vagabond0351
Registered User
Hi folks, first post, although I must have read about 200 over the past several months. this truck is the first diesel I've owned, although I've worked fairly extensively on a range of gas autos.
Truck in question is an early 86 f250, stock NA 6.9.
ODO currently reads 49,000. by the interior condition and pedals I would think its 149k much more likely than 249k.
I've put about 5k on it in the past year and a half, scratching and clawing
got it in a trade from a guy who worked at a tire shop. he'd done a full skyjacker lift and allegedly had the glow plugs and maybe 4 injectors replaced shortly before i bought it, and the condition could support that, but he also said "oh it threw belts but they're replaced and its fine." it wasn't fine, the water pump pulley was absolutely shot, flopping all over, and seized up about 20 miles after I bought it as I drove to my shop. so I immediately lost faith in everything he'd done. he did also mention that "the lifter pump should probably be replaced with an electric" and said some things that I eventually read about the drain back issues, but made it seem like less of a big deal. I'm in Montana and it was winter when I bought it, so plugging in the heater was an expectation anyway, and apparently masked the greater issue.
on to the main problem:
after sitting for 4-6+ hours or overnight, it effectively will not start on its own, even with extra cycles of glow plugs, but will start right away with the shortest little spray of starter fluid(I know its often frowned upon, I use as little as possible and only the stuff with lube).
If its been running and warm, fires right up. If its been just a few hours, it takes some extra cranks, but will start on its own. It never has done the "start for a few seconds then dies".
It idles and drives well enough, struggles more than I think it should with slight loads like small trailers, but I am in the mountains.
I purchased @typ4 russ's oring and olive kit, but this being my first diesel and still unsure of some things, I waited to install it.
I had the glow plugs burn out on me, I think a locked up relay/solenoid did that, and they were then replaced at the only local diesel shop that would touch my IDI.
The shop replaced the glow plugs with new motorcraft, which I didnt ask them to until they told me they'd already tested and removed the old ones, and they didn't do the orings which is what I asked them to do when it was brought in.
I have a few other complaints about that shop and the work they did, but they claimed they tested compression and all cylinders were "equal and right above 300psi".
Even with the brand new glow plugs, it was starting just the same- crank on it for days(in 10second intervals with 30 second breaks), no start until i gave it at least a hint of starter fluid.
eventually after reading dozens more posts and watching some videos, I replaced orings on the injectors that looked damp, and subsequently the next ones that started clearly leaking after being touched, like everyone said they would. not everything leaked tho, which is probably because some of the injectors do look different and newer.
anyway, that didnt fix the starting issue.
around this point I did what the previous owner, and several forum members had suggested, and installed an e pump (holley red) down on the frame rail below the tank.
procedure went great. problem did not go away or improve.
I tried reaching out to @Dregs Garage since he's local to me, and thankfully he replied, but he's backed up on his return caps i guess, so I purchased r&d justin's solid rails.
it probably took me 15 attempts and twice as many extra viton orings, and absolutely smothering everything in super lube by the end of it, but eventually no leaks apparent. (by the way, pretty sure the harbor freight ones are out-of-spec for the size).
it still wouldnt start after sitting.
I started replacing the lines with clear poly. some bubbles at first, checked tightness everywhere and replaced now questionable fitting from lift pump to filter.
eventually got NO BUBBLES, even after sitting, in any of the clear lines(to filter, filter to return 1, and IP to return). this indicates I do not have fuel drain-back[anymore], correct??
still not starting on its own.
so to keep throwing money I don't have at it, I purchased russ's rebuilt injectors and filter to IP replacement line kit. they're currently on the way, along with the ebay "made in italy" $160 injector hard line kit, simply because the fuel coming out was a little dingy and I'm losing my mind.
just before typing this up, I plugged the block heater in for about 1.5-2hours(its been sunny and 70+ degrees today), and after otherwise sitting dead cold for 2 days, it fired right up like it had been running. maybe 2 seconds of cranking.
what is going on here? is it the injectors? because they were partially replaced and not pop matched?
any insight greatly appreciated....
