I recently bought my first ford, and it would be my first diesel. I was tuning it all up with brakes, and an oil change. While I was breaking in the brakes it died. I can get it to start after a lot of cranking but with in a few seconds it dies. any suggestions on what to check. fuel pressures, glow plugs since I don't understand how those work? anything to help. my wife doesn't believe in old trucks and I am the oppisite. it is a 92 f-250 7.3

 

okay did you start the truck then it died after 10 seconds or was it running and died and you could not start it agian, did you get it to start and stay running again. was the engine sitting not running for a few hours?

 

You most likely have a fuel return curcuit air leak.

The fuel lines that return to the tank have several connections, sometimes the lines themselves can crack and leak, or the "O" rings under the plastic injector caps can weather over time and also leak.

This doesn't always mean that fuel will leak out from the connection, since the siphoning effect will tend to put air in as opposed to allowing fuel out. This will cause fuel to drain from the fuel filter back to the fuel tank, so the truck will start and run off the fuel still in the injector pump, but will die after the air from the filter reaches the injection system.

Look at the fuel lines that connect the injectors together, (not the steel lines) and see if they are painted grey, the caps may also have the same paint on them. If they are painted, then they have been there from factory, and should be replaced. A "fuel return line kit" should give you an inexpencive fix.

Also check the drain at the filter for signs of a fuel leak.

 

jmethe,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI forum.

 

Will give that a look and try it

 

i would agree with the air intrusion problem, they can cause allot of headackes. i would replace the injector caps if nothing else for maintanace reasons. the heating and cooling of them over time breaks them down. not to mention the switch to the USLD.

 

If it died while already running, you may have run out of fuel. How much does the gauge show? You might try switching to the other tank. The pickup tubes are known to fall off leaving you out of fuel with 1/4 to 1/3 of a tank left.

 

I picked up some fuel hose and clamps, is it worth changing the injector seals too

 

The "O" rings under the fuel caps are the most likely to cause an air leak of all the parts mentioned.

 

It's best to buy the whole return line kit which includes hose, caps, and o-rings...

 

What he said.....

 

I can truly agree with Tbone91. I have a 84 6.9L which had become increasing harder to get running... It seemed that if I waited more than four hours to start the beast, it would start, then die like it was out of fuel, then I would have to try multiple times at cranking to get it running. Once running it would run great.

I replaced all of the return lines, O rings, and plastic caps.... couldn't see where the copper washers were used so I didn't use them. I only had one O ring/plastic cap leak when I started it up. After replacing those O rings again.... everything is good, I think.

I will try again tonight to start the beast up after setting 24 hrs.

hugger94

 

i tried all this stuff on my truck and it ended up being the water seperator and i went and got a whole new setup from napa and put it on the fire wall and all my problems went away