I have noticed that when I really get on my truck I smell diesel really badly in the cabin shortly after.

I traced a fuel line that leads behind the air cleaner and stops in something that looks like it has a vent or grate over it. Could this be the culprit?

I have also noticed that after the truck sits for a while(12-18hrs usually) it won't start as easily. Could I be losing fuel pressure? Could this be related to the diesel smell?

Thanks for any help.

 

air in the fuel lines/fuel leak.

check return lines first, and trace it back as it goes. My guess is it'll be the return lines or in the fuel filter area.

 

I notice that right around the fuel pump there is some diesel/dirt.

I have never seen it really wet but it obviously was at one time.

About two weeks ago I had to replace the fuel filter because it was dirty and had water in it.

Do you think air in the line would cause it to smell/leak diesel?

 

My 93 7.3 has a habit of leaking fuel from the base and top of the fuel filter after about 2 weeks of operation from installing a new filter (after market- not Ford), I retorque the filter and base, runs forever without leaking after that. Also when I first got the truck, several injector return collars were leaking due to old flat and hard orings- noticable when running.

 

The rubber fuel return lines and rubber O-rings that connect the return line fittings to the injectors get hard and start to leak fuel onto the motor which evaporates and gets sucked into the cab either thru openings in you firewall or thru the vent intake system.

This also explains your starting problems because by the same leak paths that let fuel escape, air enters the fuel system when you shut the engine down and let it cool down. Air gets pulled in as the fuel graviy drains back to the tanks.

Replace all the rubber fuel lines and O-rings, install a new filter, make sure it gets new top and bottom orings aswell and is tightened properly.

 

Another point on the hard starting is that if the return lines on the injectors are cracked. It will let air in thru the cracks in the lines but will not let fuel out. If they are painted gray then you are due to change out the lines.

 

I am still trying to think what has a vent or grate over it that the return line would end at.

Something sounds wrong there to me.

 

wonder if he is talking about the air intake screen on top of the engine????

 

I Think he may be Taling about the return line that passing under the cdr valve

 

grate would be the glowplug controller. (sure hope there isn't any fuel running to it)

 

Well either the intake screen or the glow plug controller is a bad place for the return line to end, which is my take on what he said.

I have read the post a dozen times, it still says it stops in something with a grate or vent over it.

If that is the case either it is putting the return fuel in the intake or all over the engine and transmission. Either one would cause a strong diesel fuel smell.

 

I smell diesel shortly after I start the truck but then it goes away. Also my service engine light is on. I have had it to the dealer several times for this and there are no codes reading in the system

 

I smell diesel shortly after I start the truck but then it goes away. Also my service engine light is on. I have had it to the dealer several times for this and there are no codes reading in the system. Could this be the same and would it cause your service engine light to come on?

 

Are you in the correct forum? The IDI has no service engine light, nor any ECM to store or pull codes from. Sounds like you have a Power Stroke. Sorry about that.