Help!! I filled up my truck today at a Loves fuel station that had a large volume of semis going through it. I figured I would be ok since fuel there was .25 cents less that where I live. My fuel pressure was 14 psi @ idle and 13 psi @ 70mph. As soon as I started my truck, my fuel pressure was 6 psi!!

I changed my fuel filter. Result was a 2 psi increase that slowly raised up to the above fuel pressure. I drove for a while and when I started up my truck again, the fuel pressure was 8 psi @ idle. I turned off the truck and restarted it again. Now the pressure is @ 6 psi.

After all this, I changed out the lift pump with a new one from NAPA. No change of fuel pressure.

I ended up driving home 75 miles with the fuel pressure @ 5 psi. Any bets for how much damage my vp-44 took? (it is 15,000 miles new)

The only things I can think of is the Loves only sold the ULS diesel and this was the first time I used it. Can ULS cause these problems for a few tank fills or is this dirty fuel???

Is swapping out the fuel filters the only course of action???

Thanks,

Joe

 

I have done extensive reading on ULSD, and the suppliers are fully aware of the lubrication issues with ULSD, so they put supplements into the fuel to add lubricity back into it. This should not be your problem. CAn you chekc the fuel pressure before the fuel filter? I assume you are checking after the fuel filter now.

Chris

 

Chris,

I just opened my fuel filter to replace again. I found a mass of yellow ice in my fuel filter canister. I am checking my pressure post filter. I currently have the filter out and bumping the starter to flush fuel out of the system.

I suppose the ULS fuel gelled on me. What is the best way to get her running again as the truck the daily driver.


BTW, I fueled up at the Love station just south of Winchester, VA yesterday.

TIA,

Joe

 

I'd get some diesel fuel anti-gel, such as Diesel Power, which you can pick up at Wal Mart, if not your local auto parts place. If you are in MD, I am surprised it could get cold enough to gel.
If you thought to save the "ice", bring it up to room temperature and see if water separates from it.

Chris

 

I just dumped a half bottle of PS (the white bottle) into the tank. This is all I had left. When the wife gets home, I will go to the store and pick up more. Is this all I need to do? Once I get her running, should I top it off again with regular fuel?

I live in Waldorf, MD which is about 15 miles southeast of D.C. Last night, we got down to 21 degrees. Maybe the fuel was gelled in Winchester (it is the mountains) and it never thawed out.

Do you think I screwed my vp-44?

Thanks again,

Joe

 

Just for info last night near winchester the air temp was 6 before the 20 mph wind so I dont understand why the fuel gelled either??try to find some power service in the white bottle it has anti gel in it the gray bottles do not.

 

Rpainter,

Do you know the Loves I fueled up at? ( I did add about 4 oz of PS, as the truck was half empty when I filled it up). It was weird. As soon as I started it back up, the fuel pressure was 6 PSI. I pulled off the road and changed the fuel filter. Pressure was 8 psi. Driving back towards Winchester, the pressure was up to 13. The next restart, the pressure was 6 psi. I swapped the lift pump in Winchester's flying J's parking lot. (that sucked, BTW) Pressure did not change. I then drove home to Waldorf with pressure @ 5 PSI. I bought more fuel filters today and when I swapped the filter, I saw the yellow ice mass in my drain pain. I added the rest of the white PS bottle to my tank a little bit ago. It had about 1/4 left in it.

That is where I stand.

TIA,

Joe

 

Can you partk your truck in an above freezing tempature? I would suspect water that froze and had ice in the tank and fuel system. Also Stanadyne has anti gel in it.. Good luck

 

My house only has a one car garage and it is used as storage and home improvement work center. My drive way is covered with a little ice. In a little bit, I am going to try to get it running and get some 9-1-1 to add to the fuel. Then, drive about 200 miles to burn the fuel out if it and top off with know good fuel (normal #2) and replace the fuel filter again. I hope this will do it.

Thanks again for all the help,

Joe

 

Update: I was able to find the small container of diesel 911. I poured it into the tank and drove for about 35 miles. My pressure went up to 12 PSI. I was thinking it worked. When I came home, I turned off the truck and then restarted it. My fuel pressure was 5 PSI. I changed out the fuel filter again with a new one and noticed no more ice cubes, but wax like stuff. I just filled up the tank ( almost 1/2 a tank) with regular diesel and poured a bottle of the white PS. My pressure is now a whopping 7 PSI.

Any more ideas or any guesses on how long this will be this way?????


TIA,

Joe

 

So, where are you monitoring fuel pressure from? Before or after the fuel filter?

Thanks,
Chris

 

Chris,

I am monitoring my fuel pressure post filter. When I have the fuel filter out and the lid off, I can bump the starter and quickly remove the key and see fuel gushing into the fuel filter canister.

I am hoping with warming weather, this will go away....


Thanks,

Joe

 

What is the temperature?

What kind of lift pump do you have?

 

If it's possible for you to drain the tank completely and refill it with diesel that is known to be good I'd suggest doing it. If you have bad fuel that's contaminated with water or crud or whatever the problems can be masked with additives but the bad stuff is still there. The yellow "ice" could have been water ice and the waxy substance sounds like paraffine. If you have a home heater that runs of heating oil I'd simply drain the tank into that one and get fresh fuel and a new filter. If it has ben extremely nasty drop the tank and clean it before refilling. VP44s are too expensive to risk them that way IMO.

Just my 2c

AlpineRAM

 

I wonder what difference you will see if you check the pressure pre-filter. You might try this if it isn't too much trouble.
AlpineRam has good ideas also.

Chris