Thanks
Martin
Truck in question is an early 86 f250, stock NA 6.9.
ODO currently reads 49,000. by the interior condition and pedals I would think its 149k much more likely than 249k.
I've put about 5k on it in the past year and a half, scratching and clawing
got it in a trade from a guy who worked at a tire shop. he'd done a full skyjacker lift and allegedly had the glow plugs and maybe 4 injectors replaced shortly before i bought it, and the condition could support that, but he also said "oh it threw belts but they're replaced and its fine." it wasn't fine, the water pump pulley was absolutely shot, flopping all over, and seized up about 20 miles after I bought it as I drove to my shop. so I immediately lost faith in everything he'd done. he did also mention that "the lifter pump should probably be replaced with an electric" and said some things that I eventually read about the drain back issues, but made it seem like less of a big deal. I'm in Montana and it was winter when I bought it, so plugging in the heater was an expectation anyway, and apparently masked the greater issue.
on to the main problem:
after sitting for 4-6+ hours or overnight, it effectively will not start on its own, even with extra cycles of glow plugs, but will start right away with the shortest little spray of starter fluid(I know its often frowned upon, I use as little as possible and only the stuff with lube).
If its been running and warm, fires right up. If its been just a few hours, it takes some extra cranks, but will start on its own. It never has done the "start for a few seconds then dies".
It idles and drives well enough, struggles more than I think it should with slight loads like small trailers, but I am in the mountains.
I purchased @typ4 russ's oring and olive kit, but this being my first diesel and still unsure of some things, I waited to install it.
I had the glow plugs burn out on me, I think a locked up relay/solenoid did that, and they were then replaced at the only local diesel shop that would touch my IDI.
The shop replaced the glow plugs with new motorcraft, which I didnt ask them to until they told me they'd already tested and removed the old ones, and they didn't do the orings which is what I asked them to do when it was brought in.
I have a few other complaints about that shop and the work they did, but they claimed they tested compression and all cylinders were "equal and right above 300psi".
Even with the brand new glow plugs, it was starting just the same- crank on it for days(in 10second intervals with 30 second breaks), no start until i gave it at least a hint of starter fluid.
eventually after reading dozens more posts and watching some videos, I replaced orings on the injectors that looked damp, and subsequently the next ones that started clearly leaking after being touched, like everyone said they would. not everything leaked tho, which is probably because some of the injectors do look different and newer.
anyway, that didnt fix the starting issue.
around this point I did what the previous owner, and several forum members had suggested, and installed an e pump (holley red) down on the frame rail below the tank.
procedure went great. problem did not go away or improve.
I tried reaching out to @Dregs Garage since he's local to me, and thankfully he replied, but he's backed up on his return caps i guess, so I purchased r&d justin's solid rails.
it probably took me 15 attempts and twice as many extra viton orings, and absolutely smothering everything in super lube by the end of it, but eventually no leaks apparent. (by the way, pretty sure the harbor freight ones are out-of-spec for the size).
it still wouldnt start after sitting.
I started replacing the lines with clear poly. some bubbles at first, checked tightness everywhere and replaced now questionable fitting from lift pump to filter.
eventually got NO BUBBLES, even after sitting, in any of the clear lines(to filter, filter to return 1, and IP to return). this indicates I do not have fuel drain-back[anymore], correct??
still not starting on its own.
so to keep throwing money I don't have at it, I purchased russ's rebuilt injectors and filter to IP replacement line kit. they're currently on the way, along with the ebay "made in italy" $160 injector hard line kit, simply because the fuel coming out was a little dingy and I'm losing my mind.
just before typing this up, I plugged the block heater in for about 1.5-2hours(its been sunny and 70+ degrees today), and after otherwise sitting dead cold for 2 days, it fired right up like it had been running. maybe 2 seconds of cranking.
what is going on here? is it the injectors? because they were partially replaced and not pop matched?
any insight greatly appreciated....
Thanks
Martin
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