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I agree. Also look at the hoses between injectors. Lots of times if the hose is even cracked it will let air in but not fuel out as the air molecule is smaller.
no since we are talking about the fuel return to tank circuit.
and keep the ether away from your diesel. it does bad things when the glow plugs are working properly.
I replaced the glow plugs and the controller. Glow plugs seem to work right. Engine starts right away and then dies after about 30 seconds. Then it is hard to start but does start and then runs ok. I can drive it all I want. When I shut it down for 20 minutes it is the above all over again. It seems like a fuel leak problem.
I looked at all the connecters between glow plugs, looked ok, checked the ground.
How do I find a fuel air leak?
I am going to have to take it to a professional if I cannot figure it out.
All this started because a friend left the key on all night, killed the batteries and the controller and the glow plugs. I replaced all of the above.
it sounds like you have an air leak in the return line system.
next time before you go to start the truck cold, remove the fuel filter and look in it. if it is full, it is something else.
but my bet is you will find the fuel filter 1/2 or more empty.
this is a classic symptom of air intrusion. a return line kit will usually fix this. the kit contains return lines, caps, and o rings.
what happens is the o rings in the caps get disturbed when touched and let air leak into the system. then when you shut the truck off it lets the fuel in the filter drain back into the tank. when you go to start the truck it will fire on the fuel in the injector pump, then run out of fuel until the system is reprimed.
I agree with Tom, if I remember correctly I sprayed water on the lines and it ran better so replaced lines. Water temp sealed lines.
If the lines are old....replace anyway
You were right about the filter being half full. After hard starting truck runs good until I turn off engine.
I replaced glow plugs, controller, batteries, new battery cables, air filter, fuel filter and return fuel lines from Napa auto parts. I know some of these don't have a lot to do with it but I don't know where to look next.
I took truck to a local diesel mechanic. He looked for a couple of hours, nothing.
I don't know what it could have to do with it but I replaced all the wiring under the dash for power window setup. My friend burned up the old setup and this starting problem started after the new installation of windows. I took some old wiring out under dash. Everything electrical works but I wonder if there is something electrical that I did under the dash that could cause the air leak.
nope. if the filter is not full when engine is cold, you still have air getting into the system. when you replaced the return lines, you also replaced the o-rings too, rite?
you need to replace the o-rings on the injectors under the caps. and use a dab of grease on each o-ring before installing it to insure the cap slides on without tearing the o-ring.