hello i have a 2000 f-250 powerstroke 7.3 desiel which has a starting problem on a hill or upgrade. if you park on a slant of any kind it will not start.help!!!a mechanic tested it and it came up with an empty resevior in the high pressure pump,after he filled the resevior it started fine. he wants to pull the eng. and repair front end of eng. any ideas cause i am confused!! this is my first desiel and i dont know much about them to say the least.

 

If you park it the other way (nose down) will it start then?

 

i just took my 01 250 for the same reason if you park it aimming up hill its fine but flat and downhill it takes several times cranking the engine to start seems like there is a check valve or something that is not holding

 

havent tried the nose down. i will and get back to you.

and it wont start no matter how long you crank it over the battery will go dead before it does. and its only on a hill .

 

There are 2 possibilities: 1) the oil pick up tube gasket is omitted. If the engine runs fine once it is started (no surging, rough idle, etc.), that is probably not it. 2) you gerrotor oil pump needs replaced. We had some problems with these oil pumps at the factory. When they are right, they pump a TON of oil and when they are not, they won't pump for crap. If it starts right up with the nose facing down hill (depending on how steep the hill is), it could be the pick up tube gasket. If not, try a new oil pump.
When you buy a new oil pump, get a new pump housing along with it and grease it up good before you install it.

 

thanks joe, going down hill it started fine!

 

It could still possibly be the oil pump. I'd try that first because it is easier to get to.

 

I would say it is your HPOP (high pressure oil pump) there is a bolt on top of it ----this bolt leads directly to the reservoir which has a sensor in there--if your really in a bind pour oil into that little hole and it will start. Until you get a new HPOP dont park uphill.

Gina

 

Get your truck away from that mechanic!!!

Pull the engine?!??! WTF?

 

Somebody is mining old threads again.
This one got started in 2003.

 

sounds like you just need your oil pump replaced ---please dont let them pull your engine -- if I remember correctly just under a grand at Ford. You can put oil in the reservoir to get you going again-- when you take the bolt out you may need a ketchup squirter or an empty Lucas bottle to get it in there--it will get you started again but bottom line is a new HPOP. I ran mine as long as I could maybe even close to a year being careful where I parked--but eventually it would run low on pressure going uphill in a parking lot.