Fuel Pressure Gauge
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 780
Likes: 1
From: Chicago suburbs
Fuel Pressure Gauge
Sorry for the long post...
I have a fuel pressure gauge hooked up on my 7.3L Diesel. I now know what a liability it is hooked up. Read on..
I needed to go down to Brian’s Truck Shop for some work on my TC. I live up in the Chicago area and know it will take me about 8 to 10 hrs drive time to get down there. I started the drive yesterday (Monday) at 3 PM to try to miss some of the traffic along the way. That did not happen and it took me almost 1 ½ hrs to go the first 6 miles to get to I55. Should have turned around, but kept on going. Did not stop except for the one fill-up. I decided to fill up in Missouri since it was 30 cents a gallon cheaper than in IL. But when I turned off to get to a gas station I started smelling diesel fumes coming in my vents. After opening up the windows, I did not smell it out in the open, so I stopped to check under my hood. What I found was my fuel gauge was dripping diesel fuel out the back of the gauge. All the internal oil in the gauge was all gone also. Here I am with 1/8<SUP>th</SUP> tank and probably less than 3 gallons left, and it’s leaking before my eyes. First thing was to see if the hose was loose (nope). Since I had no tools with me, I could not clamp the hose shut. So I went looking for a gas station with diesel. First two did not have any, lucky the third one did. My choices were to continue and hope I make it, look for some tools (no one had any for sale at 9:30 PM, stop for the night and see what I could do (my appointment was for 8 AM this morning!) So I took a chance and continued.
I was lucky and it leaked only 3 – 5 gallons per hour. It could have catastrophic failed and pushed everything out in a short period of time and left me stranded on the side of the road.
So, I reached Lead Hill with my underside dripping all over the place (and tail gate area), stinking of diesel. I was happy that my truck did not go up in flames. I let it drip dry that night while waking up the Sugar loaf inn proprietor for a room. If anyone goes there and it stinks of Diesel, Sorry, that was me.
The next morning (today) I drove out to Brian’s Truck Shop and asked him if he could help stop the fuel leak and he offered to help with no hesitation, and he did not know that I was his 8am appointment. That guy’s amazing, quick to offer a hand for someone in need. I wish there were more people like him.
Then after replacing my TC and checking the trans (pump, bearing, etc). It’s back together in less than 3 hrs and ready to go. It would have been faster if there was not another trans already getting put together
Here’s another thing you will not find in most people, He told me to wash some of the diesel off the rear of the truck, and he actually helped me wash it!! What a guy!! Hurry up and clone him
To make a long story short, unless you have the parts to revert the pressure gauge back to stock, you could have a problem if it were to lets go at the worst of times. I was lucky where it leaked only a few gallons an hour.
The only good thing about the leak, it slowed down the rust under the truck. Bad thing was that I detailed the engine compartment about two months ago.
Chicago to BTS and back, 30 hrs, and that’s including the 7 ½ hrs sleeping at the Sugar Loaf Inn.
Dave
I have a fuel pressure gauge hooked up on my 7.3L Diesel. I now know what a liability it is hooked up. Read on..
I needed to go down to Brian’s Truck Shop for some work on my TC. I live up in the Chicago area and know it will take me about 8 to 10 hrs drive time to get down there. I started the drive yesterday (Monday) at 3 PM to try to miss some of the traffic along the way. That did not happen and it took me almost 1 ½ hrs to go the first 6 miles to get to I55. Should have turned around, but kept on going. Did not stop except for the one fill-up. I decided to fill up in Missouri since it was 30 cents a gallon cheaper than in IL. But when I turned off to get to a gas station I started smelling diesel fumes coming in my vents. After opening up the windows, I did not smell it out in the open, so I stopped to check under my hood. What I found was my fuel gauge was dripping diesel fuel out the back of the gauge. All the internal oil in the gauge was all gone also. Here I am with 1/8<SUP>th</SUP> tank and probably less than 3 gallons left, and it’s leaking before my eyes. First thing was to see if the hose was loose (nope). Since I had no tools with me, I could not clamp the hose shut. So I went looking for a gas station with diesel. First two did not have any, lucky the third one did. My choices were to continue and hope I make it, look for some tools (no one had any for sale at 9:30 PM, stop for the night and see what I could do (my appointment was for 8 AM this morning!) So I took a chance and continued.
I was lucky and it leaked only 3 – 5 gallons per hour. It could have catastrophic failed and pushed everything out in a short period of time and left me stranded on the side of the road.
So, I reached Lead Hill with my underside dripping all over the place (and tail gate area), stinking of diesel. I was happy that my truck did not go up in flames. I let it drip dry that night while waking up the Sugar loaf inn proprietor for a room. If anyone goes there and it stinks of Diesel, Sorry, that was me.
The next morning (today) I drove out to Brian’s Truck Shop and asked him if he could help stop the fuel leak and he offered to help with no hesitation, and he did not know that I was his 8am appointment. That guy’s amazing, quick to offer a hand for someone in need. I wish there were more people like him.
Then after replacing my TC and checking the trans (pump, bearing, etc). It’s back together in less than 3 hrs and ready to go. It would have been faster if there was not another trans already getting put together
Here’s another thing you will not find in most people, He told me to wash some of the diesel off the rear of the truck, and he actually helped me wash it!! What a guy!! Hurry up and clone him
To make a long story short, unless you have the parts to revert the pressure gauge back to stock, you could have a problem if it were to lets go at the worst of times. I was lucky where it leaked only a few gallons an hour.
The only good thing about the leak, it slowed down the rust under the truck. Bad thing was that I detailed the engine compartment about two months ago.
Chicago to BTS and back, 30 hrs, and that’s including the 7 ½ hrs sleeping at the Sugar Loaf Inn.
Dave
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
I have a gauge, a plug and tools when I travel. You got lucky. I plugged mine for the last trip, but brought the gauge just in case I needed to check. Matter of fact, the line is usually plugged.
Otherwise, sounds like mission accomplished. Good deal. Just the TC replacement?
Otherwise, sounds like mission accomplished. Good deal. Just the TC replacement?
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 461
Likes: 1
When I take a plug out, such as the coolant drain plug for the bypass coolant filter, the plugs for the HP oil x-over, or the plug on the fuel bowl for the pressure gauge, I always throw the plug in a small container and leave it behind the seat with my spare CPS and filters
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 597
Likes: 22
From: Central Maine
Man, that's wild. If I started spewing bio all over the place, I wouldn't have any paint left on my truck. I was just looking at analog fuel gauges for my pod and this thread just made me put off the purchase until I have the extra $100 to go with an electric sending unit. thanks for the post.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 780
Likes: 1
From: Chicago suburbs
Originally Posted by Tenn01PSD350
Otherwise, sounds like mission accomplished. Good deal. Just the TC replacement?
Wanted to make sure it was done right. (plus I am cheap and did not want to pay the local mechanic $450, and it cost only ~$200 in fuel, would have been less if I did not spring a leak) Local mechanic would have just slapped in the TC and be done with it, Brian took apart the trans to inspect, just in case. Everything was fine, pan was clean too, no nothing. He replace the filter and put in new trans fluid.
Dave
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 780
Likes: 1
From: Chicago suburbs
Originally Posted by firemediceric
When I take a plug out, such as the coolant drain plug for the bypass coolant filter, the plugs for the HP oil x-over, or the plug on the fuel bowl for the pressure gauge, I always throw the plug in a small container and leave it behind the seat with my spare CPS and filters
Dave
