I have storage tank, so I put fuel in it immediately, it lacks power to, I've spent 3 days joining this site a reading and reading, scared me a little bit. Could be fuel injectors, I could have bent rod, ruined glow plugs. So thanks for your help, but I've burned a half tank already still lacks power and craps out. So if eventually it doesn't return to normal then what how bad did I screw up. It breaks my heart I love this truck its my first diesel. If I can help it ill never drive another gas again. Hence all the questions, I'm mechanically inclined, but not much experience with the diesel, I can fix it, just need some ideas. So how about if it doesn't straighten it self out what's next.

 

How does the engine idle? Are you hearing any knocking or popping? Are you getting lots of blow by out the oil fill cap? Do you have to crank the engine for a long time to get it to start?

I think a reasonable course of action would be to confirm that you have plenty of fuel available at the heads. The best way to do this is with a fuel pressure gauge. Short of that, you can try draining the fuel bowl, leave the lid off and have a helper turn on the key (without cranking the engine). The fuel bowl should completely fill up before the pump times out.

If you determine that your fuel system is fine, then you might consider checking for boost leaks just because it's cheap and easy to do. Run a search for "leak detector" and you'll come up with some good threads that shows what you need. If you have the OEM CCV intact, then you'll want to install the leak detector post CCV....
A split boot will cause low power and poor mileage.

If those things check out then you might consider cutting to the chase and check the cylinders for compression. Then you'll have a pretty good idea what's really going on (or not going on...)

Good luck.

 

Yea I know ******* for running out of fuel, especially when I had 78 gallons in my storage tank in the bed of my truck Dah right. Thanks for your help. I just hope its nothing else.

 

The last link in my signature could prove helpful. When you're ready for more info... let me know in a PM.

 

I would also check your fuel pressure and be sure you're getting adequate fuel pressure. You may have sucked something up into the intake in the tank and checked the fuel pressure should tell you if you're getting enough flow.
Adequate fuel pressure is about 50 PSI wide open throttle and up to 65 PSI Idle (stock)

I am curious though if anyone knows a easy way to check for bent rocker arms without taking them all out.

Also if you have a AutoEnginuity scanner then it would be a good idea to run a buzz test and see if all your injectors sound about the same. If not then it would be a good idea to look into getting one. I bought one early last year and it's already paid for itself.

 

If it ran out of fuel all the crapola in the tank can get sucked up into the screens in the mixing chamber that Ford cleverly hid deep inside your fuel tank. These blocked screens will reduce fuel flow and in high fuel demand situations it'll dog.

A temporary fix is pretty easy. Find the fuel pump on the inside of the frame near the drivers door. Undo the quick disconnect (tool is cheap at any auto parts store) and remove the fuel line from the back of the fuel pump. It'll drizzle some fuel so don't be staring up at it when you do this. Grab your compressor and blow some air back thru the line to the tank. That will blow some crapola off the screens. Put the fuel line back on and cycle the key over to run (not start) 3 or 4 times for 30 seconds each. This will cycle the fuel pump on and get most of the air out. Then drive around and if it's fixed do the Hutch and Harpoon mods to fix the problem for good.

Look on the Roadside Help Network or Guzzle's for writeups on the Hutch and Harpoon mods. Give you an idea of what the mixing chamber is, and lots of other interesting reading.

Using starting fluid is bad for the glow plugs, don't do it. To check for blowby remove the oil fill cap while the engine is running and place it up side down on the fill tube. A bit of smoke and rattling around is fine, and if that's good I betcha you can fix your truck for not much money with info and help found here. But if the cap is blown off by pressure then you've got a Problem.

Try some stuff and let us know how it goes.

 

Why should anyone PM you? How do others learn when you PM them crap and no one learns from it...

Do you do it to make yourself feel good, larger then life or something?

Good lord man...

 

Easy Joe,

Although Rich I am a bit lost why take it to PM. Better suggestion is for him to make his own thread where we can all help him and then that information will be public and available for future reference by everyone. If everyone solved or helped solve eachothers problems and issues through PM this site would not exist and would be of no help for anyone.

 

I see mention of links here. Staying with that, let's just pretend for a moment that I'm weird (I know, it stretches the imagination) and I have a link that I don't advertise publicly because I want the link to stay available to the members here.

I promise, there will be no Secret Squirrel stuff... I'm just handing out a library card.

 

Thanks to all of you. I will try it. I don't understand the "PM" thing tho. Is that a website thing. I think its awesome that a guy can post something and get a lot of helpful information. My girlfriend has a 2002 escort the a/c went out. I went thro all normal steps nothing. I arnt to a ford forum for cars, and low and behold a guy had post a repair for a relay deeply hidden in the constant control relay module 400.00 bucks. For $4.69 at radio shack for a relay some very thin wire and an extra set of hands soldering iron. I fixed it. The post was 4 years old. So thanks again guys. I would buy ya a beer if you were here. Thanks a lot.

 

Well good news, the cap stayed on the oil filler tube. "Ugly" I looked for a link couldn't find it. Please keep in mind I'm on a smartphone not a computer so it kinda difficult to see everything ill look again. Thanks again everyone.

 

First of all welcome to FTE
Second of all I guess them smart phones aren't really all that smart !!
Sorry I couldn't help myself.
Well let us know what you find out.