Truck is stalling
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2008
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Truck is stalling
I've got a 1988 F250 w/7.3L diesel. When I run off the front tank the truck sometimes surges like I stepped on the gas. Sometimes stalls after the surge. Like it did on the highway yesterday.
It will eventually restart but takes multiple attempts. This only happens when I use the front tank. Also the gauge is really squirrelly on the front tank. The level moves sporadically until it gets down to about half full. Then it works fine.
I'm thinking it's either the low pressure fuel pump in the tank or the tank switching valve or maybe both.
Any ideas what might be causing this and how to fix?
It will eventually restart but takes multiple attempts. This only happens when I use the front tank. Also the gauge is really squirrelly on the front tank. The level moves sporadically until it gets down to about half full. Then it works fine.
I'm thinking it's either the low pressure fuel pump in the tank or the tank switching valve or maybe both.
Any ideas what might be causing this and how to fix?
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2008
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Didn't think about the sending unit but that would explain the strange fuel gauge readings.
Sounds like I'm going to have to have someone drop the tank to fix this. Wondering if it would be a good idea to go ahead replace the fuel pump while the tank is dropped. The truck is 20 years old I don't think the fuel pump will last that much longer.
Sounds like I'm going to have to have someone drop the tank to fix this. Wondering if it would be a good idea to go ahead replace the fuel pump while the tank is dropped. The truck is 20 years old I don't think the fuel pump will last that much longer.
Last edited by altruego; May 5, 2008 at 01:04 PM. Reason: typo
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
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Both are common problems.
No pump in the tank. The surge happens when air gets drawn in with the fuel.
Be careful not to burn up your starter. Crank 20 seconds at most and then wait at least 2 minutes. If you push in the Schrader valve by the fuel filter until fuel comes out while someone else turns the key, it will purge the lines much faster.
The pickup tube is easy to fix (aside from having to drop the tank or remove the bed). Just replace it with rubber fuel line. Cut a "V" in the bottom end so it can't stick to the tank walls.
The last time I changed a sending unit (on a gasser F150), it was pricy.
No pump in the tank. The surge happens when air gets drawn in with the fuel.
Be careful not to burn up your starter. Crank 20 seconds at most and then wait at least 2 minutes. If you push in the Schrader valve by the fuel filter until fuel comes out while someone else turns the key, it will purge the lines much faster.
The pickup tube is easy to fix (aside from having to drop the tank or remove the bed). Just replace it with rubber fuel line. Cut a "V" in the bottom end so it can't stick to the tank walls.
The last time I changed a sending unit (on a gasser F150), it was pricy.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,083
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From: Fitzpatrick Alabama
The sending unit for mine (was doing the exact thing yours was) was over $200 from Ford. If not, try the tank switch valve(also over $200 from Ford), but I would go with Sending unit, after checking ALL the fuel lines from the tank to the valve, they could have worn against something and got a little hole in it. You can plug the line at the fuel filter and put a SMALL AMOUNT of air pressure in the tank, any places that normally suck air will shoot fuel out.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Guymon
Mine does the exact same thing and it is the sending unit in the tank too. I still haven't droped it and fixed it yet. Too lazy. Mine primes fairly easy though. I have an electric pump under the cab and I just leave the key on, wait a minuit while the air purges out of the filter (it has return line on the filter housing. At that connection, it has a small hole for restriction so the air will purge back into the return line back to the tank yet keep enough restriction to build 3 psi or so from the lift pump after the air purges out.) then less than 10 seconds of crank time and it bust right off. I can run it plum out of fuel from the aux tank in the bed, switch tanks wait a minute and it starts fairly quick. I don't run it out of fuel anymore as I used to, just had to get used to the guages and the bad sending unit when I first bought it.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
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Yea, I forgot to mention, mine has a bad sending unit on the front tank and runs out at 1/3 tank on the rear. You're not alone...
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2008
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Both are common problems.
No pump in the tank. The surge happens when air gets drawn in with the fuel.
Be careful not to burn up your starter. Crank 20 seconds at most and then wait at least 2 minutes. If you push in the Schrader valve by the fuel filter until fuel comes out while someone else turns the key, it will purge the lines much faster.
No pump in the tank. The surge happens when air gets drawn in with the fuel.
Be careful not to burn up your starter. Crank 20 seconds at most and then wait at least 2 minutes. If you push in the Schrader valve by the fuel filter until fuel comes out while someone else turns the key, it will purge the lines much faster.
I've got an appointment to take it into the shop on Thursday. Dropping a tank is more than I want to tackle.
Thanks for the great advice.! This forum rocks!!
