I know its been talked about,but i got a 97 ctd in the shop right know. Getting a new head gasket. I told them to replace the rubber fuel lines that are located behind the pump.They said the lines are like new. If those lines are not the problem for my bad start ups were else should i be looking? I starts pretty easy but then idles for a minute or so then starts to die. Then i crank it over for a while and it when it finaly starts u have to give it half throttle and it puffs white smoke. Once the white is gone it runs fine,If it sits for 8-10 hrs the cycle is repeated.I primed the motor by hand i pumped it about 80 times and the same problem still happend. The colder the worse it is. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

The lines can look good and still leak air. You have to actually cut into them to see the little cracks that develop.

It is quite possible that your air leak is not from your lines though. The next most likely culprit is the fuel preheater. It is right before the lift pump and tends to develop an air leak when the electrical connector overheats. Many people simply remove it.

 

When diesels have a running problem , the 1st thing to do is a fuel pressure test .
For gasoline any starting issue , look for , fuel - compression - ignition [ in a diesel - fuel & ignition are the same ] .

 

If your lines have the factory engine paint on them replace even if they look good.
If they haven't failed yet they will.
If there's no paint they probably have been replaced already, hopefully with better hose than the factory uses, and should last a long time.