[grebmohr]

Hi!
Normal a.m. start about 30 degrees, warmed up fine. started off to work. 10 minutes later at 55 MPH truck loses all engine power-no shudder no surging just off- like the solenoid clicked off but it is not the solenoid. Stopped the truck in a safe place and recranked- nothing- then it sputtered a bit, ran rough and stopped, crank- crank-crank sputter, rough died. I want to save battery power for later so I stopped messing with it. I pushed the bleed valve and lots of air in there. What are the most obvious choices. I have new return line kit at the house, and new return check valve and schrader will be there today. Could this be my lift pump crudding out on me?

Need to fix this one quick.

 

[trampsdieseltruck]

sounds like air getting in your fuel line.replace fuel line from tank to the lift pump.did you try switching tanks.i had the same problem ended up being the sending unit in the tank had a pinhole in the metal line.

 

[grebmohr]

I switched tanks- no change- I think it was too sudden for a pin hole to appear- it was more like a mechanical failure.
I will do diagnostic on fuel lines before replacing lift pump though. I am taking a new lift pump with me later.

 

[chuckster57]

How much fuel is in the tanks? If they are both at 1/4 or less you could have suffered the broken pick up tube. You said that you switched tanks and nothing...It takes a while to pull fuel all the way to the engine if you did lose a pick up..

 

[Snotzalot]

Add some fuel to one of the tanks and bleed the system through the schrader valve, then see if it will start.

 

[grebmohr]

Rear tank has a little over a 1/4 front has 1/2 tank- was running the front when this happened.

A cranked a good while- Should have been enough to get fuel to the filter. but I will check lines. If I have a broken pickup tube then I will not be able to pull fuel from the lift pump feed line. I am assuming that it will simply begin to flow or with a little effort from a siphon pump.

More later as I figure it out. So I am on the right track-- this is an issue most likely on the front side of the fuel filter...?..

 

[Snotzalot]

The pick ups break at 1/4 tank, get it above this point and you'll be able to start.

 

[Snotzalot]

Air in the lines is usually a starting issue not a running issue, either you lost the lift pump, or it's a broken pickup, OR and IP issue such as the fuel shut off.

 

[grebmohr]

Thanks for all the info-

I will let everyone know what it turns out to be.

 

[73dieselcowboy]

Im going with the lift pump sounds exactly what happend to me when mine went out about 2 years ago:ford:

 

[grebmohr]

So I got a supply pump and all my traveling tools plus an old easter basket of extra stuff I might need. (I was kinda embarrassed when a couple ******** showed up on ATVs to lend a hand.)

First task-Selector to front tank= 1/2 full.
Crack open the supply line (front) on the fuel filter.
Crank motor for 15 seconds - finally got fuel solid spurts.
Reconnected line
Cranked for 20 seconds and it fired up. I drove it around for 30 minutes no problems- no changes- no swaps- no new parts.

had a bubble on the schrader valve end- my parts did not show today! hate when Fedex lies.

Now I am along the line of either an intermittent cut-off solenoid which possibly tricked me into switching to rear tank with possible busted pick-up at the 1/4 tank mark. That lead feeds off the GPC- I am bringing a jumper wire tomorrow in case it happens again I can jumper that solenoid and try a restart.

Or

Could water pulled from tank freeze up in the lines or other places? and would not that much water affect performance in any case?

 

[grebmohr]

Ok- plugged truck in last night as temps were to be in low 20's. Started on front tank no problem-drove 15 miles to work no problem. Filled the front and rear tanks at truck stop. On the road to work- switched to rear tank- died. Purged the air and restarted on front tank. Then used back and forth method to bring fuel from rear tank without killing it. Now runs both tanks fine.

My opinion: I must have been mistaken about which tank I was on when it died yesterday. I must have been on the rear and I must have a broken pick-up as it took a huge gulp of air. In aviation we instinctively switch tanks during engine failures so maybe I did that without even thinking and thought it was on the front one. So I'm pumping and cranking on that rear tank like a Mo-ron. anyway no problem

 

[chuckster57]

Good to hear it's up and running...Sounds like you might have a project soon. Just search and you'll find plenty of help on the broken P/U syndrome.

 

[Snotzalot]

Goo9d to hear you found the problem, aggravating but simple.