Lost power and died

[jdross440]

Yesterday we started the 92 truck and drove about 1.5 miles (only waited about 15 seconds before driving). Started up a small hill and the truck started losing power and when I pushed the clutch in it died and won't restart. The temp outside was 5 degrees (reported but could have been colder where I was as there was ice and snow on ground). Had it towed back to the apartment and checked to make sure the wires were still connected to the injection pump solenoid (I had one come off several years ago). I drained a little fuel from the filter/separator (no water came out and water in fuel light has never came on except during system test at ignition on). I then pumped the lever on the fuel pump several times until it felt like pressure was build up (filter refilled). Tried to start it and the battery was too low. Having to wait until it warms up today to get a jump and see if it will start. It was -3 this morning and supposed to be near 40 this afternoon. I thought maybe some water had gotten in fuel and frozen but no water came out of separator. Could the diesel have gelled? If it gelled what needs to be done (mandatory filter change, etc) after it warms back up? Recently the tach (installed by the dealer when the truck was new) has been erratic bouncing all over the place. This started about 4 months after replacing the water pump. Haven't noticed the voltage being down, needle usually about half way of volt meter. Could the crank sensor cause this?

 

[DVolk]

If you don't have Anti jell in your fuel my guess it did just that and you might of had a slight amount of water and it froze in the line
you might have to take the line off and blow through it , plug your block heater in as well

 

[jdross440]

I would plug the heater in but I don't have an outlet available where I have to park.

 

[JLEONARD]

Yes at 5 deg F the fuel can jell as I doubt there is anti gel meixed into the diesel in Arkansas. I have had it jell here in Ct at 5 deg.
You may have to wait until the temps warm up into the teens before it will fire up.

 

[jdross440]

It's supposed to be 35 today. Do you think I will need to bleed injectors to get it to fire off?

 

[DVolk]

Its possible id try firing it first , is it possible to run a real long drop cord to it ? It wont take long to warm it up

 

[DMcLeod]

unmodified #2 diesel can gel at around 20 degrees. Could you get a little generator and plug the truck's block heater in for a while? PowerService 911 is a product that de-ices filters and re-liquifies gelled fuel. Although I havn't had to use it yet, I carry a bottle in winter, and they say you pour some in the tank and in the filter housing.
The harness for your crank sensor comes up near your water pump, so may have been damaged.....or I think there is a connector there somwhere behind the fan mount - check to see of contacts are good. Anyhow, if the crank sensor or harness is bad or the gap isn't set correctly, your tach will not work correctly, and your PCM controlled charging system will not work correctly. My charge guage runs about halfway also, but suggest using a digital multimeter tool so you know exactly what is going on. Best of luck in getting it started.

 

[jdross440]

We are getting freezing rain and sleet again so will probably be Friday now before I get a chance to try to start it. Supposed to be in low 50's this weekend so may wait until then. Thanks. Extension cord would have to run 150 feet and across a drive. Apt management wouldn't like that.

 

[JLEONARD]

The suggestion to dump in some 911 additive is a good one. I have seen several folks here use it when they are gelled up.
I would run the extension cord anyway...but then again I don't much like rules. LOL
Good luck hope you get her running.

 

[DVolk]

Hey here is a idea to run your block heater if you have anouther vehicle , and you can get one of those 12volt /110 volt converters run it off that , but id make shure you leave your other rig running so you dont run your battery down

 

[jdross440]

I got it going yesterday. Used my 2000 to charge the battery. While it was charging I loosened the line going into the injection pump. Pumped the lever on fuel pump until fuel starting leaking around line. Tightened it and continued to pump so the injection pump would fill. After 20 minutes of charging I checked the charging rate (I have a clamp on amp meter) and it was down to about 12 amps from 50. Loosened the lines on 1 & 3 injectors. Cranked engine until fuel came out. Tightened them, did the same with 2 & 4 & 6. Then I let the grid heater cycle. Cranked about 5 seconds and it fired off. Ran really rough for about 15 seconds and then smoothed out. During this I left the 2000 batteries connected (I have 0 gauge jumper cables). Disconnected the jumper cables and let it continue to run about 10 minutes to continue charging the battery. Alternator is putting out 14.3 volts and good amperage. I added anti-gel additive to the fuel. It had actually gotten down to -3 the morning it stopped in Fayetteville.

