Hard starts while parked up hill

rreegg

IDI n TDI
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I live in the middle of a small hill. The grade is probably 7% at its steepest so not too steep but not flat. I’ve noticed if I park with the truck facing Up the hill I get hard starts - like I’m sucking air or not getting fuel. If I park facing Down the hill starts seem more normal.

Even if I park facing Up the hill at the bottom, which may only be .5-1% grade I still seem to get the hard starts.

Hard starts in this context being extended cranking - maybe 30-45 seconds (not all at once) before the engine pops off. With multiple cycles of 8sec on the GP

Normally I can get the truck started on the first crank, almost immediately, with 1 or 2 cycles of 8 sec on GP.

What gives? Is is a lift pump? Some sort of fuel siphon?

New starter this past summer. Batteries 2 years old. New fuel filter last week. I’ve noticed the engine has sort of bogged down slightly, one time, while leaving an uphill facing parking spot few weeks ago. Other than that only notice the problems on cold starts while parked.

I just tend to not park facing uphill if possible but sometimes it still happens.
 

Clb

Another old truck
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Air intrusion
Shower heads
There's a little bit of this discussion around here....
Good luck.
 

tradergem

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Sounds like fuel drain back to me. I had this problem caused by the fuel heater on top of the fuel filter head leaking air in and fuel out when the truck was not running. Fixed it with a little JB Weld.
 
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