I have a 1999 7.3 with approx 245,000 miles on it and it is completely stock. About three days ago I went to fill up with diesel. The next morning I cranked the truck and started to drive away and the truck started choking for fuel and then quit. I started it back and after reving the rpm's up it smoothed out and I started going again. This time when it started choking I looked in the rearview mirror and saw a white-kinda greyish smoke coming out the back. I pulled back into the driveway and brought the rpm's up to burn whatever was in there. I then drove it to work with no problem. At lunch I had no problem and then when I went home that evening it started again but cleared right up.

The next day it did the same thing and I had a mechanic that works at our shop look at it. He almost did not make it around the block. He stated that either water is in the fuel or a fuel pump is going bad. I contacted my diesel mechanic and he thought it might be the injectors. I took it to him and left it for two days and it never gave him a problem(I don't think he checked it....to busy.) I picked it up and I noticed that it took a little longer to crank than normal but it fired up. As I started to leave it began choking again. I got it home and warmed it up and drove it the rest of the evening with no problems. I stopped and purchased some injector cleaner and put it in the fuel. Got up this morning and it started choking again.

Has anyone experienced this problem. I fear that I am going to have to change the injectors. I think that when the injectors warm up it performs like they are suppose too. Any suggestions would help

 

Where are you located and what was the temperature like when you started the truck this morning? When was the last time you changed the oil and what brand/wt oil did you put in the truck?

 

I am in southeast Alabama, about two hours north of Panama City Beach. The temperature was about 60ish this morning and yesterday afternoon it was 80ish. I had the oil changed about two months ago and probably have about 1500 miles on it since then. I will have to double check but I think they put 10w30 in it...not positive on that one though.

 

Welcome to FTE.

Our trucks take 15w-40 oil if not synthetic. If this started happening after you filled up, you may have water in your fuel tank. You may need to change your fuel filter also. I don't know who it clears up after it's hot. Is there a way to pull codes on your truck and let us know that they are?

 

I was thinking it might be a glow plug relay issue (GPR), but I doubt it based on your location and temperatures. Check on that oil, I think it is possible to use a couple of 10w30 weight oils (Amsoil makes a 10w30 diesel oil, I think) in our trucks, but almost everyone uses 15w40 or 5w40 oil. Are you getting a check engine light on the dash, when this "choking" starts? I just reread your original post and I would start by changing the fuel filter and looking for water. If I found water there, I would NOT put in a clean filter until I cleaned the entire fuel system out. Pump some of the fuel in your tank into a container (use the fuel pump to do this) that you can see the bottom of clearly and look for water...if I found water, I'd pump the tank as empty as I could get it, drop the tank, clean the tank out, modify the pickup, then pump the fuel back in after letting it sit for a few hours. Leave the last inch or two of fuel in the container that you put the fuel into when you pumped the tank dry (this will have the water in it). Then change the fuel filter.

 

You all are right...it is 15w40. I have never gotten the check engine light until right before it shuts off. I was thinking about the water in the tank also but the smoothing out when it warmed up really stumped me. I am letting it idle as we speak and it is running fine. I am trying to burn this tank and then I will change the fuel filter. We have had alot of rain lately.

 

And no I do not have a way to pull codes but when I took it to the mechanic he said that there were no codes when he checked it. Of course that was when it was running fine.

 

Get a glass jar and drain the fuel filter into it (there is a little lever to drain the filter housing)...if you don't see some water on the bottom of the jar, then we are probably going down the wrong road.

 

How much fuel is left in the tank? I'd change the fuel filter now. You can always change it again later. Fuel filters are cheap enough. Have you at least drained the fuel bowl to see if there is water in there?

If you're not finding lots of water, it sounds like you pumped some trash into the tank and the screens in the mixing chamber are clogged. I'd consider dropping the tank and doing the in tank mods to keep this from happening again.

 

I have about half a tank and I drained the filter bowl and there doesn't look to have water in it. It is nice and green tint. I found a leaking oil line while I was doing that but I will fix that later. Is there a link to the thread on the tank mod

 

Does anyone have the link to the fuel tank mod. I have searched and can't seem to locate it on the mod list.

 

Here is Guzzles writeup on doing the Hutch and Harpoon mod. There are a couple of kits around that have all the peices and parts in them.

http://www.guzzle7pt3.com/hutch.php

 

Could the oil leak be coming from the HPOP causing it to drain down when sitting overnight? Just my .02.