kdrains

have a 96 dodge 3500 with 5.9. hard to start when cold, went to replace lift pump but discovered the mechanical pump is fine, what I thought was the pump is the fuel heater. a knucklehead broke the connector off the pigtail that goes to the fuel temp cut off. Now I know that its a cummins part but is back ordered from fleetgard for months. Same result from the dealership. any suggestions? not to mention the question of this answering my cold start problems. once started and warm it runs like a champ. but it was 7 above zero this morning. Thanks, I have learned lots of useful info. Kev

kdrains

I discovered the strainer bowl had never been serviced. How do I bleed the air out of the injectors? Can't find how using the search feature. I'm an idiot. thanks

jgn

I have a 95 3500 and the way I bleed mine is to loosen the bolt on top of the fuel filter housing nearest the front and pump the lift pump by hand till you get fuel coming out around the bolt. Mine will usually pick up from there and start with a couple of short cranks. if that doesn't do it loosen the #1 and 3 lines at the injectors and crank it a couple of times till it starts and then tighten them back. I've never had to do the last step though.

blackimpala

The fuel heater is not needed on our trucks. I think you will find that many have removed them, me included, with no ill effects. I have found that cycling The wait to start light two or three times helps.

Dartmouth 12V

Like blackimpala said, you should be fine removing the heater. You can remove the heating element portion but retain the rest of the assembly so you don't have to mess with fuel lines and you don't loose your prefilter.

As far as bleeding goes, crack the bleeder screw on the fuel filter, then pump the lift pump primer bulb for a while. If you have an air leak, you won't be able to prime it without doing something like pressurizing the fuel tank. You shouldn't have to bleed your injectors on a 12V.

TIMMY22

The fuel heater was a added for running down below 5*F. Pre-heating the fuel as it heads into the fiter then injection pump.

If you remove it and you live where it drops below 5*F ,just make sure you're using an anti-jel additive. Don't trust the gas/fuel stations that claim they have added it.

smokeyram

my fuel heater is still there, but not on. the plug corroded , or burned or who knows. couldnt get just the plug portion, so i left it alone.

on that note maybe i should pull it out of the way , one less thing to fuel through.

waldersha

You might PM member Rammin On. I got one from him a few years ago and if I remember it was quite a bit less than the cummins price. Not sure if he is still selling parts, I think he was an site sponsor at one point.

Dartmouth 12V

Mine is also there but not on. I just unplugged the relay. I don't want it on whenever it doesn't need to be since it will burn up the connector sooner or later but I do want it available when it is super cold and the fuel starts to gel. I did have one day where the fuel pressure was low and I turned it on and it went back to normal pretty quick. The heater is really to get the fuel to keep from gelling in the filter.