Readers digest version...truck was running fine about 60 miles from home when it just quit at 55 mph. Wouldn't restart. On recommendation from a diesel mechanic I had a friend bring me a fuel filter and changed it while waiting for the tow truck. When I filled the filter with fuel it would start and run for a few minutes then die. Tow truck driver suggested a pull start. This worked and it idled for about 5-10 minutes so I started driving and got another 5-10 miles before it died again, so I gave up and had it towed to my friends house (still 60 miles away). I suspect a fuel issue, but don't know where to start looking.

Any suggestions on where to start would be helpful so I can gather supplies before heading up to attempt to fix it.

Thanks!!!

 

more than likely her fuel pump went out.
if you where able to get it running again and it idled for a little bit,but then quit again,the lift pump is probably really weak.
this is where id investigate first anyway,or second rather since you did the filter already.
unless of course you are 1/4 tank or below? and did you try both tanks?
you can also have a helper listen under the truck for a little motor zip sound when you hit the fuel switch on the dash.
but since it did restart and idle and even went down the road a bit,this points to the lift pump (after the filter was cleaned/swapped out) as the prime suspect.
what year is the truck?

 

Sure sounds like the lift pump also.

Unless like XLT said, were you around or below 1/4 tank? Maybe since the tow truck pulled you, the angle of the road changed, had enough fuel to run for 10 min, then it's well below 1/4 and out of fuel. Fuel pick up tube might have broke.

 

Sorry. 1990, 7.3 non-turbo. I was running on the rear tank when it died. I had switched from the front tank 40 miles earlier because it was empty. I put 5 gallons of diesel in the front tank and tried running on that also but was unsuccessful.

 

x3 on the lift pump. mine did the same thing when it gave it up. i would refill the filter and it would run for a little while, then stall. just so were clear, when you pull the filter, its anything other than full right, there will be some fuel left in it

 

If its not the pump come talk to me...I have a random though or two.

Thad

 

Ok not hijacking but I'm about to buy a 6.9 from a guy that said the truck did the same thing to him lift pump is new and fuel filter looks newer (idk how much cranking he has actually done since changing these but he claims there is 3/4 of a tank in it he Says he put fuel in it 20 minutes before it died

 

The return line check valve may be plugged. It screws into the top of the ip before the return line. When that plugs it causes return pressure in the ip to build and will eventually cause the issues your having. you can take it off, take it aprat and clean it.

 

Thanks for all of the input. I will try the lift pump first. I got it tonight and will try to get back up to my truck to put it in on Friday or Saturday.

 

Well, it's not the lift pump. Changed that today, ran it for an hour or so, 20 min at 1900 rpm, thought I had it licked then the idle started to get irregular. It smoothed out so I thought I would take it to fill it up. Made it 100 yds from the driveway before it died. Towed it back into my sister-in-law's yard and she now has a beautiful lawn ornament for another week or so.

Any other suggestions? (please)

 

Did it run exactly the same amount of time with the new one or did it run longer with it??

What brand lift pump did you get?

Are all the electrical plugs tight that go to the injection pump?

Have you tried running it with both tanks??

From what I hear, the obstruction sounds like its most likely behind the lift pump, to be sure you can hang out with your truck while its running and right when it sounds like its about to die, open the shrader valve and see if that is getting fuel or not. The shrader valve is the tire valve looking thing right above the fuel filter.

 

Not as long this time with the new pump as the last time from engine start to final quit.

Oreilly's brand

seem to be

I have tried with both tanks.

 

Could be something floating around in the tank that gets sucked up and blocks the intake. It might idle well forever, but with a load the increased fuel consumption would suck it up and kill the truck.

 

This is exactly the issue I was going to bring up but since I mention it frequently I figured guys would be sick of it.

The common issue is for pieces of the pickup tube get sucked intot he fuel line and cause problems in the fuel tank selector valve.

If you are uncertain of the condition of your pickup tobes this may be something to look into.

Thad

 

I know I have issues with the pickup tubes since I can only get about 10 gallons of usable fuel out of either tank. I haven't been able to find replacement parts in my online searches for them. I have been driving this way for the past 2 year so I thought the only adverse affect was the reduced amount of fuel I could use out of each tank. I thought that with the pickup tube broken off that high that the likelihood of sucking up some trash was remote.