You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!
Suspect fuel contamination with my 97f-250 because of issues with other vehicle (non diesel). Think this was done 3 weeks ago. Noticed hard starting, truck would catch and start after prolong cranking period. Never happened before. My 1987 5.0 mustang started to run rough( missing, hard start, cutting out about the same time as isue with truck developed. fuel from mustang showed unknown contaminate(clear swirl like substance and small granueles in fuel. Both vehicles have non locking fuel caps. More worried about Truck. Don't drive either vehicle extensively, usually just start and run them around block (neighbors are haters) Would appreciate suggestions on truck worried about damage. Thanks
Last edited by Asytole61; 06-17-2012 at 04:13 AM.
Reason: mispelled word
That is horrible and whoever did it deserves to be taken behind the woodshed..... First thing, I would notify Law Enforcement if you suspect someone put something in your tank. They may take a sample and have it tested. After that is taken care of I would drain your tank and fuel bowl and get some fresh fuel in both, also replace the filter. I would figure out what was in the fuel before I tried to run the truck much. That's my 2 pennies, I know the other guys will have more/better info for ya. Wish you luck with your truck and finding out who is messing with it!!
__________________
Chris
-1997 F-350 4x4,CC,LB,Powerstroke,5spd,216,000 miles,6637 intake,F5 DP-Tuner,3" DP,4" Diamond Eye exhaust,EBPV delete,IH bellowed up-pipes,HPX,Borg Warner TP38 1.0 housing,Southbend SMF/clutch kit,Autometer gauges,6.0 fan,Cooper ST Maxx 285/75/16.
-2007 Harley-Davidson Streetbob, FXDB
Yep drain the tanks, dissconnect the the fuel lines from the engine and blow them back to the tank
__________________
Mike. 97 F250 totaled 11/19/12 B.E.S.T. mapLouisiana FTE Member Map
2012 Ram CC 1500 5.7 Hemi
Diablo sport trinity hemi fever tune, 87mm throttle body, BBK headers, HF cat, 14" magnaflow, AFE intake, 180* T-stat. All waiting for time to be put on.
When married you have two simple choices. You can be "Happy" or you can be "Rite" you can't have both
Thank's for reply fellas. Chris your truck is a sptnn image of mine . same ride height,wheels, color. First truck i ever had and probably the last. Again i'm only worried because of the mustang. The truck will start and run without bucking or smoke. Friend of mechanic friend of mine said it could be anything from the inj pump to the injs , it's up there in mileage.
Not to be a azz but find a new mechanic these trucks don't have an injection pump. The injectors are fired off of a high pressure oil system. Get the fuel system cleaned out and if you still have a problem then start chasing it down. You cant tell if the truck has other issues if it's running on bad fuel.
__________________
Mike. 97 F250 totaled 11/19/12 B.E.S.T. mapLouisiana FTE Member Map
2012 Ram CC 1500 5.7 Hemi
Diablo sport trinity hemi fever tune, 87mm throttle body, BBK headers, HF cat, 14" magnaflow, AFE intake, 180* T-stat. All waiting for time to be put on.
When married you have two simple choices. You can be "Happy" or you can be "Rite" you can't have both
If someone pours something in someone's fuel tank it's usually sugar. If you are certain that someone has put something in your tanks, you definitely need to drain and flush the fuel system, change the fuel filter and fill the fuel bowl with fresh fuel before restarting. If it is sugar, it won't hurt the engine, but I'd get what ever it is out of the fuel system ASAP!
Thank's fellas, ford pride, your not an azz, I'm new at this and on a slow learning curve. There is a great deal of information on this site and i appreciate the help. Again i'm not 100% positive on the contamination issue. Truck has 216,ooo miles on her with no major problems(yet).The issue is that it takes a little longer to kick over from cranking. Once started and after that usual 7.3 crackle, it idels fine and there is no smoke. So your right there may be other issues with the prolong cranking. Damm ! I wish i didn't like my truck so much!
If you think someone may have messed with the fuel I would clean it out. You don't want to play with bad fuel since one injector in these truck can cost $350.00.
I would also pull the batteries and go have them load tested
__________________
Mike. 97 F250 totaled 11/19/12 B.E.S.T. mapLouisiana FTE Member Map
2012 Ram CC 1500 5.7 Hemi
Diablo sport trinity hemi fever tune, 87mm throttle body, BBK headers, HF cat, 14" magnaflow, AFE intake, 180* T-stat. All waiting for time to be put on.
