Ran out of fuel won't restart

[Breck]

12 valve... . forgot to mention that before





I think I ran out of fuel; guage hasn't worked for 120K. (I'll fix it some day. )



I put about 10 gallons in, (tried) to prime it (can't get it to build pressure like last time I ran out), cracked the fuel manifold line (got some air out as my buddy cranked it), then cracked the fuel lines (did not see any air or fuel coming out) and still can't get it to start???? Pulled the fuel filter off and it is filled with fuel. Do I just have A LOT of AIR in the lines or pump????? I think my next step is to pull the line from the lift pump to the fuel filter to see if it is pushing fuel up. Any other suggestions???? I'm some what limited on tools and recourses due to it ran out of fuel about 10 miles from home and it is night and winter here in MI. Any suggestions I'll try tomorrow morning after church... ... I'll say a prayer!



V/R



Breck Livingston

Saginaw, MI

 

[DEZLPWR]

More info needed....

What year etc. is your truck?

 

[WyoJim]

Breck... Is it a Cummins? What year??

 

[JR2]

If its a twelve or 24 don't matter, crack the lines to the injectors and bleed the air out.

 

[LSMITH]

Breck, most likely you just have a ton of air in the system, push the primer bulb till you hurt with the line to the pump loosened a bit, cranking a second or two now and then. Then when you get fuel to the pump on each push tighten the line to the pump and loosen three of the injector lines and crank and crank, no more than 10 seconds or so at a time and wait until the starter cools down to crank again. When you get fuel at the lines you should be able to tighten the injector lines and get it lit. If not do the other three injector lines for a bit. You might run out of battery doing it this time of year so I would hook another vehicle up to the batteries with cables while I was working on it. If you got the system full of air it can be a real pain getting it started again. Hope this helps.



You may want to look into bombing your fuel sender so it works too

 

[Breck]

10-4 on the sending unit!



LSMITH,



I'll try that once my thumb "recoups" from todays use. I figured I have a lot of air in the system. Just wanted to confirm with the "experts"



Thanks once again.



Breck

 

[rhoads]

out of fuel

Having had the proplem-simple to restart with fuel as little as 5 gal(if your setting level) !!!

Two ways--pump the hand pump with the bleeder bango cracked open OR----------

Painless way--crack---- open any 3 inj lines ontop of the pump and crank intill eng fires once or twice close down one line(one that has shot out most fuel) crank again eng will fire and run(rough) while still running tighten other two lines and eng will smooth out. . worse case may have to loosen one more line. Shouldnt take mor than 60 sec.

 

[carson6]

When I ran out of fuel

Breck,I just open the air bleed screw on top of the fuel filter and pump(with a stick or broom handle) the lift pump primer bulb until no mo air come's out than close it and crack ALL the injectors. In cold weather don't let it preheat(don't wait to start) it WILL kill the batteries like lsmith said

 

[Breck]

Thanks for all the help!



I still haven't got it started; I piddled around with it for about a 1/2 hour this morning and still couldn't get it going. Had some chores to do but will try again. I've done everything mentioned except cracking the lines on the pump itself. I will try that a little later.



Last time I ran out is was no big deal getting it started again... . this time... . another story!

 

[rhoads]

wont run

This fuel sys is like a cat eng(maybe proper lady) won't pass air(gas) you get pure air i go to the pump head fast and easy. Seeing you are in cooler temp (ind. here) forge the heat cycle, crack the three fuel lines you can get to on top the pump easy spin the eng over say 6 revs shut down the ling that shows the most fuel spin again shut another line, maybe once more ,close the last line cycle the heat lite and shoule fire even if you left one line open---------- IF it is not showing a lot of fuel out one of those fitting you have other problems

 

[Jff24Gordn]

If you are having this much trouble, you are probably runnin the battery down. If you have some room, chain your truck to another vehicle and drag it around slowly with your truck in 5th gear. While you are pullin it around, you can still climb around on the engine compartment and check to see if things are bleeding out. And if you have an open enouhg space, say a large flat field, you can do this by your self with a tractor in low gear. Not that I have done this before.

 

[Power Wagon]

Originally posted by Jff24Gordn

If you are having this much trouble, you are probably runnin the battery down. If you have some room, chain your truck to another vehicle and drag it around slowly with your truck in 5th gear. While you are pullin it around, you can still climb around on the engine compartment and check to see if things are bleeding out. And if you have an open enouhg space, say a large flat field, you can do this by your self with a tractor in low gear. Not that I have done this before.

And how far did you go like this trying to get the truck primed when you had a broken fuel hose this summer???

 

[Jff24Gordn]

The batteries were good then. I didnt hafta get the massy out.

 

[Extreme1]

As for the primer bulb method: It always takes me 114-120 pumps for the filter to fill up. Remove the 10mm bolt on the top of the filter bracket or it will take alot longer.



NOTE: it is possible for the engine to stop in a position that this primer doesn't work! If you can't get fuel to pump out (sounds like you should be able to) bump the engine to a different position.



After you have fuel coming out of the top, have someone crank it over and look to see that more fuel is coming out. This will tell you if the lift pump is working. Reinstall the bolt and start cranking. Like mentioned above, don't go though the preheat cycle. It will take a few minutes of cranking, stop occaisionally and let the starter cool off.



When it does start, it will run very rough and die a few times until the air gets bled out.

 

[Breck]

Got it started.



Thanks for the help!



V/R



Breck Livingston