[yupitsnuge]

Hello,
2 weeks ago-
-15f temps overnight, nowhere to plug truck in. I got a "Low Fuel Pressure" warning on the dash and the truck would barely move. I gave it some more pedal and nothing, just creeping along at 5mph. I put it in R and it died in the middle of the parking lot. I drained the water out of the fuel filter and there were maybe 1-2 drops. I removed the filter and this is what it looked like. (I smudged it so you can see the difference)
Pics here...
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I replaced both filters and added some 911 and fuel treatment and we were able to drive 3 hrs back home.
truck has sat until Sunday when I used it with no issues. I used it this morning to go to work and after I started it up I got a check engine light. I checked my tuner and it was codes P008A (unknown) & P0093 (Fuel System Leak Detected - Large Leak). What the heck is going on? Did I kill my fuel pumps and now it's not pumping enough fuel? I searched both codes and it seems that a lot of people have different reasons for the codes. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[badbart]

Is that sparkly stuff on the filter metal flakes? Hard to see. If so your HPFP I most likely toast.

 

[yupitsnuge]

Is that sparkly stuff on the filter metal flakes? Hard to see. If so your HPFP I most likely toast.

Nah, that was just sun glistening off of the fuel

 

[Nickelplated5s]

If there is a large leak you would see it. What year and mileage on the truck? Have you had the pressure checked? Thought about dropping the tank? Personally I would put a hose on the upper filter return and see what you get cycling the key. Are the filters gunked up again?

 

[yupitsnuge]

If there is a large leak you would see it. What year and mileage on the truck? Have you had the pressure checked? Thought about dropping the tank? Personally I would put a hose on the upper filter return and see what you get cycling the key. Are the filters gunked up again?

It's a 2012 6.7L with 80,000 miles. I'm not seeing a large leak but that's what the code says.
I have not had the pressure checked. I don't want to, nor do I have the time to bring it in at this point. I would prefer to fix it myself. I have not thought about dropping the tank, that sounds like a nightmare. What would that accomplish (not sarcastic, actually asking)? I don't think the filters would be gunked up that quick again. I've never had this issue before and replaced the filters 2-3 weeks ago. I also treated the fuel with 911 and fuel treatment.

 

[ford_doctor]

No wonder many of you folks are confused about what is wrong with your trucks - the code definitions on your display are not accurate. P008A means that the low pressure fuel system pressure is too low. P0093 means that the fuel rail pressure is too low. I commonly see these two codes with plugged fuel filters. Both codes together point to a failed low pressure fuel pump, air in the system or a restriction. Which brings us to the picture of your fuel filter. That white **** is paraffin which is what "gelled fuel" looks like. With -15 degree temperatures I am not surprised. It is that time of year where depending on where you are located the fuel may no longer be winter blend fuel and you are not using anti-gel additive.

I would not take anything apart. Treat your fuel according to the weather conditions and clear the codes. See what happens from there.

 

[yupitsnuge]

No wonder many of you folks are confused about what is wrong with your trucks - the code definitions on your display are not accurate. P008A means that the low pressure fuel system pressure is too low. P0093 means that the fuel rail pressure is too low. I commonly see these two codes with plugged fuel filters. Both codes together point to a failed low pressure fuel pump, air in the system or a restriction. Which brings us to the picture of your fuel filter. That white **** is paraffin which is what "gelled fuel" looks like. With -15 degree temperatures I am not surprised. It is that time of year where depending on where you are located the fuel may no longer be winter blend fuel and you are not using anti-gel additive.

I would not take anything apart. Treat your fuel according to the weather conditions and clear the codes. See what happens from there.

I'm not too far from you out on Long Island. It has not gotten down that cold in the past weeks since. The fuel has been treated and the fuel filters have been changed since then so something else is up.

 

[ford_doctor]

Okay, when was the picture of the filter taken? What ever is in it is/was restricting the filter. If the filter is now clean and you still have a low fuel pressure issue then a restriction or pump issue is likely. "We" have been known to find the seals from fuel additive caps making their way to the fuel pick up and clogging it. While there is a bypass in the pick up, fuel pressure still drops significantly.


