Hey folks,

I have a 94.5 PSD, 5-spd, F-350, 185,000mi. I recently have been getting a strong diesel fuel smell from the truck from inside the vents and just standing near the motor. So I investigated and found some small diesel pools in the engine valley. Is it the pump or the fuel bowl? Whats the best way to diagnosis the problem? Any other thoughts? Truck seems to start and run fine otherwise. I know some people here have seen this as well, and help would be great. Thanks.

 

I had the same problem with my truck just after i changed my fuel pump. It ended up being the crush washers on the back of the pump where the high pressure lines tie in. There is a banjo fitting there and it leaked fuel whenever i drove it but didn't leak at an idle.

 

I too had the same problem a few months ago. I was only getting 10 mpg and wondering why! Whenever I would stop after an extended highway drive, diesel fuel would be dripping out of my bellhousing cover under the truck. I looked in the valley you speak of, and found that it was full to the top with fuel. I gunked and washed out the valley and then restarted it. I took a mechanic's mirror and held it under the pump with a strong light and sure enough I could see fuel dripping out of the hole on the bottom of the pump. It looked like more work than i wanted to get into, so I had a local diesel shop replce the pump and all hoses and fittings. The cost was $560.00! Ouch! Fortunately, I purchased an extended warranty plan when i bought the truck, and they covered it. BTW, after the pump was replaced, my milage went up to 15 mpg! It must have really been pouring out at highway speeds.

 

Yea, I'm gonna have to get a mirror and check it out. Probably the pump is leaking. Dont know if it has ever been replaced. Thanks.

 

the pump is pretty easy to change. the cost at autozone is about $80 with a lifetime waranty. get a little bit of fuel line and some extra hose clamps too. i have changed out four of these pumps on these trucks for the same problem. it really shouldnt take more than a couple hours for your first one. just make sure you dont drop the plunger from inside the pump into the engine. i have seen this done once. we just left it in there and i guess the plunger made its way into the pan because that was over 50,000 miles ago. however we were lucky and could have ruined the motor. good luck and just post if you have anymore questions. i would tell you to search for an earlier post where i really went through the process in detail but since the search is down now i will just offer to answer any other questions you have in the future as best i can. good luck and have fun!!!

 

Thanks, I am going to take a crack at it in the next week. Any specific tricks to keeping the plunger from falling out?