Help truck dead in water

[73idi88f350]

Help truck died on way to work
Went from running good to slight miss to hitting the pedal to the floor while doing that the exhaust blows gray smoke crazy... But still is bogging and not , down shifted and let he clutch out at like 50mph coasted about 300 feet it fires up gray smoke running for about a min then it dies and won't refire tried starting it for 2-3 min on and off . No fire... Got it towed home close to the house drop the clutch again got it fired and runs for about 30sec with gray smoke and stalls and that's it... I have fuel at the valve on the fuel filter sprays fuel. Now it was 28* out this morning is this signs of gelled diesel
Ps I did his from my phone so I hope it makes since

 

[Blind Driver2]

Diesel won't gel at that temperature.

You either need to change your fuel filter, replace the lift pump, or put fuel in the tank.

 

[73idi88f350]

I'm hoping fuel filter...

 

[73idi88f350]

im about to head out and mess with it.. it didnt start when i got home so whatever it is its still happening...

is there a way to test the lift pump? like i said it has pressure out of the little valve and i have a clear thing i can see there is fuel coming back from the pass side fuel return lines to the filter head.

im gonna start with the filter cuz i already had one i picked up some diesel clean to fill it up with.. i used this stuff every other tank till the last few weeks because i didnt pick some up yet..

 

[riotwarrior]

press schrader valve on filter head whilst cranking engine over and fuel streams out your golden if not...yer not golden.....

 

[73idi88f350]

must be the lift pump changed the filter out filled it up with diesel kleen got the thing running didn't take much effort.. ran it in the drive for 30min figured all was good decided to take it for a ride died 1000feet out the drive way.....

assume its the lift pump? while playing around with it i checked the lift pump first before doing the filter and it had good decent stream, now is a mech pump the same as an electric works when cold or when ever it feels and then dont when ever it feels? when there dieing

 

[Blind Driver2]

You need to find out how much fuel pressure is coming out of the filter.

 

[icanfixall]

Interesting problem. Has the oil level increased or is the lift pump looking wet around the outsides of it. Has the fuel tank switching valve ever given you problems like causeing you to switch back and forth from front to rear tank to work properly...

 

[73idi88f350]

Interesting problem. Has the oil level increased or is the lift pump looking wet around the outsides of it. Has the fuel tank switching valve ever given you problems like causeing you to switch back and forth from front to rear tank to work properly...

No probs with the fuel selector but... The rear tank Has gotten a leak and lost all it's fuel..

I havnt really looked at the lift pump its self yet I was mad when I thought it was all good and took it for a ride and it broke down again

I noticed it surged like crazy right before it died but the rpms Didnt raise like it does when I ran out of fuel before

 

[riotwarrior]

IT"S the lift pump.....same problems I had....worked and wouldn't work....never seemed to make sense...

I'd suggest pressure test it

 

[73idi88f350]

IT"S the lift pump.....same problems I had....worked and wouldn't work....never seemed to make sense...

I'd suggest pressure test it

im not gonna waste time pressure checking it the parts under 30 bucks even if it aint the prob for 30 bucks its nice to know its a good new part..

anyone know about this special way to install it..

this aint like any old style motor for installing a fuel pump.. i read you have to get the motor turned over into some low spot on the cam?

never had to do this with the old gas motors is it different being a diesel?

 

[icanfixall]

To answer the above posting its no differant than a gasser install. What your doing is rotating the cam lobe till its lositioned for easy installation. I think you want the lobe at the highest position so the arm slides in under the lobe. Its a tuff place to see way down under the vacuum pump so remove the vacuum pump if you want more room to work. The rear bolt is really tuff to replace so tape it to a socket and the socket to an extension. then stick it in the threaded hole. Tighten it up by hand and remove the wrench just to make sure you didn't use too much tape. One hose clamp and one tubing fitting and your down. Very little fuel will be lost doing this job.. Probably good idea to replace the short length of rubber hose from the fuel tanks... That does not last forever.

 

[73idi88f350]

To answer the above posting its no differant than a gasser install. What your doing is rotating the cam lobe till its lositioned for easy installation. I think you want the lobe at the highest position so the arm slides in under the lobe. Its a tuff place to see way down under the vacuum pump so remove the vacuum pump if you want more room to work. The rear bolt is really tuff to replace so tape it to a socket and the socket to an extension. then stick it in the threaded hole. Tighten it up by hand and remove the wrench just to make sure you didn't use too much tape. One hose clamp and one tubing fitting and your down. Very little fuel will be lost doing this job.. Probably good idea to replace the short length of rubber hose from the fuel tanks... That does not last forever.

well on the gaser i just stuffed the arm in made sure it was on the down side of things.. not to make sound like i didnt care and jammed it in.

thanks for the tip on the short fuel hose im sure its old and needs replaced why not.. do it now! i would have takin it off and said damn i should have gotten a piece.

 

[73idi88f350]

got the fuel pump changed out.. now i can only get it to run for about 30 sec then it acts like it runs out of fuel...

i assume i got some air in the lines still... but would running for 30 sec or less be long enough to clear it all out? i know i had a heck of a time when i changed the motor.. so...

thanks!
btw it was a Precision Fuel pump not an airtex junk from what i read.

 

[Can30Diesel]

Another thing to consider is the lobe that drives the mechanical pump. On my truck it was no longer actuating the lever enough to drive enough fuel to the injector pump. I guess it wore down somehow.

I replaced my mechanical lift pump with an electric transfer pump and I have been a happy camper in that area ever since (about 2 1/2 years).

As a troubleshooting step, try bypassing the mechanical pump with an electric one if you can. Low pressure pumps are usually about $50 up here in Canada so probably closer to 25$ for you.

Hope this helps!