So I'm coming home from the gym and the truck is running fine all the way until i get to my apartment and i notice its vibrating more than usual and as im turning into my parking spot the truck starts running really rough, like when idleing in drive it doesn't just go forward it lurches forward and then the rpm drops and then lurches forward and then the rpm drops.. know what im saying? I was low on fuel (light had just came on) so i was worried maybe i was running out of fuel (kind of seemed like it) and turned the truck off immediately because i didn't want to run it out of fuel. went to the gas station got a 5 gallon can and filled it up with diesel turn it on and its still running rough, like when you put your hand over the exhaust its not a constant flow but more like a puff puff puff and you can hear it too, i tried again this morning thinking maybe it would magically go away but nope still the same thing, if i put it in drive and try and let it idle it struggles even more. Should i be worried about letting it run or driving it while its running bad? I was thinking maybe it would go away if i let it idle for a while? but i dont want to ruin anything so i just turned it off. any advice please let me know!

 

oh and the truck is not smoking at all from the exhaust pipe

 

Start with the basics. Do you have any monitoring/code reading ability?


Last time fuel filter was changed?

 

A sruck egr valve can cause what you are describing. Its just behind the alternator and towards the center of the motor ok n the front if of intake. It has two bokts that hold it down. It can be a bear to get out if dirty. Gently pry it straight up. Clean the snot out it with carb or brake clean. Try not to get any fluid in the electrical side. On the other hand if you can read the codes or live data you would know before pulling it.

 

Mine tends to stumble like that when it has no fuel pressure or if I brake heavy with low fuel, I can feel it stumble from sucking air momentarily.

Check the top of engine fuel bowl, see if it has fuel. It might drain out when the plunger comes up. So take note of where any residual fuel is, button it up and key on/key off a few times then see if if it looks like new fuel has made it into the bowl.

Also check the fuel pump fuse, see if it's blown

 

Its not a good practice to run a diesel low on fuel. Its hard on pumps and injectors. I try not to let mine get below 1/4 tank.

 

This^^^^^.... In my case, I had all fuel filters changed, filled her up, purged the air out and drove her WOT for a few miles. All was good, taught me a lesson I will never run below 1/4 tank again