First off I'm new to DTR, thanks for having me.
On my 2003 2500 with 235k, it will not start unless you give it a shot of starting fluid. I hate to do this and I'm not driving it at this point. All fuel pumps check out, no smoke of any kind, no change to engine oil, runs good just will not start. Hopefully not all the injectors are bad. $$$$
Does anyone think it might be something else?

Also has anyone heard of putting ATF in your fuel for cleaner. I've been running BG244k but the $'s are adding up.

Thanks for your help....Pull your load with a Cummins......

 

Welcome to DTR. Starting fluid isn't a good thing to start doing to a Cummins with a preheater in the intake manifold, you might have found pieces across the yard after the flash of light and loud percussion.

That said, you are about at the point where the injectors need some attention as they will leak and won't hold enough pressure to start the truck. I was at 215k miles and sent them off to F1 for testing, tips and all were rebuilt. You will be happy with the results.

 

Don't put trans fluid in with your fuel. 1-it's red, and if you get dipped (checked for off road diesel) the person doing the checking will see the red colored fuel and write you a hefty ticket. yes, you can protest it and a have a lab prove that it's not the dye they're looking for, but you'll still have the ticket to deal with and the lab costs, etc etc.

2-Trans fluid had additive for the transmissions that aren't good for fuel systems, so you'll have to replace injectors a whole lot sooner than you'll be wanting to.

Instead, go with a 2 cycle ashless oil or something like Howes fuel treatment.

The other issue. if your having to start it using a helper fluid, that says your fuel system is loosing it's prime somewhere. It might be an air leak, which is most likely. You shouldn't be having to do this.

 

How's you oil levels looking like? If it seems to be rising and smells like fuel, then you need to stop driving it and get that fixed. The injectors can leak down and you'll see it in the oil.

 

Rail pressure relief valve or FCA are good candidates for starting problems, but, injectors top the list. With the miles you have and probably without adequate filtration its a good bet its the injectors.

These CR systems are self bleeding, rare to find a problem that invloves air leaks. As long as you have adequate fuel flow and pressure to the CP-3 you won't ever have an air leak causing issues. The problem comes in when the injectors are bypassing too much fuel internally and the starter cannot spin the engine fast enough to build enough rail pressure to adequately supply the fuel. These trucks simply will not fire until there is at least 1500 psi of rail pressure and at 200-250 rpms it won't build with worn bypasses in the injectors.

It might 1 or more injectors that are bad. Cummins makes a tool that allows you to block off 1 injector at a time or multiple ones with multiple caps to identify the bad injector.

Another thing to try is unplug the FCA and see if it will start. That will run full rail pressure if it can build enough. The FCA'a can get sticky and cause hard starting also but it usually accompanied with other issues like surging at an idle or power loss.

 

Thanks everyone for the input...It went into the shop today, I'm going to try an unplug the FCA. If nothing, start the flow test on injectors. I'll keep ya posted. Thanks..