Ran out of Fuel - Diesel Forum

BCbinders · 11-24-2005, 01:16 PM

Hello everyone

I am ashamed to say I think I ran out of fuel. I got home late last night and had full intention to add some on my way to work. Let me explain what happened.

Last night it kind of sputtered on the way home, it would hessitate then take off like crazy, like it was turbo charged or something. I pulled into my house fine.

This morning knowing that I probally need fuel (the guage is at E however I think it is messed up, becuase it will say super full for the longest time them move down quickly.)

Anyway, It started up fine, and knowing I want to get fuel I was going to just get going, I know it isn't wise to move a cold engine but I didn't want to fun out of fuel. I put it in reverse, move back about 2 inches and it quit. And it won't start.

I am not cranking away on the started too much, becuse I don't wan tto fry it. But the battery is now super low. I called BCAA to jump it and they can't get it to start. It still turns over really slow.

Actucally it really cranked over good once when BCAA was here, and they gave it a real small shot of either to make sure it woudl start. however it kind of back fired and got back to it's super slow turning over again.

It almost acts like it is flooded, or the batterys are low. Or something.

Any help you all can provide is greatly appreciated. I would even be willing to pay someone in the Victoria area to get it going. I need this truck for work, I am missing a day today because I can't get to work.

Thank you,
Luke

BCbinders · 11-24-2005, 01:21 PM

Oh yeah, I added about 10 gallons of diesel to the tank.

rmr · 11-24-2005, 01:45 PM

Did you bleed the air out of the filter(s)? Sounds like the first thing you need to do is charge the batterys fully. How I bleed filters is put the transmission in Park and set the parking brake,
I hold open the schraeder valve on the filter and then jump the solenoid to make the starter spin, if you have a manual trans
make sure it is NOT IN GEAR , jumping the solenoid will make the starter spin even if it is in gear. Jump the solenoid with a screwdriver while holding open the schraeder valve, it is like a tire valve , it sticks out the side of the filter. Do not engage starter for more than like 20 seconds, let it sit for another 20 then hit again for 20, off and on until you get solid fuel coming out of valve.
You do not need the key ON to do this.
After you get solid fuel out of the filter see if it will start, if ot maybe you have to crack an injector line or two.
Quit using the either!! It doesn't mix well with glowplugs.

soulpatchfr · 11-24-2005, 01:51 PM

these old girls need lots of juice to turn over (remember - 22:1ish compression). if those batteries are (you said battery, but you should have 2) low, you'll need to charge them or replace them. disconnect them & charge them individually, or replace them BOTH. 850 cca minimum. it'd be a good idea to clean all connections now (batteries, the relay on the pass. fender).

you have air in the system now that you ran out of fuel - no big deal, really. get it out (don't think your filter is the same as my 7.3 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]) by either bleeding it or just cranking with fresh batts.
if it's been awhile since you replaced the fuel filter, go ahead & get a new one. fill it with fuel or diesel fuel treatment before putting it on.

please do not ever use ether (or either) on a diesel.. ether + glow plugs = BOOM!

good luck.

BCbinders · 11-24-2005, 01:53 PM

I am lookign for the fuel filter and I cna't find it, or anything with a shrader valve on it. Is the fuel filter behind the alternater? I will go back out and check. And I will keep searching the net.

Thank you for all your help
Luke

BCbinders · 11-24-2005, 01:55 PM

yeah I do have 2 batteries, I am thinking of running down to the store to get 2 new ones. I have been thinking they are low. I have them charging now.

Thank you again. I am still searching for the fuel filter.

Luke

hweaver · 11-24-2005, 02:04 PM

When you are sure you have fuel to the fuel filter, I recommend using a 5/8 inch wrench and loosening up three or four injector lines at the injector end (don't take them off, just loosen them about one complete turn). Try to start it until fuel starts to squirt from the injectors and then tighten them up. If you didn't suck lots of dirt into your fuel filter, you should be fixed at that point.

Hope this helps and you get on the road soon.

hweaver

cdnsarguy · 11-24-2005, 02:08 PM

The fuel filter should be on the pax side at the front of the valve cover on a bracket. the filter header should have 2 wires and a tire valve looking thing....that's the Schrader valve. Just like a bicycle remove the cap crank the engine and push in the valve core tip to release air. If you are on a level that's fine if your nose up, it may take more time, nose down works the best. If your getting new batteries as stated 850 CCA minimum, Wallymart sells 1000CCA I believe, much better....

BCbinders · 11-24-2005, 02:29 PM

I found the fuel filter. I found the shrader valve. I didn't look like I thought it would. But I think the batterys are still to low. I have them charging, and when I go to turn the truck over the starter clicks quickly. Like it has almost enough power to push the starter gear into there but not quite yet. so I will let them charge more. Man I am frustrated, I should have put more diesel in last night.

Anyhow, how does this sound so far? when I turn it over the starter clicks quickly (it had prevously been clicking slowly). Am I on the right track? I sincerlly hope so.

Again, thank you everyone for your help.

Luke

soulpatchfr · 11-24-2005, 02:33 PM

Luke, you're right there. as Pete said (listen to him, he's our Mentor), it's right there above the pax VC & yes - behind the alt. on my 7.3, anyway...
should be painted grey - including the schraeder valve cap.

rmr gave great advice on bleeding while under the hood, but i really think if you're careful not to overheat the starter, you should be able to get the air out by cranking *with fresh/new* batts. i always have been able to, anyway.

soulpatchfr · 11-24-2005, 02:34 PM

yeah - you're OK... you're not trying to charge them whle they're both connected, right?

if they're over 3 years old, go ahead & get new.

BCbinders · 11-24-2005, 02:42 PM

I dont' know how old they are. I jut got the truck. I am waiting for my gf to come to my house for lunch, then if it doesn't start I am getting batteries.

Just out of curiousity, what would happen if I was charging them while they are still connected to the truck (they aren't, but what if)

Thank you,
Luke

cdnsarguy · 11-24-2005, 02:46 PM

If you charge both at the same time... if one is bad and the other good you can overcharge the good one...... best to just do one at a time. Do clean the terminals and connections......

Please next time reply to your own 1st post, that keeps all related questions and answers on the same page for same problem.......thanks.

h2odrx · 11-24-2005, 10:15 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Anyhow, how does this sound so far? when I turn it over the starter clicks quickly (it had prevously been clicking slowly). Am I on the right track? I sincerlly hope so.

Again, thank you everyone for your help.

Luke

[/ QUOTE ]
before you had said in turned over slow i'm guessing here but could the starter be draging? how long have you had it and what history do you know?

BCbinders · 11-24-2005, 10:46 PM

Well folks, a trip to my buds at Cal Tire and got 2 new Diehard batteries and put them in the truck, and the starter turns so fast it could churn butter now [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] it took a few about 4 cranks (I would turn it for about 5 seconds or so, than wait about 30-40 seconds and try again) and it started up and kept running.

The only other problem I had was the valve on the fuel filter got stuck in, so it was spewing diesel. But I got the blow torch out and got it unstuck [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I didn't really use a blowtorch, but I did get it unstuck [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Anyhow the truck is running great now, I drove it to work and got a few hours of blasting in before it got too dark.

So thank you everyone for all your help. I really was at my wits end on what to do [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] This just teaches me I need to learn more about diesel engines [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Maybe I need to move next to that Canadian Tire guy, anyone ever notice that dork owns every tool on the planet [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Thank you again everyone.