12 valve won't start

[Crowhurst]

I live in the UK, but my son lives in Minneapolis, where he stores my 1998 12 valve Cummins 5.9 .He has contacted me to say that with two new batteries and a full tank of diesel and several hours with the block heater on, the engine will turn over well, but will not fire up. He last started the engine two months ago. It's minus 14 at present. The truck is in an unheated garage. Is this cold enough to wax the fuel? AAny suggestions would be gratefully received. I have one very cold son, and I'm talking him through the fuel system. The high pressure fuel pump OFV squeaks when manually using the lift pump lever. I'm now talking him through bleeding the injectors. The fuel filter has no water when a little is drained. I'm now talking him through bleeding the injectors. My boy has never worked on trucks, so we're WhatsApp videoing across the Atlantic. Any advice would be gratefully received, as he is on a schedule. Many thanks. Nick.

 

[GAmes]

Yes, -14 is cold enough to wax diesel if it hasn't been treated. Before bleeding or any kind of manual labor I suggest you try some Power Service Diesel 911 and make an effort to being the temps up inside the garage. Or, let it sit for awhile if he doesn't really need to drive it.

 

[Crowhurst]

Thanks, GAmes, he can't get any diesel out of the cracked back three injectors, even with bumping the starter. He's now off to buy Power Service diesel 911. I assume he has to get that additive through to the injectors from the tank, but presumably that can't happen until the garage is warmed more, and the wax has melted. He has had a space heater running all night, but it's still probably below freezing. Many thanks for replying.

 

[Crowhurst]

He's just messaged to say that cracking the lines from the top of the high pressure pump produced no fuel when manually or engine bumped. The garage has been cosily warm for several hours now, and the block has been on for about 16 hours. Does this seem like wax?

 

[GAmes]

It takes a long time for the fuel in the tank to thaw. If he cracks the bleeder valve on the top of the fuel filter housing (10 mm) and pumps the lift pump does he get fuel? The block heater only warms the engine block, nothing in the fuel system.

 

[Crowhurst]

Yes. He also gets fuel at the line as it goes into the HP pump, but nothing comes out of the cracked nuts on top of the HP pump.

 

[Crowhurst]

I've asked him to direct the space heater towards the HP pump area.

 

[GAmes]

And he did pour some 911 into the tank? Positive there is fuel in the tank?

 

[Crowhurst]

The fuel tank is full. I'll ask him about the 911. He may have been busy following my instructions on bleeding. It's all new to him, but he's doing well. I'll advise him to now get the 911 as we know fuel is getting to the HP pump.

 

[Crowhurst]

The 911 is in the tank and filter, so they're going to leave it for a couple of hours to do its job. BTW GAmes, I've closely followed your extremely experienced advice since 2001, and I'm grateful for your generosity in so doing over these 24 years. Many thanks. Nick.

 

[GAmes]

I've learned far more from other members than I have expounded.

 

[Crowhurst]

Does the HP pump have a bleed valve, or as the lines go from the top to the injectors, a bleed valve is not necessary?

 

[Signal73]

Does the HP pump have a bleed valve, or as the lines go from the top to the injectors, a bleed valve is not necessary?

He can crack the overflow valve (that’s the high spot on the pump body) pump lift pump til fuel shows itself. Then loosen a few injector lines while cranking the engine. Once fuel squirts from the lines tighten them, put the pedal to the metal and crank again. Should spit, sputter, smoke then fire.

 

[Crowhurst]

Thanks for that, Signal73. I'll pass it on to my boy

 

[Crowhurst]

Still no fuel emerges from the top outlets from the HP pump after working all day. He's going to wait for warmer weather to try again. The truck has 50% 911 in the fuel filter as well as 911 in the tank. The truck and travel trailer are a wedding gift to one of my granddaughters, so the pressure's on to get the truck running.

 

[Signal73]

There could be gel elsewhere, in the lines, the pre-filter housing, etc. will pumping the manual primer push fuel out of the overflow valve? I asked earlier but didn’t see a clear answer.

Also maybe we should take a step backwards and start with the basics. Is the fuel shutoff solenoid lifting up and staying there when the starter is engaged?

 

[GAmes]

And will pumping the primer at least push fuel from the bleeder screw on the top of the filter housing?

 

[Crowhurst]

Hand pumping the primer, the fuel lift pump, delivers fuel to the cracked open nut where the fuel line enters the HP pump, but he can't get any fuel to emerge from the cracked overflow valve or the cracked exits to the injectors at the top of the HP pump. Perhaps there is gelled wax messing with the internals of the HP pump. I also assume that if the fuel solenoid was not working, then the primer would not pump fuel, although I could be wrong. Thanks for the interest.

 

[Signal73]

Yea I’d check that shutoff solenoid next.

 

[Crowhurst]

Thanks for that idea. He'll be waiting for warmer weather before looking at that, and he has surgery on Thursday. If I recall correctly, the solenoid coil is energized and the rod moves when the ignition is turned on. He did try getting fuel through the HP pump by operating the starter.