Diesel problems

[pjslawncare/landscap]

Had to replace injector pump on my F-250 last year, While doing that, I installed Racor water seperator as well. Since that repair, motor runs good, but when I first start it in morning, she fires rite up but only runs for 5 to 10 seconds then dies. After cranking about 10 to 15 seconds she fires back up and runs ok. I figure its loosing fuel pressure some where over the night.
Any thoughts as to exactly where I should be checking for pressure loss or other problems?

[jsr2741]

Sounds like its not holding its prime. I know on my cummins when you change the fuel filter it will fire right up but then die because the prime has been lost. I have to keep turning the key off and on letting the pump fill the filter housing and push out the air.

Not sure but try turning your iginition on and listen if the pump runs, then shut off and do it again then start it. If it starts and stays started I would imagine you've got a pump problem or something causing it not to hold pressure. Maybe its the racor water seperator.

You could also check with the guys on the ford diesel web site; I think its www.dieselstop.com. If not let me know and I'll find it for you.

[LawnGuy73]

I agree with jsr......

[pjslawncare/landscap]

Thanks for the replys guys, my fuel pump is mechanical however. Would the lost prime be before the injector pump or after? The order to the best of my knowledge is tank, racor seperator, mechanical pump, filter, injection pump and of coarse injectors. Could something be out of order for best perfomance?
Also, this morning I did notice twi injectors were a little wet with fuel. I tried to tighten fittings, but they seemed pritty tight and I didnt try much if fear of damaging them. Maybe I may have to hunt down a new fuel line assembly.

[jsr2741]

Wet injector is not good. Better run it into your mechanic for a look see. Might be the casue of the problem.

I don't know enough about the PSD to give you anymore than this.

The only other solution; and the best as far I can tell, is buy a Dodge. j/k

Good luck.

[Shady Brook]

Kind of sounds like you might be getting air in the system, the wet injectors, or the changed out water seperator may be the culprit. Go visit the Ford Diesel site for sure.

Jay

[ZX12R]

PJS,what year and how many miles are on your truck? I have a 1989 F-350 and had the injector pump changed last winter at 189,000 miles. I have a different,yet,similar problem. If I do not plug the truck in over night,the engine cranks a long time before starting up. When I plug it in,it starts right up. Anyone have any ideas? Otherwise,the truck runs great.

[Randy J]

I'm only guessing here ZX12R, as I'm somewhat of a novice at Powerstrokes, but sounds like the glow plug, or even more likely glow plug relay to me. Fords are notorious for these. The fuel pump should have nothing to do with cold starting. How does the truck start if it's warmed up?

Randy

[ZX12R]

Randy,my truck is not a powerstroke which I do not think matters anyway. When the truck is warmed up,it fires right up. I did change the glow plugs myself. When you say the"glow plug relay".you are talking about the black box behind the air cleaner which sits on top of the motor,right? I changed that too. Is there a way to make sure this box or relay is working properly? Batteries are new.

[Randy J]

Even pre-Powerstroke these engines were notorious for glow plug, and glow plug relay problems. I believe on my '97 Powerstroke the relay sits inside the valley, if I remember correctly. Given the fact that it starts good when warm, I'm betting on either a bad plug, or the relay is bad. I'd start with the relay and go from there. I believe you can put a meter on the relay and find out if it's working or not. Sorry but I'm somewhat of a novious on glow plug relays (Cummins doesn't use them), and can't really give you specifics of how to check it. If you go to The Diesel Stop (http://www.thedieselstop.com/?) and enter glow plug relay in the search, you'll probably end up with enough reading to last you several weeks.
Good luck with it.

Randy

[ZX12R]

Thanks for the reply Randy,I appreciate it. I guess I will find a good diesel mechanic to check it out. One last question.Will one bad glow plug cause this starting problem?

[pjslawncare/landscap]

ZX12R, My truck is a 84 F-250. I believe the glow plugs are in working order as I spent much time with them. The black box behind the air cleaner is the controler for glow circuit. It senses engine and air temp to determine glow time. The relay (at least on mine) is located near starter selenoid and looks just like a selenoid. You can test if glow plugs are receiving juice by hooking your meter to this with key turned on (first 6 or 8 seconds).
I am convinced my problem is fuel system related, however Ive been too busy to look at it rite now. I hope to have time soon, but it still works well for the time being.
Oh yea, I bought these marine glow plugs that screwed rite in and are supposed to be rated as constant duty. A bit on the pricey side but I never had to change yet. Im really quite happy with them so far (1.5 yrs). Auto deisel out of Canada sells them. I can dig up the order info if you like.

[Randy J]

Gettin' over my head now, but I think 1 bad plug will make it smoke bad at start up. I'm still thinking it sounds like the relay. But as I said, I'm really a novice at the Ford diesels.

Randy

[Imow4u2]

I would guess that it's the rubber return lines between the injectors. This is a cheap fix and should have been done during the RR of the pump. No, one GP will not cause a noticeable starting problem, I've seen some start on just three functioning plugs. The GP system on your truck is the solid state setup completely different than what was used on the '86 and older 6.9's One other common source for air getting in is through the water seperator but this has been replaced so it'd ruled out. I'm assuiming that you're getting air in the system due to some wetness around the injection system. If you track down the leak and still have trouble then I would say GP relay you may have gotten bad parts off the shelf?

[ffemt1271]

mechanical injectors use a diaphram to pump

1. could be a hole in diaphram
2 fuel filter gasket could have nick in it
3 loose fuel line fitting

we had a ford 350 fire truck did that one time and it was the fuel filter gasket

[mr.lawnzap]

i had a 83 6.9 ford and can tell you if you get it running its agreat truck but thats a big if, diesels are simply cold natured and ford glowplug system is not well thought out, my ford wouldnt even start in the middle of summer when the glow plugs went out and it was 100 degrees. you d best keep your truck plugged in and garaged if you can that block heater helps alot, the dodges have a system that keeps the fuel warm and have block heaters as compared to those old fords that inject cold fuel into the warm block, warm fuel is the key since combustion is caused in them by compression, warm diesel is easier to get to combust than cold. my old ford was a nightmare i had to replace the starter 3 times in a one year period and sometimes it just flat out wouldnt start even after i slapped an improved starter on it. worked great until my first winter with it and from there it layed down on me more than it ran, i sold the piece of **** and got a gas 250 much more dependable, sell it when you can and get a dodge cummins much better engine. unless your a mechanic type id get away from those old fords