So, my truck sat in the driveway (15° incline) for two days. This afternoon I hopped in, fired it right up (cold) and started my trip to the dump. I got maybe 100 yards from my house, then the truck lost power and died...loss of fuel. I floored it and let the clutch out right as I felt it lose power, but it just flat died. I cranked it with the pedal floored.

It would take me about 5 or 6 good tries before it would finally catch, stumble up towards idle, then take off. As soon as I let my foot out of it, it would run out of fuel again, and die. It did this six or seven times, before I was able to coast back to my house. By that time, the battery was dead, so I put the charger on it.

I went into the garage, grabbed an air hose, and pressurized the fuel tank with it. As soon as I cracked the banjo fitting on the filter assembly, fuel flowed out with no bubbles. So there was fuel there. Then I tried to start it again, leaving the air hose in the tank. After five or six tries, the engine finally caught and stumbled up to idle, then took off. I let off the gas, and it returned to idle. I let the truck run for about five minutes, then pulled the air hose out of the tank...fully expecting it to die. Instead, it ran for about an hour before I shut it down.

I can't find any leaks anywhere, and I don't hear any hissing with air pressure applied to the tank (other than from the tank). What am I missing?

 

Sounds more like an electrical problem with the shutdown solenoid not staying up.

 

Replace fuel filter and check fuel pressure....

 

Filter was changed in November, and I don't have a fuel pressure gauge at the moment. If the solenoid test comes out good, I'll go get one.

After thinking about it last night, maybe water in the tank? I realized that I haven't seen the "Water in Fuel" light come on with the ignition. I might have a burned out bulb, and a bunch of water in the tank and filter bowl.

I will also check the shut off solenoid, and make sure it is working properly.

Thanks guys.

 

Put a bottle of Iso-Cleaner (said it was diesel safe) and Diesel Kleen in yesterday morning, then let it sit for a couple hours. It was a little rough on starting, but smoothed out after 30 seconds or so. I drove it around all day yesterday, and it fired right up this morning with no problems. I am just glad it wasn't a lift pump or overflow valve.
I still need a fuel pressure gauge though.