Hi everyone,

Been a long time since I have been on the forum so not sure this is the best place to post. I have to express my gratitude for the support resource this forum has been over the years even though I haven’t been much of a “poster” myself! Warning: you will read a good deal of novice language below, because I am. There is some degree of urgency here because we are expecting our 9th child in a couple weeks and my wife is expecting the van to be running by then!

I am looking for some recommendations for the current project on my early 99 7.3 van. Currently has 215,000 miles and I don’t know what maintenance was done on it prior to getting it at 190,000 miles. At 190,000, I replaced IPR and upgraded turbo pedestal and put on bellowed pipes.

Known issues/symptoms:
- Diesel in coolant - I have already purchased Riffraff stainless injector cups and install/remove tool.
- Van was running rough especially at idle before parking in shop last summer. After sitting a while and cranking again, I got a fast crank but acted like no compression?
- Fuel tank issues - running out of fuel at 1/4-1/2 tank. I am assuming this is the typical fuel pickup issue inside the tank. I plan on dropping and tank and doing hutch/harpoon.

Here is the guidance I am hoping for:
- On the early 99, what diagnostic tests can I do to identify if any of the injectors are bad?
- any recommended maintenance on the injectors or under valve cover I should do while I have it off? I already bought and plan to throw new glow plugs in. Also bought new glow plug relay. Should I go ahead and give injectors good cleaning and perhaps new o-rings, etc?
- I suspect I won’t be able to diagnose a bad HPOP until I get injectors back in but anything I should do there while torn down?
- Also any recommendations on fuel delivery system.

So far I have removed 4 injectors and cups. Riffraff tool for cups is awesome. Given what a pain working on the van engine is without removing the cab, I would like to knock out as much as I can while I am in there.

sorry for the long post but those are the details.

Thanks guys for any tips you might have! Happy to upload photos.

Eric

 

Working on the 7.3 in a van is a pita. You already know this though with the work you have done. I personally would keep the factory fuel bowl. I replaced fuel drain and various orings. Also use a dbl lip oring on the fuel bowl lid. Both of my vans still have the factory fuel system. I don’t know if anyone has dropped the tank on them. I have a fuel pressure gauge in my daily driver and I suggest adding one. Have you done the uvch? I replaced one that had damage from overheated pins. If yours look good and ohm out alright I suspect you can leave them. New orings and copper when you reinstall your injectors.

If you still have rough running after your fuel system is sorted run buzz test and perdels with forscan. I had a rebuilt injector that buzzed fine, but perdels showed a difference. Sent it back and they replaced something on it. It idled better ran like it should after that.

 

9th kid in coming?!! Do you just enjoy the abuse and torture? You do know what causes them right? Well I guess each one increases your chances of having somebody willing to take care of you when the old timers sets in, so maybe a smart move after all. Either way you're a braver man than me.

T-wood pretty much covered everything. The fuel bowl is your call. Some people love them, I hate them. Your options there are reseal the bowl or delete it and install a regulated return setup. There are kits available or you can source the parts yourself for maybe half the price. If you do go that route my one bit of advice is to buy a quality name you know fuel pressure regulator.

Oh one more thing you might consider is dome new hpop hoses while your in there. Factory type or JIC type doesn't matter just buy quality. Don't bother with HPX bs just need 2 high pressure braided SS hoses not from Amazon or Ebay.

 

I don't think they called those vans E99, I think they were '98s. Not that it's a big deal here but when scouting for parts it might matter.

 

Walleye -

It is in fact a 1998 model van but the date on the engine indicates it’s an early 99. You are right, I have run into complications getting the proper parts.

thanks
Eric

 

T-Wood,

a few follow up questions for you:

- Any suggestions where to find double lip o-rings for fuel bowl?

- Fuel pressure - can this be read on scan gauge or is this something that requires manual install? If manual, where do you recommend installing?

- Sorry, but what is “uvch”, “perdels”, and “forscan”?

lol, I told you I was a novice!

thanks for your response!
Eric

 

I got a bag of 5 dbl lip rings from McMaster carr. I'll post a photo of the bag shortly.

Fuel pressure requires a separate guage. You can add a temp mechanical guage or go with a sender and permanent guage in your cab. I installed mine on the left side cluster on a diy bezel.

Uvch, under valve cover harness. There's loads of info on them. Often a bad uvch is misdiagnosed as a bad....you name it. Just search uvch on this sub forum.

Perdels, percent delta. Just a nifty test you can run on forscan. Forscan is the app/scantool for the 7.3. Does everything you need. Last i heard you cant get it for Samsung users. Iphone uses can still get it i heard.

 

Been a few days but here’s the dbl lip oring I use. Got them from McMaster Carr. Originally got them for my 7.3 van but have since used them on the truck too. No more fuel leaks and chasing those leaks in the vans is tough.