And when the heck did it get that cold in Long Island lately? We have had fairly warm weather lately. LOL

 

[yupitsnuge]

Okay, when was the picture of the filter taken? What ever is in it is/was restricting the filter. If the filter is now clean and you still have a low fuel pressure issue then a restriction or pump issue is likely. "We" have been known to find the seals from fuel additive caps making their way to the fuel pick up and clogging it. While there is a bypass in the pick up, fuel pressure still drops significantly.


And when the heck did it get that cold in Long Island lately? We have had fairly warm weather lately. LOL

The picture was taken right before I changed the filter. I pulled that out, took a pic, and put a new one in. When I searched, I saw that a lot of people find the seals in the pick up. I'm confident I completely removed the seal from the bottle, but I will double check.

It was Valentines weekend and it was on the shore of CT. They actually had Red Cross Tents set up with heaters because it got so cold. I've never experienced anything like that in our area. It was wild!

 

[ford_doctor]

It's not the seal on the bottle, it's the cardboard/plastic disk from the cap that ends up in the tank.

 

[Nickelplated5s]

So, the OP doesn't have time to take it in and doesn't have time to do simple diagnostics at home.

 

[yupitsnuge]

So, the OP doesn't have time to take it in and doesn't have time to do simple diagnostics at home.

OP doesn't have time to take it in and WANTS to do simple diagnostic at home. Please tell me what said simple diagnostic is.

 

[ford_doctor]

Well, the simple diagnostic is to take a fuel pressure reading - actually check for a fuel pump inlet restriction with a pressure vacuum gauge connected at the fuel pump inlet which requires a special adapter and the correct gauge making it not so simple. Common sense also dictates that you test this when the concern is happening which if this is intermittent, it will be frustrating. Or you could drop your fuel tank and see if you can find anything inside that might be getting caught up in the pick up.

 

[Nickelplated5s]

Thought about dropping the tank? Personally I would put a hose on the upper filter return and see what you get cycling the key. Are the filters gunked up again?

As I said above.

 

[ford_doctor]

Remove the return line from the fuel pump... all that is going to do is verify no/low fuel flow at best. It's not going to verify the low fuel pressure condition (unless there is no flow at all) but doing so will not tell you where the problem lies. With the two codes he has, there is a lack of fuel flow and or pressure. Either he has an issue with the filter, the pump is bad, the pump is sucking air or there is a restriction. Diagnosing that requires actual testing... or we can just advise the gentleman to perform absolutely pointless things or load the parts cannon and randomly fire parts at it until he fixes the truck.

 

[Nickelplated5s]

Checking the flow at the return is simple for those of us who don't have the pressure gauge this truck needs. Simple enough to do first if one is going to drop the tank.

 

[p1um1oco]

Checking the flow at the return is simple for those of us who don't have the pressure gauge this truck needs. Simple enough to do first if one is going to drop the tank.

Actually it can be somewhat simple. I had the issue with one of the little cardboard disk seals from the bottle of PM22A end up plugging my fuel system. it was intermittent for quite some time, the test is when you are having the low pressure happening, stop in a safe place, turn off the engine, get out and try to drain the DFCM, mine would suck like there was a vacuum which there was since the low pressure pump was sucking and the fuel sender in the tank was plugged by this little cardboard disk. It did take the dealer a while to find out that was what it was, but sure enough no more problems.

One little piece of cardboard and a lot of pain.

 

[JBCrete]

I recently got the low fuel pressure light and engine went into limp mode...Took it to my local dealer who found the aluminum seal from a PM 22 fuel additive clogging the fuel filter in the tank...Per the Diesel tech its not the first time he seen this happen....

 

[JBCrete]

PM22a is a Ford product and the recommended fuel additive which makes me think that with the number of cardboard cap seals that find their way in the tank and clog the fuel filter maybe it time for a redesign of the bottle and the bottle seals..

 

[ford_doctor]

THAT and a redesign of the fuel pick up. It is just a small simple round opening in the bottom of a bowl. Much different than the bell shaped screen in pre-2011 model years. What gets me is that the bypass is as restrictive as it is.