When married you have two simple choices. You can be "Happy" or you can be "Rite" you can't have both
Again, excuse my inexpertice, but what would load testing the bateries show? Batteries are about 3 yrs old. Truck is not extensievly driven. At times in the past i would disconnect them both completely for 2 months at a time. ,hook them up and trk starts with no problem. Seems to crank a little faster now ,but a little longer in catching to start. This was my concern before i suspected again suspected a bad fuel issue.
My 2 cents worth might only be worth a penny but here it is:
Resolve any fuel issue before you attempt to run the truck again, just as explained by the others! If you are satisfied/convinced the fuel is not contaminated, the filter is clean etc., etc., you could try some Diesel Kleen. Gray bottle, warm weather. White bottle cold weather. Sitting for long periods of time can cause some problems in the diesel and fuel system without any outside help. What were the outside temps when you had/have this problem?
As to the batteries,
You should load test your batteries to make sure they are putting out ample cranking amps, and they should be close to, if not equal with each other. If one is low it can/will cause the other to equalize with it. 3 year old batteries used as you described (actually not used) need to be checked to eliminate them as a source or contributing factor to the problems. 750 CCA is the recommended minimum IIRC. A lot of guys are using 1000 CCA or better.
Low or bad batteries are also hard on the alternator. If they have not been used for an extensive period of time, I would put the battery charger on them before I connected them back up and started the truck.
As far as disconnecting the batteries, from the Ford Manual:
"Because your vehicle’s engine is electronically
controlled by a computer, some control
conditions are maintained by power from the
battery. If you ever disconnect the battery, install
a new battery, or experience a dead battery, you
must allow the computer to “relearn” its idle
conditions before your vehicle will idle at its
best. To let the engine do this, apply the parking
brake, put the gearshift in Park (automatic
transmission) or Neutral (manual transmission),
turn off all the accessories, and start the vehicle.
Let the engine idle for at least one minute.
If you do not let the engine relearn its idle, the
idle quality of your vehicle may be adversely
affected until the idle is relearned. Your vehicle
will eventually relearn its idle while you drive
it, but it takes much longer than if you use the
previous procedure."
__________________
Jim - 1996 F250 PSD SuperCab 4X4, Fender Flares, Auto Hubs, E4OD, C5 4.10 limited slip, Carr Hoop II steps, Warn XD9000i Winch & Trans4mer brush guard. Pretty much stock.
To join the Oregon Chapter, click HERE There cannot be a crisis next week, my schedule is already full! (Henry Kissinger)
In the first place God made idiots. That was just for practice. Then he made Congress. (Mark Twain, slightly modified)
I had a good link to JC Whitney locking gas caps but it went south. I have thought about getting some but never did. A quick search on their site showed these but I'm not saying that they will fit. When I was young I had a 67 Buick Riviera and some jerk sugar tanked me!!
__________________ Glenn
The Mule-96 2WD F250 EC/LB auto, Lots of Mods!! Semi retired, still runs great after years of pulling!!
The Mare 97 dually cc, T4 & s366 turbo, stage II's, IC, studs, springs, pushrods, John Woods auto, 4:10 LS, efuel, FS2500, HVHF IDM, IH water pump with filter, 6.0 trans cooler, 6.0 fan, MBRP 4", SD dual tensioner, 6637, 220 amp alternator, powermaster starter
__________________ Glenn
The Mule-96 2WD F250 EC/LB auto, Lots of Mods!! Semi retired, still runs great after years of pulling!!
The Mare 97 dually cc, T4 & s366 turbo, stage II's, IC, studs, springs, pushrods, John Woods auto, 4:10 LS, efuel, FS2500, HVHF IDM, IH water pump with filter, 6.0 trans cooler, 6.0 fan, MBRP 4", SD dual tensioner, 6637, 220 amp alternator, powermaster starter
This forum is owned and operated by Internet Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation. It is not authorized or endorsed by the Ford Motor Company and is not affiliated with the Ford Motor Company or its related companies in any way. FordŽ is a registered trademark of the Ford Motor Company.
There cannot be a crisis next week, my schedule is already full! (Henry Kissinger)
Glenn
