Diesel Mechanic in Phoenix/Tucson area?

Well, your implement dealer is very ignorant. Parts are plentiful online.
What was your oil pressure before the engine shut down? What kind of oil do you use in the engine? How many hours on the engine?
It sounds to me like there is a fuel restriction. These tractors do not have an in-tank filter. First, observe the contents of the sediment bowl, then shut off the fuel and remove the sediment bowl and check the screen in the top. Let us know what you find.
I know it seems like I ask a lot of questions, but they are essential for an armchair diagnosis.
:yes:

one thing you should think of is that the problems might not be related a engine that burns oil can run out of fuel ,be refueled and keep going. If it sat for a long period fuel might be all it is, like mentioned check the fuel bowl when you have the lower cover off put a can under it  turn on the fuel make sure there is a good flow if not there might be a fuel screen in the tank valve nipple. You might want to check the engine oil and make sure it does not smell like diesel. But I do not like the idea of it not briefly running on starting fuel. Lets hope for the best.

Gary Griffiths wrote:

What was your oil pressure before the engine shut down? Oil pressure was showing about 3-4 on the meter. Starts at 5 when full, with cold engine, lowers to ~4 when the engine warms up. Decreases as I run engine. Usually lasts about 4 hours ’till it hits 2 and I stop and add oil. Takes about 1 1/2 qts at that time. Your gauge reads in bar if I remember correctly, so 5 bar = 72.5 psig, and 2 bar = 29 psig. All perfectly acceptable.

What kind of oil do you use in the engine? 15W40. I used Delo 400 initially, but have been using the cheap Tractor Supply oil since it started gargling with it. No problem there as long as long as it remains a multi-vis oil.

How many hours on the engine? 380 hours on the engine. Not many at all.

I have been advised by the diesel mechanic I talked with that if it sat for a long time (which it did) without running, the valves may have been damaged, and oil is entering the cylinders. This is misinformation, but he may have meant stuck valves (which is a very remote possibility) Otherwise, may be rings. This is very likely. There has been some smoke coming from the oil fill cap, but have been advised that may be normal as it serves as a vent for the crank case. Depending on the year of build, your engine may or may not have a PCV system. This consists of a hose between the valve cover and intake manifold. There is an orifice in the intake manifold hose connection. If you don’t have this feature some vapors from the breather may be present, but not a lot. That symptom, coupled with high oil consumption, do point to stuck or broken piston rings. You can perform a compression check to verify this. I don’t know what your resources or skill levels are for performing engine work, but I recommend pulling the cylinder head to check for cylinder liner wear/scoring. We can go from there.
From what you have told me, your engine seems otherwise healthy.

Hmm, my engine doesn’t have such a removable plate, but good for you, that’s going to be a challenge working around that equalizer bar unless you drop it, and if you do, make sure you have the tractor blocked securely.
As far as the fuel blockage goes, what did it look like? Sludge? If so, you have a case of diesel bugs and you will need to drain and clean the fuel tank and system thoroughly and treat at least four subsequent fuelings with a biocide ASAP because they are corrosive and can damage the injectors and fuel injection pump. I have personally witnessed the bugs bring a 10,000 HP diesel to it’s knees, and the subsequent $22,000 in repairs.

Yep. “Diesel Bugs” are very real, and diesel engines aren’t their only target. Ultra large fuel tank farms and storage/holding facilities, oil fired boilers, gas turbines as found in ships and airplanes. Virtually anything that uses sulfured fuel oil.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_contamination_of_diesel_fuel

http://www.biobor.com/fuel-additives/diesel-fuel-additives/

And I hope you didn’t throw that screen very far (that was a very ignorant statement the Nortrac tech made) because that is there for a reason – it traps the “elephants”. Consider it the primary fuel filter, even though it isn’t. There is also a small plastic screen within the banjo fitting on the suction side of the lift pump. The spin-on filter you see is actually the secondary fuel filter, and it catches contaminants only down to about 15-20µ, but it does not trap water and the smaller bugs will go right through it. If you live in a high humidity area and have a storage tank I strongly advise installing a coalescing filter on your storage tank such as a Goldenrod Water-Block Filter.

I would suggest that if the parts are now gone replace the sediment bowl filter with another one . There are plenty of styles out there in the after market world, get one with a large clear glass bowl it will make seeing the contents(or lack thereof) easier. Filtration is a thing that is so important. and the diesel bug thing is real but they also need water to live so controlling moisture is a way to control them, there are chemical treatments also.

The sediment bowls are a time proven method of allowing fuel to decant, allowing water and moisture to separate, and do some primary filtering through the screen. You won’t always see sediment unless it’s heavy and sinks, but since water is much heavier than fuel you will always see it in the bottom of the glass if it’s present.