Ok, I've been having this issue for a few months now and it wont seem to go away so I figured I'd break down and ask.


I changed my fuel filter back at the end of summer. about 2 months roll by and one day I go out to start the truck and it doesn't fire up on my usual flick of the wrist key turn. So I crank it again and it cranks and cranks for about 2 seconds. I try it again, cranks and cranks for 4 seconds and still nothing. I turn it again and it fires up on the first crank like always. I figure, "Ok. A bubble is still floating around in the filter and it finally got in the way, or something." It doesn't bother me again the rest of the day.

A few days later it does it again. But it didnt fire on the 3rd try. It would not fire at all. Ok, guess Ill just bleed the filter...
Unscrew it a bit, pump the primer on the LP till the filter overflows, seal it back up....Fires right up. Problem solved.

A month later. It does it again. And again, I bleed, prime and seal and fires right up.

And today, almost a month later, it did it again. I get in to leave work and wont start. I bled it again but today it seemd like the plunger on the LP didnt have any resistance. The first few pumps got it to spill a bit of fuel out of the filter but after about 4 pumps it wasnt flowing any more fuel. But I figure I got enough fuel in there anyhow so I seal it back up and it fires right up. No sputter or anything.

So I guess my questions are, what could be getting air in my lines, or is it some other problem all together? And why wasnt the primer working and could it be something wrong with the lift pump?

 

Unspining the filter can re-introduce air into the system. Try cracking the bleed screw above the filter next time. MIght want to check the fuel heater o-ring and make sure the fuel heater is still on tight. (it's held on by the filter stud) Also, the cam was in the wrong spot for the LP to have resistance on the lever. nothing to worry about.

 

My money is on the fuel heater gasket.

 

The o-ring that seals the top of the filter block?

 

Yep, that one.

 

Hmm. I replaced it I wanna say about a year ago or so. It sprung a leak on me on a 460mile drive. I figured it would be good for another 14 years or so...

Ok. Ill give that a try next time, on a day thats a bit warmer than it has been.

Thanks, all.

 

I would bet you're right. It's gotta be something between the lift pump and the VE though.

 

mine just started this too since its got cold. would it be a noticeable leak or would it just let air in?

 

It should be damp with fuel if it's after the lift pump.

 

Hmm, I was thinking about it...

When I last changed the filter it was a bit difficult to get off. Could the twisting of the filter in an attempt to loosen it have caused the filter thread stud to come loose a bit, thus letting air seep in?

 

mine is doing pretty much the same thing. i can pump the lp and it starts ok but its been **** cold at 3am to prime the lp everymorning. Im 99% sure mine is the heater gasket, when I pump the lp I can hear the air comong out. I was too hungover to look at it this morning, Ricks keep me out too late for my bday last night

 

Yes, that's how they usually start leaking. When you put the spud back, clean the threads and try to get them dry, then use some blue loctite so it doesn't back out on you again.

 

Possibly a loose connection at the fuel shut-off?

 

That crossed my mind but Ive never actually messed with that connection, only the filter, and it starts. I guess next time, if priming fails, I can try that.