i have a 1990 ford 7.3 international motor that is running really rough at idel. it seams to smooth out while driving it but it still not right. has lost power too. i have changed the fuel filter and the air cleaner too and it seams to have help but not running like it use to. this is my first diesel and have been real happy with it until now. i am not really forsure what all info you might need so e-mail me and i can tell you what you need to know thanks rich
richbowers56@msn.com

 

high mileage injectors could be a problem OR even some dirt in the system could also cause rough idle.
Use a heavy dose of diesel kleen or power service to try to straighten it out. You want to always start out cheap and work your way into the engine.

one small piece of dirt will give the engines a hissy fit. also , you may be experiencing a rough idle at start up because of one bad glow plug. I am not sure when you have the problem.

hope this helps you out.

 

pitman56,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.
I will second bilder12's recommendation's for the diesel kleen.

Are you saying it idles rough all the time?
Even after you have been driving it for a while?

 

yes it idel's rough all the time now. about a month ago it would only do this at start up, but went a way after a few seconds. will get the diesel kleen as soon as i replace the tee on top of the fuel injectors. not really for sure what they are called put it broke on me while i was take off the value cover. had to wait until the parts store had it shipped over to the store before i could pick it up. what i am understanding if my fuel lines are dirty, the fuel filter was a mess when i took it off. can i just let it run until it cleans it self or is there some thing else i can do. this my only mode of trasportation and i don't want to screw it up by use the truck. i did notice that i had a little bit of oil on the rod that holds the air cleaner down. is this a problem too? this is my first diesel so if you could just bare with me on the dumb ? i would apprecate it. thanks rich

 

Run a double dose of Diesel Kleen for several tanks of fuel, it will clean all the deposits out in the entire fuel system. You may have to change the fuel filter again in a couple of weeks if it is real bad shape deposit wise.
The tee is a bleed off return tee. There are two O rings in each tee. If the fuel return lines look old and cracked between the rest of them, get enough fuel line to replace all the little pieces between each tee and 16 O rings. Replace them all while you are in there. Do be carefull as you remove the steel injector lines that you don't kink them. When you go to reinstall the tees on the injectors a light coat of engine oil will help them slip on.

On the rear of the intake manifold throat there is a tuna can looking thing held on by two bolts. This is your CDR valve. Remove the two bolts and lift it up out of the valley pan carefully. This needs to be washed out on a pan of gasoline to remove all the oil crud that builds up inside it. There is a diaphram in there, so just let it soak for a while then shake it with some gasoline inside it to help break up the crud. After it looks clean inside, drain all the gasoline out and let it dry before you reinstall it. Do not blow compressed air inside it either. The CDR should actually be washed out every other oil change to keep it clean so it is not such a chore to clean.

 

i am in the process of changing out the tee's and new fuel line. and pulled off the cdr and clean it and waiting for it to dry. will change all of the tee's and lines with the o-rings (got one side done put have to get to work). but what i am understanding is i can still drive it with out doing damage to the motor???? just want to make sure so i don't make things worse. thanks a bunch for all your help. rich

 

You should be fine. The filter will catch the bad things in the fuel. It may just take a bit of time to get all the deposits cleaned out of the fuel system.

 

thanks again and i will keep you posted on how it is doing.

 

greetings pitman
when you get it running take a 5/8 line wrench and with motor running crack the injector lines open a 1/4 turn or so and you should hear a change in the motor when you do if you donot feel a change then you have a problem in that cylinder and it won't take 5 min. to do

 

well i just finish putting on the rest of the fuel lines and putting on the cdr value. it is ideling alot better, still a little rough but no way like it was. took it out for a drive and it ran alot better. got up to speed and it cruise right along with no problem. going out to get the diesel kleen as soon as i am done here. can't thank you enough and if i have any other problems on it i am glad there is some place to ask. thanks again rich

 

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338btb,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.

 

had to change out the fuel filter.... the water seprator was linking at the brass fitting that lets the water out (somebody cross thread it and no it wasn't me lol). any way i got a filter with that all ready on it. no more linking, still idel rough and smokes but i am assumeing that is all the junk getting blowen out. once i am up and going it runs just fine. just don't like the rough idel when i am at a stop light, get some strange looks. rich

 

after my last post it did seam to run better, but slowly got bad again. changed out the injectors (they where a mess, black deposits and real nasty looking). but now at a idel acorrding to the oil gauge i loose oil pressure. give it a little fuel and it jumps up to where it suppose to be. still smokes a bunch at a stop light, but as soon as i hit the pedel it puff a bunch and then stops. like i said i have changed all the injectors and i am on my third fuel filter and have all new lines to my run off for the injectors. i been reading some off the other post on here and i am understanding that it is suppose to idel at 650 or so. i have ran the idel up to 900 to 1000 and it runs fine. still smokes but i don't lose my oil pressure. am i chase a air leak in the system or is it something else. running down the road it is like a new truck but come to a stop and i am killing all the bugs within a 100 foot range of me. i hate to keep bothering you guys but i can't seam to find a post with the same problem that i am having or i have and i just don't relize it. thanks rich

 

i didn't mention in my last post, but i have been useing the diesel kleen and i have cleaned the cdr value twice. don't know if this will help you or not thanks again