So I have a 95 cummins, when I first got it (used private sale) the last owner told me to refill the tank around 75-100 miles on the trip because it looses pressure and stalls, so it stalled a few times on me between 60 and 70 miles on the trip, I would prime up the mechanical pump a bunch of time and she would fire right up and go, This eventually lead to being "air locked" and would no longer run, and I'm no mechanic so I didn't know what else to do, I started replacing parts, pick up lines in the tank, mechanical pump, still ran like **** and then had to pressurize the tank to force air up and out of the injectors and all was well after that, but then rolling around 65 miles again on the trip, at idle she dies again, and I find more air, so no I notice fuel leaking from my fuel heater/secondary filter, I delete the heater and flip the gasket to fix it. And again it happens, stalls at idle, now I replace fuel shut off solenoid, and yesterday was able to drive up to 117 miles on the trip, and let sit at idle for 3-4 mins and she dies again, having to reprime the system And fill back up with gas and she fires right up and haven't gotten further yet, please any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!

 

Good to eliminate shutoff solenoid with a tie wrap/piece of wire etc. (don't forget to check the arm connected to the shaft out of the pump, if the key came out during an install or bolt loosened up can be intermittent shut off)

But if you are indeed getting air out your filter bleeder, you have a leak somewhere. Check by pressurizing the fuel tank with a few psi and checking for leaks.

Would be a good time to install a fuel pressure gauge.

 

hi and welcome to TDR! Gotta take a minor dig at you, if I don't someone else will. Stop putting gas in that thing! It's a diesel son and you only put fuel in her, and maybe a little bit of additive. Never, ever put gas in her . Definitely sounds like you are pulling in air from somewhere. Others will chime in soon with ideas on where to look.

Cheers!

Mike

 

Ok, here's the deal.

Somewhere in your fuel system you have a split line, rusted line, etc that is allowing air into the system. These things are getting old enough that rust and time will cause splits.

Now, your specific issue leads me to believe that you have a pickup issue, because if you keep the tank above a certain level, it runs fine. I have seen the pickup in the sender split and when the fuel level in the tank gets below the split, start sucking air. You don't mention where you live, but if you live anywhere near the rust belt, I would do a pre-emptive strike and while you have the tank down, run all new diesel rated rubber hose from the tank to the engine as well as investigating the sending unit.