1988 Fuel System Bleeding Procedure?
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1988 Fuel System Bleeding Procedure?
Hi all,
I was wondering what the bleeding procedure is for a 1988 F-350 Diesel Lariat.
My other two vehicles, a 1989 Dodge diesel and a 1985 Mercedes diesel wagon, both have mechanical fuel pumps, so it's a matter of loosening up the bleed screw, and hand-priming away, in the worst case, one or all injectors might have to be cracked. I found a small electrical fuel pump on the above mentioned Ford I just bought, on it's chassis, so I'm assuming that's what I got, however, the previous owner did play around with grease conversions (it's not currently running on it and I have no immediate intentions to get the system running again, but the system is still there, so I might have confused an added pump as being the stock one). Any advice to bleed the system would be great, as last night, I learned the hard way that the fuel gauge lies.
Thanks in advance for any replies!
I was wondering what the bleeding procedure is for a 1988 F-350 Diesel Lariat.
My other two vehicles, a 1989 Dodge diesel and a 1985 Mercedes diesel wagon, both have mechanical fuel pumps, so it's a matter of loosening up the bleed screw, and hand-priming away, in the worst case, one or all injectors might have to be cracked. I found a small electrical fuel pump on the above mentioned Ford I just bought, on it's chassis, so I'm assuming that's what I got, however, the previous owner did play around with grease conversions (it's not currently running on it and I have no immediate intentions to get the system running again, but the system is still there, so I might have confused an added pump as being the stock one). Any advice to bleed the system would be great, as last night, I learned the hard way that the fuel gauge lies.
Thanks in advance for any replies!
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Princeton MN
They all came with mechanical pumps that run off the cam. If it has an electric pump push the shrader valve on the fuel filter header with the key on, hold it open until you get fuel out with no bubbles, then crack some injector lines and crank until they are wet. tighten them and it should start. But make sure if it has the electric pump that it isnt running though the old mechanical pump, that is located on the lower right side of the timing cover because if the diaphram has a hole it will fill the cranckcase with fuel. If done right it should have been removed and a blockoff plate installed. One from a small block chevy will fit just fine. But if the electric pump is in the added line dont worry about it the mechanical should work fine you just have to crank the motor to bleed the filter it, no hand pumps here.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Massachusetts
FL350cc, welcome to FTE and the IDI forum!
You'll find this IDI diesel engine to be stupid simple once you get the hang of it.
The mechanical lift pump is located on the passenger side of the engine, below the vacuum pump. It looks like a mechanical fuel pump found on old school gas engines. I prefer the mechanical myself, and there are those who prefer the electric fuel pumps.
Both have their advantages and drawbacks. Now would be the time to see if your mechanical pump is still on the engine. If not, there "hopefully" will be a steel plate bolted in place to seal off the engine.
It's not the greatest to run both pumps though. So pick your poison and run one or the other.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
You'll find this IDI diesel engine to be stupid simple once you get the hang of it.
The mechanical lift pump is located on the passenger side of the engine, below the vacuum pump. It looks like a mechanical fuel pump found on old school gas engines. I prefer the mechanical myself, and there are those who prefer the electric fuel pumps.
Both have their advantages and drawbacks. Now would be the time to see if your mechanical pump is still on the engine. If not, there "hopefully" will be a steel plate bolted in place to seal off the engine.
It's not the greatest to run both pumps though. So pick your poison and run one or the other.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
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Thanks, everyone!
I greatly appreciate the information, I will be bleeding the system at some point tonight after I get home from work.
Also, I was wondering where I could find a good resource for schematics and diagrams of the different systems. I saw that Haynes and I think Chiltons as well make Ford truck manuals, but they do not cover diesels. Of course factory manuals are the best, but are they also the only way to go to get some good diagrams and schematics?
Thanks again!
I greatly appreciate the information, I will be bleeding the system at some point tonight after I get home from work.
Also, I was wondering where I could find a good resource for schematics and diagrams of the different systems. I saw that Haynes and I think Chiltons as well make Ford truck manuals, but they do not cover diesels. Of course factory manuals are the best, but are they also the only way to go to get some good diagrams and schematics?
Thanks again!
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Timmins, Ontario, Canada
The one factory manual you can't beat is the electrical and vacuum troubleshooting manual (EVTM). Get that! Especially if you have all the power options.
I've survived with the Haynes manual for the body and driveline, but most info is easier to get fom this forum.
I've survived with the Haynes manual for the body and driveline, but most info is easier to get fom this forum.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Massachusetts
I swear by my Chilton's manual. It covers 1965-1986, both my trucks in the same manual! 
I also have the Haynes DIESEL repair manual, which covers the GM 6.2 & 6.5 and the Ford 6.9/7.3 IDI and Ford 7.3 Powerstroke. I seldom ever open it, as the Chilton has the same information in it. If I ever do open it, I just compare the directions between the two manuals and just do whatever I think is best. It works for me.
If your even "kinda" handy, you can figure out these trucks....they're very simple!
I would drop $20 on a Chilton's manual and then visit this forum often...pretty soon you'll know too much about your truck!
The ONLY issue I've ever had with the forum is that when you're in a bind, and you need the truck NOW, it's tough to search and find the information you need. That's why I'm on here every night absorbing as much as I can. Between doing that and referring to my Chilton manual, I get thru just about anything.
I also have the Haynes DIESEL repair manual, which covers the GM 6.2 & 6.5 and the Ford 6.9/7.3 IDI and Ford 7.3 Powerstroke. I seldom ever open it, as the Chilton has the same information in it. If I ever do open it, I just compare the directions between the two manuals and just do whatever I think is best. It works for me.
If your even "kinda" handy, you can figure out these trucks....they're very simple!
I would drop $20 on a Chilton's manual and then visit this forum often...pretty soon you'll know too much about your truck!
The ONLY issue I've ever had with the forum is that when you're in a bind, and you need the truck NOW, it's tough to search and find the information you need. That's why I'm on here every night absorbing as much as I can. Between doing that and referring to my Chilton manual, I get thru just about anything.
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Thanks for the replies, worked like a charm!
The mechanical pump was bypassed, as some suggested it would be.
I also found that the pump fuse was blown, once I replaced it, I bled at the filter, then at the injectors while a friend cranked.
Thanks again!
The mechanical pump was bypassed, as some suggested it would be.
I also found that the pump fuse was blown, once I replaced it, I bled at the filter, then at the injectors while a friend cranked.
Thanks again!
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