen very often and it's not hard to avoid or correct when it does happen. There have been a bunch of posts on that.

I've been to tractor shows off and on, and I have yet to see a Ferguson TO series or MF on display. They are all still out working. Let me know if you can find one for less than 2000 bucks. That should tell you something.

: Bob Klein

Bob, most tractors before ww2 and some after burned kerosene with spark ignition. They have to be hot to vaporize that fuel so are started on gasoline (which was far less commonly available in those days). The intake manifold is generally bonded closely to the exhaust manifold to get the intake manifold hot. This does not lead to great efficiency burning gasoline. Some fords, probably 2n and 9n also had that dual fuel option. There are replacement manifolds available (probable from the later 8n) that minimize heating of the intake manifold for running on gasoline alone. It takes more than just a jet in a carburetor to vaporize kerosene enough for it to run an engine. So gasoline is essential for starting the mixed fuel engine.
: : I have recently acquired a Ferguson T20, and am unsure what fuel to run it on.

: : She has a split fuel tank, with a small section currently holding petrol, ansd a larger section which is currently empty.

: : There is a changeover switch on the fuel line which switches between the two tanks.

: : Can i use diesel in the second tank, or does it need to be Parrafin / Kerosene.

: : My to-20 has a reserve in the main tank which is controlled by turning the fuel valve open
: : all the way. I have never heard of an engine that will run on both gas and diesel. You could : : a propane conversion, but that would require a second tank. Do you have an owners manual to refer to ?

: : Bob Klein

: Bob, most tractors before ww2 and some after burned kerosene with spark ignition. They have to be hot to vaporize that fuel so are started on gasoline (which was far less commonly available in those days). The intake manifold is generally bonded closely to the exhaust manifold to get the intake manifold hot. This does not lead to great efficiency burning gasoline. Some fords, probably 2n and 9n also had that dual fuel option. There are replacement manifolds available (probable from the later 8n) that minimize heating of the intake manifold for running on gasoline alone. It takes more than just a jet in a carburetor to vaporize kerosene enough for it to run an engine. So gasoline is essential for starting the mixed fuel engine.
: : : I have recently acquired a Ferguson T20, and am unsure what fuel to run it on.

: : : She has a split fuel tank, with a small section currently holding petrol, ansd a larger section which is currently empty.

: : : There is a changeover switch on the fuel line which switches between the two tanks.

: : : Can i use diesel in the second tank, or does it need to be Parrafin / Kerosene.