When you dropped the tank did you check the in line filters in the tank? Did you do the Hutch and Harpoon mods?

Need to check the factory fuel line connections for leaking air.

Although not sure any of these will account for white exhaust.

 

checked the filters but completely spaced the hutch and harpoon mods. talked to a ford tech who said the greenish stuff in my fuel is algae. not happy about hearing that at all. he recommended an additive that I can get through the quick lane at the dealership for around $40. this morning it smoked white for a while right after I started it but it was running so I let it warm up. by the time I got ready to leave for work, it had cleared up and ran fine.

 

I didn't read every post here, but I was just having the same type of symptoms. An easy thing to do to figure out, pull the housing off the pressure relief valve on the drivers side top of the fuel bowl. On my truck, the valve was broken and needs to be replaced. I located the spring for the valve inside the tubing before the first bend, obviously not where it should have been....

The fuel bowl needs to hold pressure. I could be just something stuck in there allowing pressure to drop between starts, causing the hard or no start condition. Mine was doing the same, white smoke and all. Replacement parts are available.

Good luck.....I know we can sometimes beat our heads against the wall and over look the simple things.....

 

i'm gonna check that valve here in a minute. that would be awesome if that was all it was. i've heard suggestions to check everything from clogged fuel filter to a melted piston. knowing that you had the same symptoms is encouraging. do you remember where you got the replacement parts? and do you have a picture or anything showing where that is? i think i know what you're talking about but i'm not positive.

 

so today, i found the o ring on the line to the fuel bowl was torn to shreds so i replaced that. got the truck started but still had trouble. now the coolant in the de-gas bottle smells like fuel. suggestions? i know it aint good

 

Sounds like injector cups. If you can pull the valve covers, you can change the cups. Pretty easy job.

 

Did you get the algae killer in there? Algae in the tank can cause intermittent blockage, and you'll starve for fuel which will be crappy running no power and often plenty of white smoke. Run the biocide for a tank then drop it and do the hutch and harpoon mod. If those screens are cruddy you found the problem.

Can you see diesel in the degas bottle? Just a whiff could be from the other work done on the fuel bowl.

Injector cups are often done by others on the forum. Sometimes a couple few times. It isn't rocket science but it does need to be done carefully.

 

can't really say i can see fuel in the degas bottle but it's definitely got fuel in it. i'm gonna have it diagnosed by a shop sometime this week. and no the dealership wasn't open yesterday so hopefully i'll be able to get over there and get it tomorrow