I just had my 97 12v towed to my house. I am a little stumped on what the problem might be, so if anybody has some insight, I would greatly appreciate it.

I live in Denver, work the night shift. It was about -12 the night before it died. I started the truck in the morning after it was outside all night, fired up just fine. I let it warm up for about 15 minutes, and then drove off. About 12 miles down the road the engine lost power, and then stalled. Being an idiot, I did not have fuel additives in the fuel. I put additives in the fuel after it died, changed out the fuel filter, and then the truck started again, ran for about 2 minutes and then died again. I tried to bleed the fuel system through the banjo bolt on the fuel filter, and all I get are bubbles, no solid stream of fuel after priming the transfer/lift pump. I had just replaced the lift pump about two months ago. Could I have a cracked fuel line letting air in the system, or maybe parafin wax built up in the pre-filter blocking fuel flow?

Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Your fuel is gelled up. Adding additives after the fact is iffy at best because it has gelled and it won't mix properly. There is a product called Power Service 911, (red bottle). Get it at any truck stop, Walmart, ect. Follow directions on the bottle.

You need to get Power Service 911 into your fuel system and filter housing. Should fire right up.

Never run a diesel without addatives in the fuel. Even in the summer.

 

I will do that, thanks!

 

sounds like gelled fuel

 

Don't some truck put #1 diesel fuel in for cold weather?

 

you can use a heat gun. better yet, cover the front of your truck with a tarp and put a kero bullet heater under it for a hour or so. this will thaw the jell in the lines.

 

I could not find Diesel911 anywhere in Denver, had the truck plugged in all day, primed the fuel filter again, and it started right up and continued to run. Thanks for steering me in the right direction, I was ready to throw some parts at it. It also helped that it got to a hot 18 degrees today, lol.

 

Plugging one in does generate enough heat to keep fuel lines and filters from gelling, I notice when I plug mine in that the cab is alittle warmer than usual, but no need to lately its been almost 70* here.