Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Oh no!

[stevek]

So last week I fill up on the road at a Texico in Chicago as I was damn near on empty. The station obviously doesn't sell much diesel so I only put 10gals in until I can hit a FlyingJ in IN. I can tell right away that something is amiss after fueling, no power running rough. Fill up at the FlyingJ and the problem appears aggrivated so I know its time to change the fuel filter, just really have no time to until Dec. 2 (now tomorrow). The truck was okay as long as it was held to under 2000 rpms which is livable. So today I fuel up in Columbus at my normal station and head out onto the freeway to make it home. Getting onto the freeway there is enough blue/grey smoke to pretty much block all my mirrors and no power at all, my poor truck can not get out of its own way if it had to Make it ~20miles on the road holding it as close to 50mph as I can before all the sudden it starts downshifting on its on and loses what power it had left. My truck is now dead, well it idles and can drive under 20mph alright. My question is this, do you think I'll be lucky and get away with a lift pump and fuel filter or do you think my poor beast will be heading to Dodge for a warranty claim on a VP44? My stomach is churning right about now...

 

[LSMITH]

Change the filter, and give it a shot to see what happens. When you drain the filter do it into a clear container of some sort, check closely in the drained fuel and on the old filter for brownish/greenish slimy stuff. If you see ANY slimy stringy snot looking stuff you are going to have to drop the tank and have it cleaned out. Algae WILL take out the VP44 unless it is taken care of right away.



Sounds to me like you got a load of water and crap in the fuel, where there is water in large quantities algae can get bad in a hurry.



Now you know why most of us carry a spare (at least one, preferrably 2) fuel filter with us at all times.

 

[andrewkoperdak]

I would change the filter, add some diesel stabilizer ( helps dissipate the water) and if you didn't empty you filter bowl when you changed the filter do it now. I am surprised you water in fuel indicator did not go active. Anyway,we had a heat exchanger burst on our marine diesel. Had sea water mixing with fuel and then returning to the on service fuel tank ( 30,000 gallons) which was contaminated with sea water. We ran a bunch of water and diesel into our engine. We lost one engine and the other one could hardly turn the one screw. We got away with two wasted fuel injectors and no other problems.

Best of luck to you.

R,

Andy

 

[stevek]

New filter, new lift pump, and 1. 5hrs of my time and she is running stronger than ever Dumped some Standyne into the tank and I'll change the filter again in a week but it sure seems solved. In first I can take it up to 3200rpm no problem and it pulls like it never has... Thanks for the help