Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel bleeds back. No start

[DThibault]

Truck runs fine but when I shut it off at the end of the day, it will not fire again the next day, if so it only runs for a second. I can crack the filter canister and bump the starter and after blowing fuel out the top of the can, I shut it and it will start and run fine. Where do I look for an air leak problem. I can't see any visible leaks when it is running. Thanks. Oh yes it is a 2001 HO engine.

 

[jclark5810]

My fuel leak was at the return line at the back of the block where it goes from hard line to a quick connect fitting. On mine I would back up an incline and park for the night, it would start fine. If i pulled straight in the drive way, nose up, it would crank and crank before it would fire.

I would start at the very first fuel injector line and look over every inch of fuel line on the truck. It's time consuming and tedious but it's free. Is it an oem lift pump?

 

[gtwitch]

I posted about a very similar problem about a year ago and the problem in my case I found to be a loose pressure gage sending unit on the top of my filter (99). I found it was leaking air back into the top of the filter as the engine cooled off but would not leak fuel (just damp) and would not prime the VP-44 so it would not start and if I was in the mountains with low temps, I would have to ether it (bad on me) but I finally started it cold and had soap bubbles at the fitting while the air was coming out of the slightly loose fitting. I removed the sending unit and 45 elbow and re teflon taped it, being careful not to tape the first 2 threads so no teflon would get into the fuel system and all is well, no problems last winter at all.

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[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Sometimes the overflow valve is the culprit. It's the large banjo bolt on the VP44 for the return fuel line.

 

[RikDavis]

On my 99 it was a nick in the O ring on the top of the filter cartridge. Not sure if the 2001 filter is similiar. I had no visible leaks

 

[DThibault]

I peeked underneath and found fuel leaking from the top of the fuel tank toward the front, only when the engine is shut off. Guess I'll have to pull the tank to see what's going on. Thanks for all the help.

 

[DThibault]

Pulled the tank today. Found the stainless steel line out of the tank had chafed through while rubbing on the fuel tank. Hardly even marked the plastic tank. I spliced in a new piece of line with compression fittings and replaced the tank straps while I was there and all is good. I'll replace the line someday, Maybe

 

[gtwitch]

I had a similar problem when my 99 was was a lot newer and new used to me after the truck had been used in the oil field for about 2 years and a lot of dirt and gravel roads had put a lot of fine dirt and sand on and in the frame and where the fuel line is in the grove/channel in between the tank and the frame the line was abbrated and a very small leak or drip under the truck from the tank led me to find this same issue. when I put the new line in I use some of that slip over plastic conduit made for putting wires in you can buy in the parts house and I also put spiral wrap on the return line to protect it. funny how these issues seem to be repeating!

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