Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Dropped fuel tank again...How long to bleed out?

[fortunate1]

Needed a new fuel level sender again. So I fixed / bombed the original one to replace the one I bought a few years ago (first one failed @ ~120K mi. ). The replacement lasted about 220K mi, but now it's time to fix it again. This seems to be like an "out of fuel" experience, because it is taking a LONG TIME to bleed.

The truck started fine initially, after putting everything back together. But about 1/2 mi down the road, it lost all power and died. It is taking forever to bleed from the fuel filter bleed bolt and by cranking the starter (10 - 15 secs on & a minute off). Is it supposed to take this long or am I missing something? I appreciate any & all suggestions.

On a side note, the float on the sender was just about perfect after 220K mi in the tank. Also, the tank bottom was very clean, just as I found it when I changed the sender @ 120K mi. Only one "water in fuel" idiot light episode in the last 300K mi.

 

[hsmith]

You have a leak. Better go back and check everything at the tank. No bleeding necessary when replacing the float unit.

 

[DPapworth]

I agree with hsmith. Your system is sucking air someplace. (The leak is likely on the supply side, somewhere between the tank and the lift pump).

Even after replacing the fuel filter, the filter screen/heater assembly, and both of the rubber hoses at the engine end, it only took me about 10 pumps of the manual primer button to get fuel to the bleed bolt. I was surprised at how easy it was. The engine started right up and ran fine.

I did not, however, drop the tank. You might try the "pressurized fuel cap" trick to get your supply line charged with fuel.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Had to pump the primer on my '98 and bunch to get the fuel line primed and the filter canister filled. But it did die after a minute of running, but it didn't take much cranking to get it restarted for good.

One quick way to prime through the injection pump is loosen the overflow valve then pump the primer. You didn't mention pushing the primer button on the lift pump furtunate1, have you been doing that? Another thought, if you disconnected the fuel lines from the fuel pickup assembly did you get 'em clicked back on good? Maybe you cracked a plastic fitting or fuel line?

 

[fortunate1]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Vaughn got it - the fuel supply line came loose during my "test drive". It ran fine at first, but then quickly died. I was able to reconnect the line (and re-check the other), and then everything purged out after 2 turns of the key. No need to crack open the injector lines either. Nice to be back at full power again!