01 7.3 PSD won't start after fuel filter change...

[greasyinMA]

Any help that can be provided would be greatly appreciated (and if you're in my area, that gratitude will take the form of beer & food).
Driving my '01 F250 7.3 PSD home last night from work (25mile ride) - drove on WVO for most of the ride (Greasecar kit) which ran fine. When I switched back to the diesel tank (after purging the veggie lines for about 15-20 seconds) the truck started to act like it was gasping for fuel. After a few minutes, the truck stalled and wouldn't start.
I switched back to WVO (the WVO tank & engine were still very hot) and the truck started & ran OK til I got home - once I switched back to diesel the truck slowly died.

I figured the stock/diesel fuel filter was clogged (even though I changed it about 500 miles ago). The reason for this logic: I've been running a high blend (50%-90%) of biodiesel in my 'main'/diesel tank for the last 1000+ miles, and have heard/read many times that bioD will clean petroleum diesel crud from your tank (which ends up in the fuel filter).

So, this AM I took my wife's car to the part's store & picked up (2) Purolator fuel filters. When I took out the old filter, I could see a lot of crud in the bottom of the filter housing; I cleaned out what I could with Q-Tips, then put the new filter in (after putting a little fuel around the O-rings).
I turned my keys to the Start position (to turn the fuel pump on for 20 seconds) probably 50 times all in all - the truck will NOT start.
It sounds like it wants to start; I can see the Tach climbing up a slight amount when cranking (so I don't think it is a CPS problem??).
It really seems like the truck is not getting fuel...the tank only has about 1/8 full of B90 (which it has been running really well on for the last 1000+ miles) so I'm not sure what to do next.

I've been reading about the Injection Pressure Regulator (IPR) issues, etc, and am wondering if some of the crud could have clogged the IPR???

Man, I really hope not, cuz I'm not that mechanically-inclined; I certainly don't have much for tools or mechanical smarts...

Any help that you guys can provide would be highly appreciated - thanks in advance
Joel

 

[95_stroker]

You say you cycled the key a number of times (50 or so) and the fuel pump came on? If so, is your fuel filter cannister full of fuel? If not, you have a fuel pump problem. The IPR is on the high pressure oil side of things so it isnt (cant be) clogged with fuel crud from your tank.

 

[greasyinMA]

cool - thanks for the clarity re: the IPR

regarding the fuel filter housing; how would I know if it's filled with fuel? Should I unscrew the cap and look (won't this de-pressurize the fuel system?) or should I open the drain vent while turning the fuel pump on again?

I definitely could hear the fuel pump running when I turned the key to Start position (plus, it worked fine on WVO last night...so I'm hoping/thinking the pump is OK for now...)

thanks again

 

[95_stroker]

Nope, just pop the top off the filter cannister. Check if it is full.

 

[95_stroker]

After re-reading your original post, I'm going to go out on a limb and say your main fuel tank is out of fuel.

 

[greasyinMA]

yeah, I'm starting to wonder about that as well...just checked the fuel filter housing; there's a minimal amount of fuel in the bottom.
Yet, when I run the fuel pump, I can hear it working (sounds like a big-assed angry bee caught in a gutter) and the fuel intake line (I think) feels like there's either vacuum/pressure being sucked through it (or fuel...if I didn't know better).
The fuel gauge is showing 1/8 a tank...but I think I've read that these gauges aren't the most reliable.

Looks like I gotta run to Mal-Mart for a jerry can...

thanks again - I'll post an update in a little bit; if you have any other ideas in the meantime, feel free to post away.
If you ever make it to the Boston area, beers and burritos are on me...

 

[greasyinMA]

yup, that did the trick - 3+ gallons of the devil's brew (my biod supplier isn't around today) and a lot of cranking, and she's running again.

thanks for the help!

 

[95_stroker]

Glad to be of some help. Stick around and swap war stories with the rest of us. We have several "brewers" on the board here and lotsa guys with good knowledge.

Welcome to SDD!

Mike

 

[94f450sd]

next time you have a problem give me a call,978-869-0104.i work in whitman

 

[greasyinMA]

thanks again for the help - and Rich thanks for the offer & your # - I'll probably take you up on it, since I'm pretty much clueless and still don't have a diesel mechanic in the area.
Have you ever heard of Bailey's/Tri-Town in Hanson? I've heard they do good work and when I talked to one of the mechanics, he seemed to know what he was talking about (he's the only mechanic I've talked to that knew about the under-valve-cover wiring harness clip problem (?) - my truck seems to have that issue every once in awhile - usually I just shut it down and wiggle the wires on the driver's side (the passenger side was repaired under warranty awhile back...) which seems to work.