Yesterday I pulled the fuel bowl and replaced a couple o rings and cleaned the bowl out. When I put everything back to together again I didn't have anything left over and I am pretty sure everything went back the same way I took it out. Well I started it and it ran good until I drove it. I had very little power, and when parked if I revved it up to 2000rpm it would almost die when I let off the gas. I have heard there could be air still in the system? I drove around for about 20minutes and still no power so I am stumped at what to do. Any advice you guys?

 

Almost sounds like a fuel pressure issue. When you had the bowl out did you replace any parts on the fuel regulator? If so I would recheck to make sure the spring is inserted into the fuel regulator piston properly or maybe missing? As always we need to ask why you did this originally. That would help on diagnostic.

 

I pulled the fuel bowl because it was leaking so I was assuming o rings had gone bad and was going to replace them. When I pulled it off I released the hose underneath was bad but didn't have hose to replace so I put it all back together. I didn't pull anything apart that had a spring in it. I am new to the diesel world so where exactly would that be located?

 

 

I haven't replaced the hoses yet. I thought the leak was from o rings so I checked them. I didn't pull the regulator apart or at least never saw any springs in anything I took apart. Yes I still have a leak so looks like I will order the hoses and when they get here take everything apart again and I will check the spring in the regulator. Or can I check it without pulling the bowl out?

 

Mike, the fuel pressure regulator is easy to inspect without pulling the bowl. Here is a picture of it, kinda. On the top left of the picture you will see a tire valve stem, That is where you can check the fuel pressure using a gauge or most just use a cheap tire pressure gauge. Just above it is a big nut and if you unscrew it there will be a spring inside a piston. Both are removable but be careful not to lose anything as the parts are small. You can do this procedure with the engine off and very little fuel will come out, drip drip only. On the inside of the fuel bowl around the same area there is a hole and inside that hole is a screen. The purpose of the hole is to vent air back to the return line. The screen sometimes clogs up with debris and the air can't vent causing poor performance. Once again you don't need to remove the bowl to inspect. Just remove the filter cap and inspect, maybe a small mirror helps. You can use a q-tip with the cotton end removed and gently scrap the debris off the screen. It's not uncommon to experience this issue when removing the entire bowl as dirt and gunk tend to go there. If you remove the entire fuel regulator you have access to the actual screen but be careful as it tends to fall out easily. Of course this will not help on that lower hose leaking issue.