Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) gas on a rag starting, will this hurt?

[TLoggains]

changed the fuel filter yesterday and couldnt get it to start. cracked the bleeder screw and pumped till my finger went flat couldnt get it to push air. filter was filled b-4 installing. called a friend who worked on diesels in the oilfield days. he tightened everthing down poured some gas on a rag and held it over the intake tube and the thing started right up then repeated it when it died. motor smoothed right out. runs fine. is it ok to do this? will it hurt my engine? watched the same guy build an auto trans in the dirt. thats why I'm worried... .

 

[tp0d]

I dont think gas fumes will hurt at all... Gas in the fuel system is a different story.



As for priming your pump, you may have caught the lift pump with the lift actuator in the 'on' position on the cam, next time try cranking it over real quick, then pump again. If the pump is in that position, it wont move any fuel at all. Filling up the filter is a very good idea.



Ohya, Welcome to TDR.



-jerry

 

[JNailor]

WOW, that's crude! It won't damage the engine, but if the grid heaters are on it will explode in the intake tract possibly damaging the turbo and most likely splitting the aftercooler core.

 

[jabird]

I have seen truck drivers do something like that at the truck stop... During the winter only when its extremely cold and the motor has been shut down for quite some time. Not being able to get the truck started, they poor gas in the intake... motor fires... rpm's go through the roof... they shut the motor off. Doing this over and over, building heat in the motor, till the gas burns off and the motor idels normally. Saw it work many times. However i have no idea what sort of damage this may have caused

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I've done it a few times...



If it has glow plugs or a grid heater... wait for it to shut down and then crank it over. Using a gas soaked rag results in MUCH less noise and commotion than using ether.



It worked great on a 1st Gen that had been sitting for 3 years. All it would do was crank over - wouldn't fire off. Gas soaked rag made it fire right off and it ran fine after that...



Matt

 

[Joe G.]

It is NOT a good idea to pre-fill the fuel filter. The center hole is on the clean side so the fuel you pour in the filter goes to the injection pump unfiltered. As Jerry says above, you probably had the lift pump on the high spot in the cam.

 

[JGheen]

Yeah, I too never fill the fuel filter housing before re-installation for the same reason of unfiltered fuel going to the injection pump side. But also, because it is a PITA as to not spill any out of the housing when putting it back on. Just put it on dry, open the 10mm bleed screw and pump away. Fires right up!

 

[tp0d]

Hmmm Ive always prefilled mine... guess i`ll do it dry in a few thousand. . shouldnt be too bad. .



-j

 

[R.ebel]

Gas on a rag

In a pinch it does work (done it myself) but really makes a diesel rattle and it will try to run away on the gas fumes if you let it get to big a wiff. Be sure to de-activate the grid heater beforehand.

 

[TGaines]

I guess this is one of those cases where people do what they feel good with. I was told by a mechanic at a big rig shop that you should pre-fill the filter. Some of you guys say no. I don't know where the bleed screw is and only today really looked for the prime button on the pump. I never have had a problem with it firing up. It runs rough for a couple secs and then smoothes out. My initial reason for replying was to see if anyone who has a 12v can change this filter without completely soaking the side of the engine and front end with diesel? Do you guys use the drain and drain the fuel first or just unscrew it? I hate doing this but it had to be done. I am such an amateur. I feel like an idiot when I'm done and like I forgot to tighten something or other. I guess it will get better with time.



Travis

 

[JGheen]

Do you guys use the drain and drain the fuel first or just unscrew it?



Travis

Yes, it is much cleaner and spillage free if you open the drain valve and drain the housing first. I usually put a clean coffe can on top of the axle pumpkin and the fuel from the drain hose goes right in. Of course my truck is lifted so it may not be as easy to stick a can on top of the axle to catch the draining fuel with a stock truck.

 

[TGaines]

I'll have to put the coffee can idea in the back of my mind so I remember for the next change. Thank goodness we only have to do this every 15k.