 

[DVolk]

Usally you dont have to crack all 6 injectors , but neverless glad to here you got her to run

 

[jdross440]

Probably wouldn't have had to but I didn't let the grid heater cycle at first. I wanted to make sure I had enough battery charge to at least bleed the lines. Of course with the 2000 jumped to it I really didn't have to worry about enough charge as it has 2 900 cca batteries. When I resealed the injection pump a couple years ago I only bled 3 before it fired off but that was in the summer with outside temp in the low 90's.

 

[DMcLeod]

Good work jd. My 92 gelled up last night at -23f. Fired up and idled for about 2 min. then slowly died. Would not restart. I've been pushing my luck with the local ulsd. I just ran a bottle of additive empty and didnt get any in there the last fill up. It luckily warmed up above zero today, and with all my heaters going and a little cranking, she's running again. First time for me, and I've run diesels for over 20 years....... Lesson learned!

 

[DVolk]

This might sound crazy but does any one have diesel #1 around back there if so id run it , but also keep the Anti gel on hand.
In cold country back in the day theyd run # 1 when it was cold , the power will be down some but it wont gel as bad on you

 

[jdross440]

Don't have it down here. It is a rare occasion we get below 10 degrees. I found out from questioning one of the companies that deliver to stations in this area that the anti-gel additives weren't added to the fuel this year. They said there is a nationwide shortage (whether true or not I don't know) and it was allotted to the north. The tow truck driver even said the same thing and they put the anti-gel additive in all their trucks. They use the stuff from Wal-mart and keep 9-1-1 in their trucks too just in case.
As for the tach bouncing around, I unplugged the crank sensor, put some dielectric grease in it and plugged it back in. Now the tach is steady.

 

[DMcLeod]

jd, fixing that connector should help your charging also. Good deal. I can imagine it was driving the PCM nuts.
We've always run #1 in winter here in AK. Pumps would have a sticker #1 or #2. But recently (later than lower 48) gone to all ULSD, and the only sticker on the pump is the ULSD sticker. I had one outfit tell me with ULSD there's no such thing as #1 & #2 anymore.?? That don't sound right to me. Another outfit tells me they have ULSD #1 at the pump this winter. Trucker last night at the pump told me their trucks are in the shop more than they're on the road. Sure seems hard to get the straight scoop on today's diesel. Not sure what stuff from Wal-mart the tow truck driver uses, but there's plenty of threads/debates on fuel additives. I'll be keeping some in my tank from now on for sure.

 

[DVolk]

Howes is one of the more popular brands the reason for the pump issues is there is no luberication this the reason for useing fuel additives just a small bottel of 2oz bottel of 2 stroke oil helps the lubrication issues , back in the day they use to use transmission fluid but since thranny fluid changed over the years 2 stroke oil is better unless you can find strail 10 or 20 weight motor oil . Call one of the small air port filling station or a oil company that hauls to them as a lotof #1 is used in aviation , basicly its a littel thicker than keroseen , jet fuel is sort of like # 1 but a littel more volitle in a pinch you could thin down #2 useing keroseen with out any harm , like a gallon or 2 to a tank of fuel

 

[jdross440]

The Walmart additive is made by the same company that makes 9-1-1. Power service diesel supplement with anti-gel.

 

[rrnut-2]

I don't trust anybody with the fuel. I have used Power Service for every tank full in the winter since the EPA changed the mixture one winter about 15 years ago. When they did that, every diesel here in the northeast stopped. I had a '91 CTD at the time, great truck, and now I am on my 4th. I have had to use the PS 9-1-1 before and it does work! I keep a bottle in the truck just in case.