I am new to diesels & F.T.E. I just bought a 1990 E 350 ambulance with a 7.3 that has sat for 6 yrs I havn't tried to turn it over yet. Tomorrow I'm draining fuel & oil & replacing air, oil and fuel filters and putting in a couple of new marine batterys. Are there any other Important things to do before starting (or attempting to start)? Any and all suggestions would be helpfull. THANKS

 

Welcome to FTE. You might not get much response until after the game.

I would change the glow plugs. Use only motorcraft/beru. Clean all the cables. When you change the fuel filter, fill it before you put it back on. You might want to service the trans when you get it started. Also change the coolant and put additive in it when you refill. I'm sure others will be along. Good luck with the new truck. I have a 90 E350 and love it.

 

Before trying a start, get 2 good 850CCA batteries minimum. Put fuel additive Stanadyne or Power Service for diesels, in the new filter for the start. It will return to the tank and mix with the new fuel. Do not use Ether.....use WD 40 if required to assist the start. As for the dry condition of the engine lubrication system, ensure you fill the oil filter before installing it, and tighten 1.5 turns past seal contact. More later.

 

Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts. We're happy you've chosen the best source for Fords.

 

before you crank it over, I think that I would try turning it over by hand to make sure there is no possibility of hydro locking the engine after sitting so long OR after removing old glow plugs, try cranking before installing new glow plugs.

 

Six years is a darn long time.

I would check the fuel tanks for Algae growth before turning anything over. Even if the Algae has flowered and long died off, the residual solids can really plug things up in your fuel system.

If you don't have algae growth in the tank, it would probably be a good idea to change the fuel in all the tanks anyways before starting.

Just as gas goes bad in gasoline powered vehicles, diesel can go bad too if you let it sit that long. Usually caused by biological growth in the tank (algae).

Algae growth is a big problem on marine diesels, sometimes letting them sit for just a year or two can lead to algae growth in the tanks. Diesel Generators are usually a problem as they often don't get run very much and the diesel fuel sits in them for years.

If the engine does fire up and you had algae growth in the tanks the fuel filter would most likely plug up very quickly. The only way to get rid of the algae is to clean the tanks.

One last note, on diesel engines that have sat for a long time it is recommended practice to pump up the oil galleries with oil before cranking the motor. In six years virtually all the oil would have drained out of the bearings and they would be running completely dry for the first few seconds. If you don't pump up the oil galleries you risk spinning a bearing during the initial starting.

I know the shop I work with has a modified 20lb propane bottle filled with engine oil which you connect to the oil pressure sending unit port and then pad the tank with an compressed air to force the oil into the oil galleries.

 

I would have a new water pump and lift pump very close.
My new 1984 6.9l E-350 sat for three years. So far I haven't
had to replace the lift pump though.

My water pump lasted three weeks which was longer than some
gas powered cars I have brought back to life.