7.3 won't start

[jules083]

My friend has a F-350, 5 speed, with the 7.3 IDI. Somewhere between a 1990 and a 1993, I can't remember for sure. It's been sitting for a year, and we can't get it to start.

There's fuel in the filter, and if you hit the bleeder at the top (might be to check pressure?) fuel comes out while cranking

I pulled an injector and watched it, fuel was coming out. I couldn't see it very well at this point, it was outside and starting to get dark. Not sure if it was spraying or just Lazily squirting, but it was coming out for sure. It was the injector that runs off the top line coming out of the injector pump, so it shouldn't be a priming issue.

We managed to get it to fire 3 times over the course of about 2 or 3 hours, each time it smoked a lot for about 3 to 5 seconds then shut back down.

I dumped a bottle of Lucas injector cleaner directly into the fuel filter twice, once it started immediatly after, the second time it didn't but started later. The first time I got it to start was before I had tried this.

The o-rings on the injector I pulled looked fine, but the rubber lines are looking rough. They don't leak as far as I can tell, but they are dry-rotted pretty bad. He ordered new lines and o rings today, not sure if it'll help or not.

Any ideas? He's doesn't have enough money to start throwing parts at it, we're hoping to hit this thing right the first time. Thanks for the help.

 

[93f250idi]

let the glow plugs do there normal cycle, but after that dont crank. wait about 2 minutes after the wait to start light goes off, then give it a 1 second ether shot into the intake, then crank. if you dont want to burn the starter up do 30 second cranks with 2 minute cool down periods. the white smoke tells you that its getting fuel. my truck done the exact same thing with 1 glow plug bad.

 

[Kevin 007]

Glow plugs will still be hot then and will detonate the either...
If you HAVE to use either, best way to use either on a glow plug motor is to disable the glow circuit and then give it a shot of either and preferably when cranking.

 

[Michael Fowler]

Have you verified that the glow plugs are working? i.e. is the timer working and are they actually good, and getting red hot?

 

[jules083]

I have not checked the glow plugs. It's been over 90 degrees here, I figured that even if they were working right the truck would still start. Why would it start then shut back down if it's glow plugs? I'll check them tomorrow and see though. Pull one and have the girlfriend hold it while I turn the key on, right? If she yells they work?

I don't know if this will help diagnose the problem or not, but it does smoke while cranking most of the time.

 

[Kevin 007]

Well if it starts then dies, it sounds like you have an air intrusion issue. Possibly leaks at the fuel injector return lines and orings (which are under the plastic round cap that fits over the injector yet under the steel injection line)

Or a leak elsewhere......maybe weak lift or injection pump.

 

[jules083]

The return lines and o rings are on order, hopefully that cures the issue. If not I'm thinking change the lift pump, it that doesn't work change the injection pump. We're both hoping that the IP is good, he doesn't really have the money to be spending right now.

 

[typ4]

Uummmm is there enough fuel in the tanks??

 

[jules083]

Uummmm is there enough fuel in the tanks??

1/4 in the front tank, 1/8 in the back. I tried switching tanks to the back one but it didn't change anything, so I went back to the front one. The front tank is brand new, it looks like the P.O. changed it right before the truck was parked.

FWIW, the truck was parked due to a divorce issue, and the truck turned into part of the 'who gets what' fight. That fight is over and my friend ended up buying the truck and the camper that came with it for $800, but the only history we know is that the truck ran perfect and it was a DD before the divorce started.

The camper is huge, it's a dirty version of this one.

 

[typ4]

put in more fuel before you burn up the starter, if the pickup tube is failed as they do it will not pull fuel at 1/4 tank.

 

[jules083]

put in more fuel before you burn up the starter, if the pickup tube is failed as they do it will not pull fuel at 1/4 tank.

Worth a shot at least, thanks. How far should I fill it to? I'm just thinking big tank/small fuel can/expensive fuel. 1/2 sound good for now?

My friend has no money at all right now, I'm footing the bill for this truck so far. I'm an idiot, you can say it.

 

[typ4]

!1/2 will do, not an idiot, gotta help friends, this is going to turn out to be a simple problem to fix.

 

[jules083]

I hope so. I'll dump the fuel in next chance I get, we're on hold until the new lines and o rings get here. I pulled one of the lines to see if maybe it was solid on the inside but dry rotted outside and it fell apart.

I wish red fuel was legal. I'm going to be going back and worth to the fuel station and the truck is parked by 250 gallons of farm diesel.

Is it alright if I use a can that has had red fuel in it before? I don't know how sensative the testing they use is, I figure there's going to be a little bit of red at the bottom of the car regardless of how good I try to empty it. I'd hate for him to get nailed for red because I was too cheap to buy another can.

 

[Compu Doc]

If you do have to go the ether route then leave the ignition on for two minutes before using ether. This will ensure that the glow plugs are completely off. Do not turn the ignition off then on as this will only cycle the glow plugs again.

Pull the fuel filter if you have not already done so and ensure it is full. If you see any black specks in the filter this is algae and the filter should be changed. It wont hurt to start by changing the fuel filter first. Make sure you fill the new filter with that Lucas stuff and diesel or some other diesel additive and diesel.

 

[typ4]

Just get it running on red fuel, throw lots of aft bottles in the bed. put some wast motor oil in there to darken it up. Oh and how much is the return kit he is getting??