I am having trouble starting my truck in anything under 50 degrees. I still have the grids hooked up and they work. When i start my truck i sometimes have to give it a little throttle to stay running. It will make a big cloud of white smoke on startup. After the engine gets warm the truck will start normal. I also have not seen the temps get as high as normal, the engine has been running kinda cold. The last time i started it the engine was misfiring or whatever it was doing then i could not get any power from it. I had the pedel to the floor and the idle would not change then it died. It took forever to start back up. Any thoughts of what this could be? I have 5psi fuel pressure idling. Thanks

 

The first thing I check on the VE pumps is that they have not worked loose and the timing slid. The entire pump turns when they get loose. The symptoms you describe fits that condition to a T.

If the pump is tight, then check your fuel lines to make sure they have been changed in the last few years. All it takes in the flex lines is a microscopic pin hole to do what you describe.

It could be the lift pump needs to be checked to be sure the diaphragm has not blown. It really does not sound like it has with 5 psi at idle.

If the pump is tight to the engine and nothing has slid, then I would suspect it is time for a rebuild. These are very long lived pumps, but once you start getting around half million miles on them they can get a bit loose internally and lose pressure making them difficult to start. It could also be something as simple as the smoke control screw working loose. GIve it a good visual inspection. If you know how the internal fuel control works, check that too.

 

I will check that tomorow after i get home from school. The original rubber fuel lines are still on the truck. What size and type of hose do i need to change those lines? Thanks, Zach

 

Sounds to me more like air in the lines. One of those rubber hoses is bad or you've got a hard line that's got a pinhole worn/rusted in it.

 

what size of fuel line do i need? Is it 3/16?

 

I think the supply on your truck is 5/16". Make sure the hose is diesel rated or it will turn to Jell-O in a couple months.

 

Thanks. Should i go all the way with rubber or redo it to make it like stock agian? The reason im asking is because i was thinking of replacing the whole line from the tank to the lp.

 

It's OK to run rubber all the way if you want.

 

Ok. Thanks.

 

well i just put new fuel lines in with a new filter and lp and its runnin great now. Thanks for the help.