No fuel from injection lines (air)

[Cubey]

I stupidly let a lot of air into the system while trying to purge a little. I really wasn’t thinking.

I opened the air valve on the filter housing but no fuel squirted out so I held it. Then the truck stalled from lack of fuel (air intrusion by me. Oops)

There is a mr gasket type pump on the truck. After much air purging at the filter, I’m getting fuel pumped to the steel fuel line exiting the filter housing (I loosened the nut and got drips with the electric pump running) but no fuel out of the steel injection lines at all.

I tried disconnecting the front two injection lines on the drivers side, the easiest to reach. I got a couple drops is all from residual fuel. I put a white rag between the injector and the fuel line and cranked, no fuel on the rag.

I guess I am having trouble getting the air out of the injection pump?

My batteries are very low now so I have to wait to try more.

 

[Trevtron]

What initially caused you to want to purge your fuel system at the schrader valve, was she acting up prior to that?

 

[Thewespaul]

You have fuel getting to the IP so really it’s just time to crank and get the air out of the injection lines, you’ll need a full charge on the batteries, if all else fails you can disconnect the glow plugs and give her a burp of ether to get it to light off.

 

[Cubey]

What initially caused you to want to purge your fuel system at the schrader valve, was she acting up prior to that?

I got below 1/4 tank of fuel and I could tell it was acting funny on my way to the gas station like it was running out of fuel, probably getting air from the pickup tube. It never stalled though.

After filling up, it has been doing the sudden power boost thing now and then, which is usually air intrusion.

The only time it ever did it before was at highway speeds under very windy conditions. Excessive air blowing in the intake i figure?

Anyhow, since I filled up after getting below 1/4 tank, it has been doing it city driving without no mentionable wind.

So that’s why I was trying to air purge.

 

[Cubey]

You have fuel getting to the IP so really it’s just time to crank and get the air out of the injection lines, you’ll need a full charge on the batteries, if all else fails you can disconnect the glow plugs and give her a burp of ether to get it to light off.

Yeah makes sense. I did most of the cranking before I had the fuel filter full. Basically it got drained to a certain degree and it took a lot to filled back up. By then I got the batteries drained too low I guess.

My glow plugs are completely manual currently. I’d probably do better to put a little diesel down the intake before cranking. Safer probably? I’ll leave that as a last resort though.

 

[Thewespaul]

Don’t put it down the intake, if anything soak a rag in a bit of gas and leave it on the screen

 

[Cubey]

Don’t put it down the intake, if anything soak a rag in a bit of gas and leave it on the screen

Gas or diesel? Wasn’t sure if that was a slip when you said gas.

 

[Thewespaul]

Gas or diesel? Wasn’t sure if that was a slip when you said gas.

Gasoline, the fumes will help it ignite, you don’t want any liquid down the intake.

 

[Cubey]

Gasoline, the fumes will help it ignite, you don’t want any liquid down the intake.

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[icanfixall]

Being a manual trans rig why not tow or push start it???

 

[Cubey]

Being a manual trans rig why not tow or push start it???

Huh?

 

[IDIBRONCO]

You put it in gear and then have someone pull or push you up to a certain speed and then let out on the clutch. Of course you will need to have the key on so it will get fuel through the injector pump. In an emergency, this can even be done to start a cold engine with no glow plugs. By cold, I mean engine temperature. I have no idea about air temperature. I've done this, but it was in at least the 60's.

 

[Cubey]

You put it in gear and then have someone pull or push you up to a certain speed and then let out on the clutch. Of course you will need to have the key on so it will get fuel through the injector pump. In an emergency, this can even be done to start a cold engine with no glow plugs. By cold, I mean engine temperature. I have no idea about air temperature. I've done this, but it was in at least the 60's.

I don’t have a manual transmission. I have a manual glow plug push button.

Even if I didn’t, I don’t have 4-6 people to push the truck or anyone to pull-tow it.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Well I guess that won't help much then.

 

[Cubey]

Leaving all injector lines sealed, it fired up after three long cranking times. The first did nothing. Second it made faint sounds. Third it fired up after several sputters.

Maybe that pesky surging will be gone now. Maybe it had a bad air bubble in the fuel filter?