Takes long to start, dies instantly

[91crew]

I recently bought a 91 f350 7.3idi n/a and it was starting ok. It would start up with a good deal of white smoke and have a rough idle for a little while. Now I have to crank it for around 40 seconds to start and then it will rev up high and die instantly. When it does this it pukes a nice plume of white smoke. I cannot get it to stay running. I just replaced the fuel filter today but my batteries are too drained to prime it.

 

[Exekiel69]

Do not crank the engine for over 30 sec at a time or You WILL toast the starter fast.

Sounds like air leak to Me. Check the return lines, this may be the cause. Another could be the fuel filter.

 

[91crew]

Yeah i'm cranking 20sec max. The guy had just replaced the head gaskets so he probably did cause some air leaks taking everything apart. I just want to make sure it sounds like an air leak.

 

[Agnem]

Starting and dying is 99.9% an air leak, with subsequent void in the fuel flow.

 

[Andylad13]

could be a lot of places that your getting air in though. first thing is to check the return lines. if they are the factory braided ones, you should probably get a return line kit to re do them. definatly get those batts charged and get her running! if its air, once you get it out it should be fine. try bleeding the schraeder valve while cranking. and for easier starts for now, plug her in too. that way shell have all the heat she needs to fire.

and also you can loosen the nuts on the injector lines and crank until theres fuel coming out of them and tighten them one by one.

 

[oldmisterbill]

The high rev is almost 100% proof of an air leak or running out of fuel.

 

[91crew]

Thanks for the help people. I'll pick up the return line kit asap.

 

[91crew]

FYI, the online kit with shipping from Taylors was half the price of the NAPA kit even with my employee discount.

Can I pressurize the return line to get my fuel system primed? I was thinking i could stick a shrader valve into the return line from the T at the back of the engine and pressurize it with a bike pump.

 

[Agnem]

Won't work, as the air will have no where to go. Besides, you don't really want to presurize that side. You want their to be a vacuum. Feel free to suck on it all you want.

 

[icanfixall]

Dat diesel tastes terrible Mel...

 

[Agnem]

Maybe he runs veggie?

 

[HammerDown]

... Feel free to suck on it all you want.

Ohhhh Mel, you big tough trucker you

 

[Agnem]

Your nasty Ray. ;p

 

[91crew]

Got the truck going after a battery charge and a return line kit. I drove it for 15 minutes and throughout the drive the exhaust smoke got worse and worse. At the end of the drive it was billowing out white smoke like a locomotive and the coolant was nowhere to be seen. Is there anyway to tell if the coolant burning is from a headgasket going or a pinhole in the cylinder wall?

 

[Agnem]

Does the exhaust smell like antifreeze or unburnt fuel (will sting your eyes usually)?