Ok, looking for some ideas to look at tomorrow since it's a little late to be crawlin under the truck this time of night.

I saw that I had about a foot diameter puddle under my truck (and it smelt like diesel. maybe some oil involved, not too sure as it was pretty dark) after letting the truck idle for a few minutes while I ran into a gas station. I also noticed that the truck cranked over super slow (think almost dead battery type turn over) and was idling real funny when I first started it this morning. Volt gauge would dip then jump back up then dip again and so on, and the engine speed would drop when the volts did too. It'd idle at about 400. I let it warm up for a few minutes, and the idling issue seemed to go away after I drove for a few minutes and got it up to normal operating temps.

Now it's the first cold day we've had here in southern Texas (hell, it was 80º yesterday! now it's about ~36º), and this being my first diesel (got this truck around mid summer) I didn't know whether or not people have issues with come winter time.

I was thinking maybe an o-ring busted somewhere cause of the quick climate change, but any ideas and/or thoughts people have would be appreciated.

Now that I think about it, maybe it's a pretty good leak. Fuel gauge dropped almost a 1/4 for only having driven about 40-50 miles today...

 

Sorry if that reads a little weird. A had a little much beer for gobble gobble day...

 

Also, I just plugged my waste gate a couple days ago (hose had a tear in it so I figured I just put a plug in it), so if that info helps any....

 

Fuel supply or return lines, check from the engine back to the tank. No O-rings, but quick disconnects at the drivers feet drivers side framerail. Mine went this last summer, Texas truck I would bet the lines should be OK, but could well be the rubber hoses connecting the steel to the pump and LP.

Bet thats it.

 

the voltage drop sounds like your grid heaters

 

Alright, I'll give those area's a look-see pat. Thanks for the tips.

So the grid heaters causin the voltage drop deal, is normal and not related to the fuel leak?

 

Yes, the grid heater thing is normal. If the voltage is dropping real low, you may want to look into getting a couple of new batteries. If this is your first winter and you do not know the history of the batteries, it would be cheap insurance to get some new ones while the truck still starts and you are not having any real problems yet.

 

Okay, well I really haven't had a alot of time to get up under the truck, but I think I found the general location of the leak. Now if someone can just help me to narrow down my field of search so I can take a few minutes sometime tomorrow and see what caint be done about it.

Seems that fuel is leaking from below the fuel filter towards the engine. I ran my fingers along the bottom of the fuel filter, and it was dry, so I don't really think it's coming from the filter itself.

Couldn't see very well, but my fingers found some fuel on this little device (NO idea what this thing is lol) that looks like it attaches to the block above the oil pan driver side under the fuel filter. Had this button (at lease I assumed it was a button. pressed it while running but nothing happened) that had a ~2-3" black ribbed rubber covering (think super thick black ribbed for her pleasure mini condom).

Is there anything fuel related to this general area that I'm trying to describe? Hope yall forgive my lack of diesel engine knowledge lol. Embarrassed to admit I feel like a high school student on his first day in autotech haha.

Help would be GREATLY appreciated. Absolutely disgusted how much precious diesel I'm wasting. Only got 330 miles out of a fuel tank! Thats like 10mpg from where I used to get around 18-19. It's like I've lost 220+ miles that I'll never get back... Ok, I'll stop the theatrics.

 

that is your lift pump its bolted to the block becaue it runs off the cam. your supply line from the tank goes into the fuel heater/prefilter first (its bolted up w the lift pump). those two thing are connected with a short hose. then from the lp the fuel goes to the fuel filter. you could have a cracked the lp, but i would start w/ checking for cracked or loose lines. change the filter. if it is the lp they are not too expensive. about 150 online give or take.

 

 

Awesome infidel. Posted exactly what I was just about to ask for. Thanks a ton.

So when it leaks, what exactly is leaking? Blown seal, o-ring, certain lines work emselfs loose? Bout to crawl around under the truck, just trying to get an idea of what to check before I order a new lift pump.

Thanks again!


Also, what causes LP's to give up the ghost? Old age? Cause it seems to me almost a coincidence that it blew a day or two after I plugged my wastegate. Would that have any bearing on it, or just like all older trucks, you fix one problem, then another pops up in it's place?

 

Also, whats the usual way most people get to the lift pump? From the top or bottom? Cause it's a little hard to see from underneath, and my arms need to be a good foot longer to screw with it from the top lol...

 

Ok, well it's definitely leaking from the lift pump. Can't identify where though.

It's dripping from the rubber primer button, onto the hot wire to my starter, onto my front differential, onto the ground. Doesn't seem to be leaking from any hoses. Though I couldn't see how the fuel gets from the LP to the fuel filter, so I couldn't really check that. Fuel filter is dry though.

How in the heck do you get to that bugger. Tryin to reach my arm down by the shutdown solenoid, back to the LP. Caint even see how the LP is held onto the block... Is there some trick, or special way I need to go about doing this?

 

Okay well I got the general idea. Found this link here. If anyone has a link to some pictures, that'd really help put a visual aid to the plain text... Anyhoo, sure it won't be too bad.

Guess that only leaves the question as to which part of the LP is leaking, and if I need to buy a new one, or can squeak by with just replacing the gaskets.

Is there any tests that can be done before you take er all apart?

 

Im just going through the same thing as we speak. First cold day and the lift pump is leaking, right on the silver rivet looking deal on the bottom center.

I went ahead and took this opportunity to get the FASS setup since they seem to be having so many problems with the lift pump and to me its good insurance against the IP