My Brother Has a 98 12v that we bought a few days ago. He was pulling into a parking lot yesterday and there was a short incline on the entrance and the truck died as it went up the incline, the fuel gauge was near empty. Anyways he figured the fuel sloshed and staved the engine, he got it on level ground and it started up with poof of black smoke and he went and filled the tank.

Well this morning he went out to start it and the thing would not start, neither of us know much about diesels, I'm figuring it lost it's prime. What could be the problem?

 

Its probably the notorious rubber fuel lines that always cause air issues. Its usually the return line. Its up behind the fuel filter sort of under the intake. If you do a search on here you'll find good information on it.

Heres a good link with a diagram of what i'm talking about.
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...66&postcount=2

 

Thanks. I figured it out, he drained the water and let it sit over night and it lost it's prime, I primed it and it started right up.

 

Don't be surprised if it happens again tomorrow morning. Draining the water with the drain at the bottom of the water seperator shouldnt cause air in the system, it should draw a siphon from the tank if the system is air tight. Just keep that in mind in the morning if it doesn't fire.

 

Will do, Thanks for your Help.

 

Well 2nd day with the truck and it actually dies and or wants to die when I put it in reverse. I relized it was also in reverse when it died the first time yesterday. Any Ideas?

 

Make sure the fuel drain lever is closed.

Seems like it started with the fuel drain after running out of fuel.

Past that, start looking for leaks/cracks in fuel lines.

 

Is it idling fast enough? If it is an auto it should idle at 800 or so in gear with the ac on. A little more info on the truck would help as well.

There are a couple of places were air can get in, the fuel lines as has been said, the fuel heater at the electrical connector. Could be a weak overflow valve as well.I ran new rubber fuel lines from front to back, supply and return, the factory ones go from rubber to steel to rubber. There is also a little prebent line from the filter to the lift pump,best to get a direct replacement from cummins since the bend is quite short.

 

My be t is also that the idle is too low.
Adjustment instructions> http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/adjustm...d_Gen-Idle.htm

 

Thanks guys, we'll mess with it tomorrow. Some info on the truck. It is a 98 with a Built Auto ( clutches, Higher Stall etc.), and I think a 10 plate and exhaust. My Brother knows the specifics. Also it hasn't lost it's prime since.

Here is a couple pics.

 

I like the stax... Stealth is my kind of colour...

Nice TDR Sticker.... They should be able to help out!