gandalf
Senior Member
WHOA!
...and then let off the throttle.
...
It died, but just before it did, there was like a "blip" of power--a jump in RPMs, and then it quit. ...
Anyway, I checked the schrader valve again, and got a hiss of air, so it's evidently sucking air from somewhere.
But the most alarming thing, was that diesel was pouring out of my tank. I noticed that it was dripping the other day after I filled it up, and I just assumed that the tank either had a rust hole or a bad bung gasket or a leaky filler neck. But, it has evidently been dripping since Wednesday, and when I cranked it up today, I'm clearly getting pressure in the tank. When I cracked the fuel cap, diesel gushed out. What would be causing my tank to pressurize, and are these things related?
What have I gotten myself into, here??
Sounds to me like you may be dealing with two separate and distinct problems here.
First problem: let up on the peddle to go to idle and the engine dies. That's the classic sign of a sticking metering valve in the IP. The immediate fix, and hopefully one which will last for a while, is to remove the fuel filter and fill it with ATF. Be sure to fill it through the OUTER ring of holes only, so that the ATF will be filtered. Put the full fuel filter back in place and start the engine. Let it run for a few minutes, until you hear the engine sound change slightly. That can take anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes. Once the engine sound changes, shut the engine off and let it sit overnight. The IP will be filled with ATF, which is a good cleaning agent for the IP. The next day start it up and drive it like you stole it. Take a short drive, maybe 10 miles. If that doesn't clear the metering valve, then there may be a deeper problem
Second problem: fuel pressuring the tank. That's probably not what is actually happening. It sounds to me as though the Fuel Selector Valve may be stuck. Your engine does not burn all the fuel it sucks from the tank. The unburned fuel is returned to the tank from which it came. Now, you have two tanks, and the fuel selector valve determines which tank to draw from, and to return fuel to the same tank. If the return selector portion of that valve is stuck, you may be drawing from one tank and returning to the other. If the tank receiving the return fuel is full, then the fuel returning might easily overfill it and appear to pressurize it.
The FSV is located on the frame rail, about at the rear of the driver's door.
Got to run. My daughter just called, and reported she is out of propane, and people arrive in an an hour for a big BBQ.