I have 1997 F-250 4x4 with 225,000 miles about 6 months ago, as you were going down the road, it would miss. Then it became hard to start the last 3 months. Then within the last 60 days, it would miss a lot, then die. It has finally died and would not start. Of course all this time, it was loosing power. I check the fuel bowl where the filter is. The fuel in it had black specs in it, the filtered was clogged. I replaced the filter, drained the bowl, it started back up, this lasted for about 50 miles, it died again. When I looked in the fuel bowl, it was full of black specs, filter is plugged once again. This truck some times has to set for 3-4 weeks, because I work out of town.

I don't know if I am dealing with fuel lines that are breaking down, bad fuel. I know the oil needs changed, but can't imagine this causing the problem. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Hoby

 

The FPR Screen is probably plugged, and you most likely have algae in your fuel, hence the black specks.

you'll have to get some fuel additive to kill the algae, and a few filters.

 

x2 on the algae some good fuel/ cleaner algaecide mixed rahter rich will do a lot and taylns right the algae will build up fast in the FPR screen. With you not driving it all the time once you have bad fuel and give it time it will keep growing if you dont drive it enough to clear it all out. You just use some fuel and fillit up and give something more too grow on again till you get rid of it. Youll probably want to run the clean for a couple of tanks and change the fuel filter pretty regularly for a bit too.

 

Also if the specks look kinda oily or tar like thats algae.

 

I never dreamed it was algae! Yes the specs look like little bits of tar, that would explain why the filter plugs so quickly. Is this little screen hard to clean? What type of product do you recommend to kill/clean the algae out with? I am indebted to everyone who answered my question. I feel kind of stupid for not even thinking of this. I was ready to drop tanks, replace fuel lines, etc. Of course it is 106 degrees here in Oklahoma.
Once again I am gratefull for all your advice and what to do. I have never had tractors do this, I'll keep the diesel treatment you all recommend in them to.
I wanted to hang on to this pickup, see how well the 2010 Ford diesel will perform, before I bought a new one.
Once again thanks,
Hoby

 

Welcome to


I use Diesel Kleen as a fuel system cleaner. I've never had algae, so I don't know if this product would help you or not. I'm sure there are several algacides on the market.

Check them out and give one a try. As mentioned, you'll want to double (or even triple) the dosage to get started. When that junk starts coming out, you'll be changing the fuel filter a lot.

The FPR screen is easy to clean. Use the stick portion of a cotton swab, with the cotton removed, and GENTLY scrape the filter clean. You'll be amazed at what comes off.

 

What Ive personally found works better is there are 2 10mm bolts that hold the FPR on remove those and you can pull it to the side a little ways be careful not to lose the o ring arount the tube it will let you see it to ensure you completely clean it off as your probably gonna have to do this a couple times. Most any commercially available diesel additive specifically liek you find at truck stops would be good and alot will say anti algae or algae preventer on the back in small print would be good. Alot of them that dont even say it will do it too. and howes dieselclean is difinately good or powerservice possibly there red rescuebottles since there designed to prevent gelling in extreme conditons and in extreme conditions its more common to find water and things that cause algae build up so It should be good for it. Id recommend ruiunning it 1.5-2 times what it suggests over dosing it wont hurt it in fact in your case it will be much stronger on killing the algae and flushing it out. Also Im betting your fuel guage may be starting to act funny, if so thats the algae building up on the float causing it to mis read. Just fill your tanks with the cleaner and then diesel and run the **** out of it check/ clean your FPR screen and fuel bowl and or replace your fuel filter a few times do this for a couple 2-3 tanks which depending how much you drive it could be week or a month but itll get better. Even though you dont drive it much the cleaner will keep it from getting worse, but its gotta move around and be run through to completely clean it.

 

Thanks for all the help. I'll work on the fuel/algae problem tomorrow and let you all know how it turns out. From now own, I will keep an additive in all my diesel egine tanks.
Thanks, Hoby

 

Are you making any progress on this, Hoby?

 

Got new fuel filter, but this time the one I had just put in did not looked brand new, but I went a head and replaced it. Drained the fuel bowel, replaced it with fresh diesel with Diesel Kleen. Added fresh diesel with diesel klean into the tank and cleaned the FPR screen.

When I turned her over, she would almost start. You could smell diesel fuel combusting, in fact it was firing just enough, the starter wasn't having to work to hard, but she wouldn't catch. IT sounded like just not enough fuel was reaching the cyclinders.

I repeated draining the fuel bowel, adding more fuel with cleaner, inserting the filter. She would almost start, but as I said, sounded like not enough fuel was reaching the cyclinders. I am letting her set now and will try one more time. Then I will let her sit over night, see if one of the screens maybe restricted in the tank, hopefully let the Diesel Kleen work on that. If not, you think it is my injector nosels are plugged up?
Thanks, Hoby

 

A quick clean on the FPR screen can be accessed through a hole on the inside drivers side of the fuel bowl. Us a Q-Tip with the cotton removed and just gently scrape the crud off of the screen.

Seeings as you'll be doing this a couple, few times this is much easier and safer as you won't drop anything.

Rog

 

I ran the batteries down from trying to start it last Sunday. Could this be the problem, why she want start, any other thoughts? I am not a diesel mechanic, so I don't have any speciality tools to check pressures of the fuel pump etc. The fuel still looks clean, as I said, she wanted to start, but just wouldn't quite firm on all cylinders. If I can't do it myself, I'll have to find a diesel mechanic to take it to. Thank goodness I have a tow service rembursement with my insurance.
Thanks, Hoby

It is raining right now, so I am unable to place a charger on the batteries, it may take me a few days to get them charged.

 

How is your oil level? are you low on oil? Did you check the HPOP?

 

I know the oil needs changed bad, I will go ahead and do that. What is a HPOP, Ihave no idea? Where is it located, what does it do.

Didn't get a chance to put the battery charger on it, it rained from about 2AM until way after I left for work. Will try to get the batteries charged in the next day or so and change the oil.
Thanks, Hoby