Help Co-workers truck won't start

[jraker]

Co-worker came out of work last Friday and his truck would not start. He has an 03. Temperatures were in the single digits. The weekend only got colder but he purchased a generator and plugged in the block heater for 2 hours on Sunday. No luck. I went out with him the other day (the warmest day of the week) and tried to help him. We hooked up the batteries for about an hour while I bumped his starter to engage the LP. He recently had his LP replaced and he replaced his fuel filter two weeks ago. I believe his problem to be gelled fuel. He is running an cetane boost that is supposed to help with gelling. Any advice? I am running the same diesel 2 in my truck with out an additive and haven't had any problems. I forgot to ask him to check what codes he may be throwing. Any advice on how to get it started is appreciated.



Thank you,



JDR

 

[JCasper]

Someone up in washington just had a similar problem on a local website. I told him to plug in the heater and put a light under the hood to help create some heat. Someone else suggested running warm water over the fuel lines between the tank and motor.



He later came back and said they plugged in the truck, put a light under the hood, and put some anti-gel in the tank and they were able to get it started.



There are a couple ideas for you, good luck.

 

[MMiller]

Don't know the specifics of a 3rd gen fuel filter, and I know it goes against all rules, but pull the fuel filter, dump it out, and look in the filter, can you see the gelled fuel in the pleats? If its gelled there, throw the filter away and get another one, fill it with fuel additive of your choice, I like Howe's Lubricant, but Power Service is fine too. Let it set awhile, with the block heater plugged in and then try and start it.



I had my work truck gel on me the other day, and it was only down 18*F, yeah, with no negative in front of it. That was the first time in the last 15 years I've had a diesel gell on me. The water separator was gelled in the pleats of the filter.



Can you drag the truck to a building, to warm it up? When Dad's semi gelled up, we drug it into the machine shed, propped cardboard up around the sides of the truck, and then placed a heater in the front of the truck and heated up the underside of the truck, lines, fuel tanks, and with the block heater plugged in, a few hours later the truck started and ran. Plus it will be much nicer to struggle with the truck out of the weather, even if its just out of the wind.



Good Luck.



Michael

 

[RRees]

Do you have Power Service in the Red bottle (911). I would recommend getting some and read the directions. I carry a bottle (quart) in my truck all the time, per recommendations of other TDR members.



In theory, the Power Service 911 will de-gell gelled diesel fuel.



Good luck.

 

[JCasper]

Gelled trucks in the NW this week.

Here is one



And another

 

[jraker]

Thank you guys for your suggestions. It makes it a little more difficult as the truck in is on an Air Force Base and more snow is predicted through the weekend. I will pass your suggestions off to my co-worker. Is the 3rd gen fuel filter take the same size socket as the 2nd Gen? It seems to be harder to access than on my truck. I think he is already running Power Service with the red cap. He has a 1/2 tank of fuel. How long does it take to heat the fuel lines?



Thank you again,



JDR

 

[silverram03]

Yep, it takes the same socket (1-1/8" 6pt. ) An extension and a woble connector always helps. And I believe torque value on the cap is 25 ft. lbs.

 

[Scrappy]

Co-worker came out of work last Friday and his truck would not start. He has an 03. Temperatures were in the single digits. The weekend only got colder but he purchased a generator and plugged in the block heater for 2 hours on Sunday. No luck. I went out with him the other day (the warmest day of the week) and tried to help him. We hooked up the batteries for about an hour while I bumped his starter to engage the LP. He recently had his LP replaced and he replaced his fuel filter two weeks ago. I believe his problem to be gelled fuel. He is running an cetane boost that is supposed to help with gelling. Any advice? I am running the same diesel 2 in my truck with out an additive and haven't had any problems. I forgot to ask him to check what codes he may be throwing. Any advice on how to get it started is appreciated.



Thank you,



JDR

2 hrs is not long enough with the block heater plugged in to fully warm the engine if it is cold soaked.

 

[jraker]

Thank you Scrappy. I will pass this on. I think he was going to try 4 hours this weekend. I haven't been able to get a hold of him to pass this along.