Hello all. I've got a 2000 7.3 2x2 with about 85,000 miles on it.

The check engine light isn't on, and I don't notice any power loss or anything but lately, I've been smelling what seems to smell like kerosene both while driving it and when walking around the front of the vehicle. The smells lasts for quite a long time too after I've stopped driving it.

One other issue: I get a shake from 50 to 60 miles per hour. I just had new tires put on it and the wheels balanced so I don't think that is the problem.

I haven't owned a diesel before so sorry for the noobness.

 

You've likely got a small fuel leak somewhere. Look on top of the engine between the valve covers. There is an area commonly known as the "valley". If you have an oil or fuel leak on the top of the engine, it will accumulate there.

 

I'd bet money your fuel bowl drain is leaking. There are some O-rings in there that go bad over time. Easy simple fix...

 

Is there a way for me to test or check for this?

 

Do as was mentioned earlier. Crawl on top of the engine and look behind your fuel bowl in the valley. See if it's wet with fuel. If you see a small yellow handle on the back side of your fuel bowl, that's the drain. If you can find it, there should be a small copper tube coming off the bottom of the drain along the passenger side of the block. You might also see fuel dripping from there if the drain is leaking.
JEV

 

As for the vibration issue, i woudl suggest clearly thinking if it was there before the tires were replaced. Usually when tires are replaced people assume the balance went perfect so it coudlnt be the issue... 99% of the time improper balance was the cuase of a vibration at a specific rate of speed in my past expreriences.

 

No, it was definitely there before the new tires. I also forgot to mention that I get pretty much the same vibration if I floor the gas pedal and the engine gets up to to high rpm range.

Could that mean a drive shaft issue?

 

Could be a U-Joint on your drive shaft.

 

The fuel leak I had in the engine compartment was from the fuel filter housing. It was over pressurizing and coming out a weep hole. A new fuel filter fixed it.

 

OK, I checked the valley and sure enough, puddle of fuel. Then I turned the truck on and sure enough, fuel dripping from underneath the yellow fuel drain. It didn't look like it was coming from the yellow handle itself, but it might have been coming from below it.

Is that the thing with the O-rings?

 

Probably the orings. I replaced the complete drain assembly around $56.00 from Ford dealer.They didn't have any orings in stock and I wanted to fix it quick. There is also a vent hole in the drain valvle to allow air and not vacuum lock when the drain is opened . If the handle is not shut off all the way , it might possibly leak from that. Most likely its bad orings.

 

No need to replace the entire assembly unless it's cracked. If your going to replace the o-rings replace them with a high grade set.
Replacement O-rings for Ford Diesel Engines
The first time I replaced mine, I used the standard o-rings and they only lasted a year. The second time I replaced them with a better grade and they've been fine since.