Engine power loss, overheating, problems while shifting gears, engine stalling, engine misfiring, engine vibrating, and losing too much fuel are the most frequent issues with your john deere 13.5-liter engine.
John Deere engines are very strong and resilient but like any other machinery, it faces these problems every once in a while.
However, If you don’t pay attention to these issues soon, it will damage the engine and that can end up costing you big time in the future.
5 Common John Deere 13.5 Liter Engine Problems
Problem 1. Engine Power Loss
John Deere 13.5 liter engine is a reliable one for your tractor but the issue with it is, it can frequently face power losses and this can be really frustrating when you are in the middle of farming operations.
Power loss in your tractor is mostly caused by clogged air filters. Without clean air, your engine is obviously bound to have some issues.
Moreover, as time goes by, the tractor will get more and more damaged due to the internal dust buildup inside the engine.
Solution:
You can take out the air filter and clean all of the components including the radiator too. After that, you need to place it back and give it a try by starting your engine. But f it still seems to lose power, then change the air filters.
Also, make sure the exhaust system of your engine is doing well otherwise the clogged exhaust will build up unnecessary gasses in the engine and cause power loss again.
And make sure you frequently check whether the passage is clogged and unclog it before starting the track loader.
Also, you have to keep checking the Mass Airflow (MAF) Sensor and have it cleaned very carefully as it can get worn out due to dust particles accumulation over time.
Problem 2. Engine Overheating Problems
Overheating of your john deere can be due to clogged radiators and air exhaust systems.
You see, when the tractor is operated in dust conditions very often the radiator gets clogged with dust particles and as a result, it fails to pass enough cold air through the engine.
This issue is very dangerous because after running for a few hours the engine can get extremely heated and it will reduce the work efficiency as well.
Besides, too much heat in the engine can even cause an explosion by catching fire.
Solution:
First, you have to inspect the radiator and for this, you have to disassemble the whole radiator and clean every part of it. After that put it back in position.
Normally the radiator has very sticky dirt material on its surface so try to use a good cleaning product instead of just normal water.
If the engine is still showing much heating even after cleaning the radiator then you have to inspect the water pump of the engine.
And make sure it’s performing properly otherwise this overheating issue isn’t going to get solved anytime soon.
If there is something wrong with the water pump the coolant will also be leaking from the engine. In this case, you have to get a new water pump for replacement.
And for the leakage, make sure you trace back the source of the leakage and stop it as soon as possible.
Problem 3. Fuel Problems
If there is something wrong with the fuel injection pump or the fuel injector nozzles then your engine will stall while idle and make noise.
Again if the fuel pump fails it will cause the tractor not to start. Besides, a clogged fuel filter will not pass enough fuel to the engine and as a result, your john deere will suddenly lose power and start jerking.
Solution:
Change the fuel injection pump and also change the injector nozzle that has gotten dirty.
Because if there is anything wrong with the injection system the coolant will mix with the fuel and show error codes in the display bar.
Also, you have to make sure that the filters are cleaned properly every once in a while. Otherwise, your track loader will have difficulty while starting.
And, don’t forget to check the head gasket. If it’s broken or damaged there will be coolant leaking from it internally resulting in cranking of the engine. In this case, you have to get the heads replaced or fixed.
Problem 4. Injector issues
After changing the fuel filter and the pumps if your john deere still won’t start then it can be due to injector failure.
You see, when the engine becomes older the injector starts to get worn out and as a result, the engine starts to have some issues.
As the injectors deliver fuel to the engine while the engine starts, it’s really important to get them in proper function. Otherwise, it won’t be supplying fuel to your engine and as a result, your track loader won’t get a start.
Solution:
Dirty fuel injector will cause your engine to misfire and start vibrations while it’s in operation. Moreover, your tractor will make loud clicking noises and keep stalling.
Remember that when you replace the fuel injectors you have to replace all four of them at the same time otherwise the new ones might have problems with the old ones while synchronizing.
It’s very important to adjust the injector preload and valves at over 2500 hours for normal maintenance. One more thing, make sure you get the injectors with the correct compensation codes that are required by your john deere engine.
Problem 5. Transmission Problems
When your engine has transmission-related issues you will face difficulty while shifting gears. The transmission will also make noises and oil leakage can also occur at times.
And if the ignition is not happening correctly then your john deere engine will not heat up and create problems during starting.
Sometimes when the battery or the cables and clamps are not properly connected to the engine can cause these issues.
Solution:
At first, it’s better to get the battery out and warm it up for a few hours to get it going because the batteries sit out when they haven’t been in use for much long.
After that make sure the cables and clamps are cleaned and attached back to the battery properly.
Then you have to check the solenoid valve. If the engine is still having transmission issues then you have to replace the solenoid valves with the correct model specification.
There are still a few more things to make sure. You need to check if the clutch is properly adjusted or the gear shift linkage is stuck somewhere. In both cases replace the clutch and parts of the gear system if necessary.
Meanwhile, you can check the level of transmission fluid and refill it if it’s too low. You have to change the transmission fluid if it’s contaminated due to a faulty oil filter.
Again, if there is any problem with the seals or if the gaskets are broken your engine will leak transmission oil. In this case, replace them immediately.
And don’t forget to keep the oil filter clean and free from blockage. If the relief valve seems defective, change it as soon as possible and stop the leakage right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 2000 Hours a Lot on a John Deere 13.5 Liter Tractor?
As a thumb rule, we can say, 2000 hours is kind of considered as medium while anything over 35, 000 is considered as high. And as it gets higher from the mid value the engine keeps getting issues like worn-out parts and corrosion.
What is the Life Expectancy of a John Deere Tractor?
It cannot be said with much surety but mostly your john deere will last at least about 4000 hours without any major issues. Even some of them can last up to more than ten thousand hours of fieldwork.
How Much Fuel Does a John Deere 13.5 Liter Engine Use Per Hour?
Most of the john deere track loaders have an 11.5-gallon fuel tank and fuel use will obviously depend on the type of load and operating conditions. Normally any commercial track loader will consume 1.1 to 1.7 gallons per hour on an average.
Conclusion
In this article, we have chosen some of the most common problems with John Deere’s 13.5-liter engine and also discussed all the possible ways to fix the problems very efficiently.
But if you feel confused about any of the fixes you can clear it out by asking in the comments section below and also if you feel unsure about anything you can always contact your nearby John Deere’s expert mechanic.
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