Fueling problem

[DavidC]

Never thought I would be posting here. We are on our way to Minot for the coming of the second grandson and on the way to Flagstaff the fuel pressure went to zero. I pulled off and changed the fuel filter which looked good to no avail. I then removed the Fleetguard strainer from under the truck and blew air in both directions to no avail. I changed the fuel pump as a last resort to no avail. I finally blew air in the line from the pump to the tank which gave me 12-13psi which gradually went to zero in 10-15 miles. After doing that multiple times we finally made it to Flag. Now this had these symptoms years ago and I dropped the tank and found a vaseline type substance on the in tank strainer which I removed and installed the fleetguard strainer with no problems till now. The problem I have now is I do not think the RV park would take kindly of me dropping the tank so I am looking for alternatives as we still have 1500 miles to go. Came across this stuff, anyone used it ?. Other suggestions ?.
http://www.technol.com/our-products.html#246
I am going to take the truck for a ride on I-40 to try to use up some of the approx. 17 gals. still in the tank and see what the pressures do, may have to stop a few times and blow out the line. What a PIA when you need to be somewhere.

 

[p-Bar]

Sorry to hear . I think you have done everything most of us would have done. That technol looks like great stuff. Keep us posted.

 

[JR]

When you pressured up the lines did you check for any wet spots in the lines possibly sucking air?

No strainer in the tank anymore so it shouldn't be the same problem as before? I'm thinking if there's no sign of crap in your filters there shouldn't be a problem in the tank if no strainer.

Is your pump pulling voltage through the ecm still? Is the pump maintaining voltage as it drops pressure?

 

[DavidC]

Yeah the pump is through the ECM but I have an override direct from the battery. Both pumps act identical through ECM and override so I do not think there is a problem. I am going to get a piece of steel fuel line and bypass the inline strainer as it has been on there a long time. I can vise clamp both sides pf the strainer and remove the hose to the engine and get very little spillage but when I pull the tank end of the strainer I make a mess. This makes me believe the strainer is not flowing and although I have blown it out several times it still acts the same so I am going to try eliminating it and see what happens. Off to autozone or oreilly's to get some 5/16 steel line.

 

[JR]

Sounds plausible, good luck and keep us updated.

 

[TFucili]

I don't know anybody in Flag who could lend a hand, Dave. Will head that way if need be.
I'd almost think the biocide may be what you need. Might have stuff growing in the tank???

 

[DavidC]

Autozone or Oreilly's do not carry steel fuel line, guess I am showing my age. Found a piece at Napa $1.50 per ft. Gonna go out and install now update in a few hrs or sooner if all goes well.

 

[DavidC]

Sorry to say that did not fix it. Started out at 13 psi. 20 miles later 0 psi. I also left the fill cap off in case it was creating a vacuum, I can watch the pressure gauge gradually decrease over time. There is nothing in the line now from the tank to the pump so I am thinking either module or tank. Neither one of those sound good, gonna try to disconnect the line at the module, not easy with the limited space there but I do not know what else to do at this point except overnight red 3 bottles of the stuff I listed in the beginning, $9.00 a bottle on ebay for 8oz. bottle. Says he only has 3 bottles left.

 

[p-Bar]

Why don't you jerry rig a fuel line straight into the fuel tank through the filler? Will help process of elimination.

 

[DavidC]

Yeah I guess I can buy enough fuel line. It would take at least a week for the stuff on ebay. I wonder if just buying some biocide like Tom mentioned

 

[DavidC]

Been to Sinclair truck stop, Walmart and Pilot. No biocide/algecide to be found in Flagstaff

 

[DavidC]

Ordered biocide from Amazon, be here Tuesday

 

[TFucili]

Man, sorry you're running into this aggravation. Hope the biocide does the trick.

 

[NIsaacs]

Is your gauge working? Does the truck still run okay with zero pressure?

 

[DavidC]

Is your gauge working? Does the truck still run okay with zero pressure?

Yeah it's a brand new ISSPRO when the westach sender bellied up. Truck seems to run at 0 psi for a while but if I go to long it starts bucking (a very bad VP feeling. When out testing today I rode a few miles on 0 then pulled off the shoulder, the truck was leaning maybe 10-15 degrees toward the pass. side and pressure came up to 5-6 psi. Figured I could make it back to the park, as soon as I took off back to zero. Seemed odd that the fuel would seem to be further from the module at that angle. Maybe I do have algae in the tank and it washed with the fuel to the higher level towards the passenger side. I did add 11 gallons during one of the stops on the way up just to make sure the module had fuel. That made no difference also. With all this medical stuff I have been going through this thing is really wearing me out. I did find all the stuff I need for the aux. pump if it comes down to dropping the tank. I am lost at this point as it seems to be pointing to tank/module as I have done everything from the tank to the filter and blowing air from the pump inlet to the tank clears it up for a little bit.

 

[JR]

I can't believe it would be algae if no indication on your filters - especially if no strainer on the module. It generally causes problems by plugging off filters. I've been bit by that bug, That stuff really makes a mess of everything. It's too bad you can't slide the bed back enough to get to the sending unit at the campground to get a peek.
Wish I could be of some (any) help Dave.

 

[jgillott]

Maybe I missed it in an earlier post, what are you running for a lift pump?

 

[mwilson]

David, just noticed this over coffee this morning.

Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can help...

 

[mwilson]

Isn’t Nick close to where you are??

 

[DavidC]

JR, not sure about the algae either. I had the Fleetguard strainer on and would remove it and blow air through both sides. Possible it was trapping algae before it could get to the main filter ?. When I had the vaseline type problem ( I sure wish someone could tell me what that was) it was almost transluscent that you could almost not see but definately feel.