Two tank WVO 1999 Ford F250 wont start - Diesel Forum

jnicholson1437 · 12-17-2008, 09:53 AM

I have a 1999 Ford F250 with a two tank golden fuel systems kit installed. It is an older installation in being that the main tank is the veggie tank and a 19 gallon tank is in the bed for diesel. I recently experienced a loss of power and sputtering in the veggie side so I switched back to diesel and ordered the Racor R120 filter and replaced it. Shortly after I switched back over to veggie the engine completely lost power and stalled. I haven't been able to get it to fire up since. I was told that it is probably hydro locked but I am not sure what that means. I am guessing I probably got some air in the fuel lines but am not sure how to properly bleed them now that it’s too late to prime the filter properly. When the engine does turn over lots of white smoke comes out of the exhaust, a symptom of air in the fuel lines, but I have drained the batteries four times trying to get it all out. What is the proper way to get all the air out and also to push all the veggie oil through so that I can start it off diesel since it stalled on vegg

jnicholson1437 · 12-17-2008, 11:44 AM

Also I have tried ether and that didnt even keep it running. I now know not to use that stuff and will never use it again. But I did try running it on WD-40 and that was useless as well. I emptied the fuel filter bowl and turned the key to start the pump and the diesel side did not fill the bowl back up. However the pump on the veggie side did. Not sure what to make of this?

twinbulls · 12-17-2008, 05:47 PM

Check all lines ... Check preasure on both tanks
Drain Bio tank and fill with new Dsl...
Thats what I would start with

ToddT · 12-18-2008, 06:24 PM

Are you using a Pollak 6-port valve? If so, sounds like it's stuck on veggie.

If you've selected the diesel tank and you turn on the key, it should fill up the fuel filter bowl with diesel in less than a minute. Seems that the stock fuel pump turns itself off automatically after a few seconds if the engine doesn't crank. I assume it's a safety switch. In any case, it may take a few cycles of the key to fill the filter housing with diesel. Test for fuel by opening the yellow drain valve on the back side of the filter housing.

Are you running a single pump or separate pumps (one for diesel, another for WVO)? If only one pump and you're not getting diesel, I'd bet your 6-port is not switching back to diesel. This is why I went to a standard 3-port solenoid. If it fails, it will default to diesel.

How to test the 6-port? I'd remove the fuel lines (feeding the 6-port) and put them in a small container of diesel. You'll be able to tell which one draws the fuel... and therefore if the 6-port is working correctly.

Another possibility is the factory fuel pressure regulator may be stuck in the open setting. I've had trash get in there and block the spring from shutting. Therefore it wouldn't ever build up any fuel pressure.

This is why I've added a few quick couplers on my system for diagnosing problems. Also why I went to two separate pumps.

Good luck... keep us posted on your developments.

jnicholson1437 · 12-19-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToddT

Are you using a Pollak 6-port valve? If so, sounds like it's stuck on veggie.

If you've selected the diesel tank and you turn on the key, it should fill up the fuel filter bowl with diesel in less than a minute. Seems that the stock fuel pump turns itself off automatically after a few seconds if the engine doesn't crank. I assume it's a safety switch. In any case, it may take a few cycles of the key to fill the filter housing with diesel. Test for fuel by opening the yellow drain valve on the back side of the filter housing.

Are you running a single pump or separate pumps (one for diesel, another for WVO)? If only one pump and you're not getting diesel, I'd bet your 6-port is not switching back to diesel. This is why I went to a standard 3-port solenoid. If it fails, it will default to diesel.

How to test the 6-port? I'd remove the fuel lines (feeding the 6-port) and put them in a small container of diesel. You'll be able to tell which one draws the fuel... and therefore if the 6-port is working correctly.

Another possibility is the factory fuel pressure regulator may be stuck in the open setting. I've had trash get in there and block the spring from shutting. Therefore it wouldn't ever build up any fuel pressure.

This is why I've added a few quick couplers on my system for diagnosing problems. Also why I went to two separate pumps.

Good luck... keep us posted on your developments.

Thank you so much for the tips. I think you may be on to something. It's wierd though because even if its stuck on vegetable oil shouldn't it fire up? I have a 90 percent veggie 10 percent diesel mix in the veggie tank. I think the pressure regulator may be stuck like you said because why is it not getting the gas it needs to run? Like I said I tried ether and wd-40 and it would not even fire up with that. I am wondering if its the injectors are clogged or perhaps the glow plugs are gunked up. I am not mechanical and certainly do not pretend to understand the diesel engine, but this engine showed no signs of having problems except for the normal sluggishness from a dirty wvo filter.

I had even been running it on diesel only for a week until my new filters came in. The truck fired up and ran perfectlyon diesel the day I changed the filter and then after the engine warmed up and I switched to veggie it lost all power stalled and has not started up since. It seems as though when I went to switch back to diesel maybe it the valve got stuck.

My mechanic is checking the valve and fuel pressure today.

jnicholson1437 · 12-22-2008, 03:05 PM

Truck is up and running again! It appears the stock fuel filter had gone bad. It still worked but not enough to build up proper pressure. Thank you for your help!