Archived 97 still runs, barely

[SRadke]

A friends 97 just turned south. He pulled out on the road and had no power. Made 40mph in a mile. Pulled over and we replace the fuel filter. It had some brown slime in it that I attribute to the fuel additive he is using. Prime the system and it started up again but wouldn't idle. If you hold full throttle it will start but only makes about 1500 rpm and sounds rough. No noticeable smoke (it is dark and I couldn't see much with the flashlight). What do you think? Possible lift pump? TIA



-Scott

 

[bmoeller]

What is his fuel pressure? Did you check the fuel strainer (next to the lift pump)? Bad overflow valve? Need to replace the short rubber fuel lines? Shut off solenoid not pulling all the way up limiting the fuel to the pump (or sticking throttle linkage)?



http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/filter/pre-filt_clean.htm



http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/troubleshooting/injector_pump.htm#Overflow



http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/troubleshooting/12v_trouble.htm#low_power



http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1996/14-07-96.htm



http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/18-06-98.htm

 

[SRadke]

Fuel pressure unknown. The strainer is very possible, I'll have him check that in the morning. There was enough slime in the filter that the strainer may be totally plugged.



This was an "all of the sudden" kind of thing so I'm leaning away from the overflow valve and short rubber fuel lines. The selenoid and throttle linkage were working correctly.



Thanks for the info, We'll see what tomarrow brings.



-Scott

 

[SRadke]

Update

We cleaned the strainer and still weren't getting fuel through so we slapped on a new lift pump. Still nothing. We just can't get fuel pumped up through into the filter. I'm thinking there is a leak in the fuel line between the tank and pump (which we would likely have noticed) or something has gone wrong with the suction in the tank. Any ideas?



-Scott

 

[mainer]

Was the fuel additive you mentioned something he's been using always, or did he just decide to try it? If he hasn't been using it consistently with every fill-up, it may have killed and dislodged a big bunch of the bacteria that forms in diesel fuel. I mean enough to really botch up filters, and even hard corners in the fuel lines. I've been this route with my lobster boat once, as have alot of my friends, and it took me a long time and several filters to shake it. I recommend regular use of an additive that disperses water, not the biocide stuff. The bacteria grows in the water that's in the fuel, so if the water is dispersed, the bacteria can't live in the 1st place. I think the stuff I use in both my boat and truck is called "Power Source", and right on the back it says that one of it's properties is that it disperses water. It comes in a mostly white jug, and I get it at Wal-Mart. Good luck

 

[SRadke]

I'm not sure what exactly the additive was but he started using it during elk season this fall (November). I think it was simply an anti-gell but I'm not sure. The slime that was in the filter was very thin and slick. We did blow backwards through the line from the lift pump to clear the suction screen in the tank, to no avail.



I've also been advised to checked for a crack in the steel fuel line which I will do.



-Scott

 

[Joe G.]

It sounds to me like you got a bad load of fuel. Or you have fungus growing in your fuel. I had that problem once on a fish boat that held 1000 gallons. It was a real mess to clean up. Bought fuel filters by the case and changed them every time pressure dropped. There is a biocide the will kill the fungus. The problem then is getting rid of all the dead fungus. If the problem is really bad (it sure sounds like it is) then you will have to remove the fuel tank and clean it. Also flush the fuel system up to the filter. Then make sure you use some biocide every so often to make sure the fungus is completely dead. Water dispersal additive to control it after the system is clean is a very good idea.

 

[Andy Redmond]

Mainer:



"Power Service" made in Weatherford, TX where it never gets too cold, go figure.



I second the others posts Scott. At least siphon the tank as dry as you can.



Good luck

Andy

 

[SRadke]

Thanks for all your replies. We did pump out the tank and strain the fuel. There wasn't as much crud in it as I expected after seeing the screen and filter. The priming problem turned out to be our fault. It seems my buddy reassembled the prefilter without the o-ring and we had an air leak there. Go figure. Anyhow, we got it straightened out and he's back on the road. Thanks for all your help and suggestions.



-Scott