Second Hiccup

Mitsubishi Pickup
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Ralph in Winnipeg
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Second Hiccup

Post by Ralph in Winnipeg »

Well.....rough start and stalling over the last few days. Drove through a pretty heavy thunderstorm and have been mixing in a variety of clean oils. Changed the fuel filter today and barely drove 4 blocks before I aborted and nursed it home. I'm below a quarter tank of fuel. Thinking I will fill the fuel filter with sea foam and see if that cleans it out. Other thought is to try to get to a gas station and top up the tank. Any thoughts??
Ralph in Winnipeg
Posts: 239
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 7:42 pm
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Vehicle: 94 Strada
Location: Winnipeg

Second Hiccup

Post by Ralph in Winnipeg »

So I checked the fuel filter and bled some more air out. I grab one of the fuel lines and it freely turns back and forth....i tightened all the fuel line clamps, most were loose enough to wiggle. Truck ran pretty good for 5-10 minutes until it stared to stumble. Sucking in air? Planning to change fuel lines and clamps, bleed the air out and see if it improves. Any advice welcome!
Last edited by Ralph in Winnipeg on Fri Oct 28, 2016 7:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Growlerbearnz
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Re: Second Hiccup

Post by Growlerbearnz »

Check the ends of the fuel lines for cracks- the rubber sometimes splits at the end, and even tightening the clamps can't seal it.

It does sound like air being sucked in. Sometimes the seal from the old fuel filter stays stuck to the filter head, and if you don't notice it when you fit a new filter it won't seal properly. Same with the water drain down below.

The filter head has been known to crack as well, and the diaphragm on the priming pump can split- those ones can be hard to spot.
Nothing says "poor workmanship" more than wrinkles in the duct tape.
Ralph in Winnipeg
Posts: 239
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 7:42 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 94 Strada
Location: Winnipeg

Re: Second Hiccup

Post by Ralph in Winnipeg »

Thanks growler, I'm new to diesels so any advice is appreciated. I checked the filter and cut off 1/2"from the long lines and replaced the 2 short lines completely using new hose clamps. I used the pump on the filter and cracked the coupler on each injector to bleed out air. I was a little hesitant about cracking the injector but no guts no glory I guess. The water separator had a slow drip so cranked the heck out of it, like how tight does it have to be? I will attach that on the filter out of the truck next time, quite a pain to get to.

Good news truck started right up and purrs like a noisy stinky kitten. I just went and filled up and started great and ran smooth there and back.

Fingers crossed that this problem is solved.
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Growlerbearnz
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Re: Second Hiccup

Post by Growlerbearnz »

I tighten the water drain by hand- a slippery, diesel-covered hand, usually, and it's never leaked. The filters I use come with a new seal for the filter head and water drain, but I've seen some that only had the top seal. Since the water drain is plastic, I feel it's important to fit a new, soft seal to it every time you change the filter.

Bleeding the injectors with the priming pump like you did *usually* works, but sometimes you need to crack the injectors and crank the engine to get all the air out.

Oh and when cracking the injector pipe nut, it's really important to use a wrench to stop the rest of the injector from turning. (I'm sure you know this already, I'm just adding it incase someone else reads this in future).

A common failure from a slow air leak is an engine that starts and runs fine all day, but leave it overnight and it won't start unless you use the primer pump. Keep an eye out for that one, that's usually a failed seal in the injector pump rather than the filter.
Nothing says "poor workmanship" more than wrinkles in the duct tape.
Ralph in Winnipeg
Posts: 239
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 7:42 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 94 Strada
Location: Winnipeg

Re: Second Hiccup

Post by Ralph in Winnipeg »

I bled a bit of air out yesterday from the filter and truck started and ran like a champ. Hoping this is the last bleeding necessary.
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