6.9 E350 camper down in Cranbrook, BC

[parkergn]

Traveling 6.9 E350 converted camper van down in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada.

Got towed down to a “diesel specialist” here in town from ski hill. Wouldn’t turn over, killed batteries up on the mountain. Fuel in the lines from somewhere with inconsistent flow, sometimes more rough power on rear. (New lines from both tanks, new switch valve, new e-pump 1000km since that repair, by-passed water sep, new one installed, by-passed mech. lift pump, trickle / inconsistent fuel at schreader) They spent all day inspecting low pressure lines, return lines, and determine it was the Redit Gold-Flo e-pump wasn’t strong enough for engine, insisted to install a new mechanical lift pump.

Long story short, they took it for a test drive stalled on both tanks, 3rd test drive stalled down the road, couldn’t crank it over, killed the batteries, and closed shop and left me to tow it back to there shop and wait for them in there lot until Monday.

Any advice would be appreciated on what I could try as I wait all weekend.

I’m thinking both tanks have issues with there pickups, either cracks or the cone / sock are broken. Either pulling air or getting clogged and creating extra suction from micro cracks along the line. I mentioned this to the shop but they gave me the “we have 40 years experience” it’s definitely the e-pump…

Feel free to call / text 416-897-0574 for any quicker help. Thanks!

 

[Clb]

Fsv
Bad mechanics
First 2 knee jerk reactions

Bad showerheads will suck air at a 1/4 tank.
Are tanks full?

Shower head parts in fsv can do some weird stuff.
Back blow the lines.
E pumps are allways suspect.
Oem mech pumps are hard to come by.
Sounds like it's not the pump

Also sounds like a lame business model leaving a test drive on the road and closes shop.

 

[Clb]

Questions you may ask about....
Are you getting a constant 3+ psi at the Schrader valve?
Can you hear the fsv click when switching from tank to tank?
Fresh filters?
Power to ip constant?
Good luck.
Idi mechanics don't grow on trees today.

 

[Jesus Freak]

The only other thing I'd mention is the sending units themselves having pin holes in the tubes. So even if you had 3/4 of a tank, it could suck air.

If we can just keep fuel to these dad gum engines, they'd just run and run.

 

[parkergn]

Thanks for the replies!

Fsv
Bad mechanics
First 2 knee jerk reactions

Bad showerheads will suck air at a 1/4 tank.
Are tanks full?

Shower head parts in fsv can do some weird stuff.
Back blow the lines.
E pumps are allways suspect.
Oem mech pumps are hard to come by.
Sounds like it's not the pump

Also sounds like a lame business model leaving a test drive on the road and closes shop.

Shower heads are in the tanks correct?

It’s a new FSV, switched out from original 2 weeks ago, it clicks every time. Had it not react right away, needles on dash wouldn’t change, then after 5 mins of driving they switch. But it seems to click ever time so far this week.

Rear tanks full, front tank at 1/2

The guy and all his employees had somewhere to be….

 

[Jesus Freak]

Yes, the "shower heads" are the plastic pickups that attach to the metal tubes in the tank. It really could still be a janky fuel selector valve. I don't think we have a replacement valve that anyone is happy with on here.

 

[parkergn]

Questions you may ask about....
Are you getting a constant 3+ psi at the Schrader valve?
Can you hear the fsv click when switching from tank to tank?
Fresh filters?
Power to ip constant?
Good luck.
Idi mechanics don't grow on trees today.

Got fresh batteries in the van, was able to turn over after bleeding the filter head valve while cranking, mech pump works. Had good flow, got engine up to temp, on both tanks for 10 mins each.

while running checked to see if fuel was flowing to the filter head, nothing! Switched tanks, nothing! Then stalled soon after

Seems like same issue, regardless of e-pump or mech. It stops giving fuel after about 10 mins if it decides to pump

Gonna try again and stick to only tank and avoid FSV on this test

Pickups?

Fuel solenoid valve? Tho that’s after the filter head right?

 

[parkergn]

Yes, the "shower heads" are the plastic pickups that attach to the metal tubes in the tank. It really could still be a janky fuel selector valve. I don't think we have a replacement valve that anyone is happy with on here.

Okay, yea my guess is to check the shower heads / pickups. Even just on one tank and ride with that.

Kinda hard to drop a tank in a lot, and don’t wanna give this guy more business gonna try and call around

 

[Jesus Freak]

I'm just guessing, but I bet it's a good guess, that van probably sat for years somewhere. And if so, there's an accumulation of stuff in the bottom of the tank. That accumulation has water in it and has made a goo at the bottom of your tanks. When you drop a tank your possibly disturb the rust and goo and uncover pinholes. I hope I'm wrong, but both of my trucks were like that, and I just want to warn you.

 

[parkergn]

Just did another test only on front tank. First bleed and crank, plenty of fuel flow, not even 5 mins, no fuel at valve, turned it off, waited a bit, cranked it over fuel at valve, then 5 mins after running full of air….

What would make the fuel fluctuate so much? Can the pickups react in such an odd way?

 

[Clb]

Thanks for the replies!

Shower heads are in the tanks correct?

Yes even if they fail it's not going to stop the picking up of fuel above about a 1/4 tank.

It’s a new FSV, switched out from original 2 weeks ago, it clicks every time.

good start, but if its ch ic om junk not necessarily doing the job.

Had it not react right away, needles on dash wouldn’t change, then after 5 mins of driving they switch.

Sounds like fsv is hanging up or intermittent shorting out.

. But it seems to click ever time so far this week.

Rear tanks full, front tank at 1/2

The guy and all his employees had somewhere to be….

Now try pulling the tank caps off, possibly not venting, slowing the pumps flow.
Although this should trigger the fuel lamp on the dash.
.

 

[parkergn]

I'm just guessing, but I bet it's a good guess, that van probably sat for years somewhere. And if so, there's an accumulation of stuff in the bottom of the tank. That accumulation has water in it and has made a goo at the bottom of your tanks. When you drop a tank your possibly disturb the rust and goo and uncover pinholes. I hope I'm wrong, but both of my trucks were like that, and I just want to warn you.

If this is the case, is there a common part to replace?

 

[parkergn]

Yes even if they fail it's not going to stop the picking up of fuel above about a 1/4 tank.

good start, but if its ch ic om junk not necessarily doing the job.

Sounds like fsv is hanging up or intermittent shorting out.

Now try pulling the tank caps off, possibly not venting, slowing the pumps flow.
Although this should trigger the fuel lamp on the dash.
.

With my 6.9 IDI doesn’t look like I have a fuel lamp on my dash.

The last mechanics in the prairies a couple weeks ago checked for venting on the tanks, they blew thru I think the vent hoses hanging off the sides

 

[Jesus Freak]

If this is the case, is there a common part to replace?

The entire fuel cell. I've had to replace all of mine.

 

[billford]

My guess is that there is water in the fuel tank and it's freezing, blocking flow.

If it sits in a warm shop it thaws out until it's driven outside and freezes again.

You can tee in a vacuum gauge to the suction side of the lift pump to verify if there is a inlet restriction while the problem is happening.