Low Fuel Pressure
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 949
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From: Colorado Rockies
Low Fuel Pressure
I know this have been beat to death, but thought I would toss my experience in and get some advice. Last Sunday (of course on Sunday!) I has about 100 miles north of Denver, heading home towing my 5th wheel; about another 450 miles to go. After topping off with 19 gallons of diesel (tank was just under 1/2) I pulled back onto I-76 and before I got to the end of the on-ramp I got the "Low Fuel Pressure" warning. I continued a couple of miles to the next off-ramp; by the time I got there I had "reduced engine power", codes P008A and P0087 via my TorquePro app, a loud whine (low pressure pump?) and a rough running engine.
So, I'm sitting beside the interstate on Sunday afternoon trying to figure out what to do. The only option I really had was to change the fuel filters (I carry spares and tools). I drained fuel from both the OEM filters and my Donaldson filer (I have a Donaldson fuel/water filter separator prior to the OEM frame filter) and there was only a few drops of water from the Donaldson. After changing both OEM filters, I cleared the codes, the truck started right up (no whine) and never missed a beat for the 450 mile trip home, including going over Wolf Creek Pass.
So, what happened? I suspect that air got into the system, but how? It ran fine for about 6000 miles since my last filter change. Did re-fueling have anything to do with it? Do I have anything else to worry about like a bad low pressure pump? I changed the Donaldson filter as soon as I got home, so all three filters are new. I still have the old filters, any point in tearing them apart?
Thanks
So, I'm sitting beside the interstate on Sunday afternoon trying to figure out what to do. The only option I really had was to change the fuel filters (I carry spares and tools). I drained fuel from both the OEM filters and my Donaldson filer (I have a Donaldson fuel/water filter separator prior to the OEM frame filter) and there was only a few drops of water from the Donaldson. After changing both OEM filters, I cleared the codes, the truck started right up (no whine) and never missed a beat for the 450 mile trip home, including going over Wolf Creek Pass.
So, what happened? I suspect that air got into the system, but how? It ran fine for about 6000 miles since my last filter change. Did re-fueling have anything to do with it? Do I have anything else to worry about like a bad low pressure pump? I changed the Donaldson filter as soon as I got home, so all three filters are new. I still have the old filters, any point in tearing them apart?
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,748
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From: Tallassee, ALabama
As answered on another forum...
Do you use fuel additives? By chance, have you dropped one of the bottle seals into the tank? That is a known problem and does happen at times, not often but there are reports of it on the various forums.
I doubt tearing or cutting the filters apart is going to show anything of value. Did you save the o-ring? Have you check it for a slight nick? Are you sure the DFCM cup was tightened to the stops?
Do you use fuel additives? By chance, have you dropped one of the bottle seals into the tank? That is a known problem and does happen at times, not often but there are reports of it on the various forums.
I doubt tearing or cutting the filters apart is going to show anything of value. Did you save the o-ring? Have you check it for a slight nick? Are you sure the DFCM cup was tightened to the stops?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2014
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From: Colorado Rockies
Thanks Larrry; same answer I gave on other forum 
(can't get too many opinions). I forgot to mention, I use PM22 on almost every tank. I am real careful with the cap, foil & cardboard. Not to say I have not missed one, but I don't think so. The frame filter was tightened to the stop. I still have the o-ring; I'll take a look at it.
(can't get too many opinions). I forgot to mention, I use PM22 on almost every tank. I am real careful with the cap, foil & cardboard. Not to say I have not missed one, but I don't think so. The frame filter was tightened to the stop. I still have the o-ring; I'll take a look at it.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2014
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From: Colorado Rockies
Update: The truck ran fine for about 900 miles. I didn't trust that the problem was resolved, so I took it on a trip over the holiday. Sure enough, on I-15 in Provo, Utah got "low fuel pressure" with loud whine from the low pressure pump followed by "reduced engine power" followed by sitting next to interstate (in rain & snow) with a dead truck; all this happened within about 90 seconds. I tried cranking it a couple times, no good. I called for a tow and we sat there for about an hour. When the tow still had not arrived, I cranked it again and it started. Made it the one mile to LHM Ford in Provo (good people). They diagnosed a bad low pressure pump, replaced it and got me back on the road the same day. The ESP paid for the pump less my $100 deductible. The only question is, what caused the pump to fail? The dealer suggested dropping the tank for inspection but that would have cost over $900 (twice the cost to replace the pump) and the truck would have been in for a couple more days, so I declined that offer. They ran all their tests on the fuel, looking for DEF, water, dirt, etc and found nothing. I've put another 500 miles on the truck, all is well. So, as long as there is nothing bad inside my tank, I think I'll be ok.
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I've had the exact same issue occur 2x. The first last January left me in limp mode and I pulled off into a Home Depot parking lot planning to call for a tow. I spend 20 min in HD and when I came out it started up, no limp mode but the CEL was still on. It ran fine and I drove it 20 miles to the Ford dealer. I was told it was "LIKELY" the fuel filters ( they had about 7k on them) and I change them every 15k. They kept it for 4 days changed the filters and charged me $500 and gave it back. All was good until it wasn't and it happened again in April. I was traveling with my trailer in tow. It was in limp mode again and I pulled over and waited 15 minutes. It started up, no limp mode and I drove on hoping to get to my campground. It happened 2x more starting up and going 5 miles or so until I finally made it to the CG. I unhooked my trailer and let it sit a few hours before heading out to a nearby Ford dealer to purchase a set of filters. It ran fine, no limp mode and eventually after a week or so the CEL cleared on its own. I never have installed the filters I purchased yet and am coming due any time now but it's run normal since then and it was back to Ford just last week for the cold air tube blowing off and this never came up when they hooked it to the computers.
I think these trucks are super sensitive to electronic anomolies and will throw codes quickly and then clear them when they don't re-occur. There's no doubt in my mind that there is some quirk in the low pressure system but unless their mechanic is good enough and persistant enough to track it down they just will let it go until it fails and then replace it. I do use the additives sometimes but I'm super careful with the foil cap so I know that's not my issue. So all's well until it happens again.
I think these trucks are super sensitive to electronic anomolies and will throw codes quickly and then clear them when they don't re-occur. There's no doubt in my mind that there is some quirk in the low pressure system but unless their mechanic is good enough and persistant enough to track it down they just will let it go until it fails and then replace it. I do use the additives sometimes but I'm super careful with the foil cap so I know that's not my issue. So all's well until it happens again.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Texas
I think these trucks are super sensitive to electronic anomolies and will throw codes quickly and then clear them when they don't re-occur. There's no doubt in my mind that there is some quirk in the low pressure system but unless their mechanic is good enough and persistant enough to track it down they just will let it go until it fails and then replace it..
So, with all this being said, I believe all this was the result of some minor electronic glitch that none of the techs seemed to want to try to find. I have my doubts if replacing the fuel system fixed the vehicle.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Texas
for me it was various times of the year........never in COLD weather. Purchsed it in early Oct in Montana, First LFP light, summer in the Black Hills of SD, second LFP, early fall in AZ, 3rd, mid OCT in ND, never once when ity was even below freezing. Others, I can’t tell you.
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In my case the first time was January so it was cold. Truck engine was warmed up. Second time was April so weather was mild but it happened first thing on the road so truck was not yet warmed up. So no consistency in my cases. When I'm home I usually get fuel at a high volume supplier. When on the road I can't be too picky. I do use the Ford additive but only sometimes.
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