Air locked?

[dadio13]

Hi, again.
Still having fuel issues with my BJ74. Just wondering if anyone can tell me it these 13BT turbo engines ever air lock in a way that effects the whole running of the truck? Is it possible my fuel prime issue could be realated to a broader system woe? Any thoughts.

It seems strange that after the truck sits for the nite i can prime it up and it runs great for awhile but after driving for 30 to 50km it dies again and i have trouble getting it to hold its prime at all at that point...let it sit over night and it primes and fires right up.

 

[cicak]

Filter at elbow up to ip. 17mm spanner needed. Remove and inspect and see if full of dirt

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Doesn't the 13 B-T have a fuel / water separator that can be an issue?

 

[dadio13]

I wish i knew.

 

[dadio13]

1978HJ45

IP? Can you be a little bit more specific? I am not sure what you mean.

 

[dadio13]

Injector Pump..got ya. Well i changed the priming pump (screw on screw off).

Is there a filter in the priming pump housing, or do you mean the line that feeds the injector pump?..that looks compicated.?

 

[dadio13]

MY manuel does not show any filters on any part of the injector pump or priming pump housing. Guess i could be missing something tho.

 

[Chester]

Wish I had a manual
I don't know your motor at all, but your symptoms sound like mud or water. could be anywhere. but if your filter is doing it's job, that's where it should be.

 

[dadio13]

The first thing i did was change the fuel filter, the old one was spotless.

 

[Squash]

Bypass the whole system from before the filter to the IP with a length of clear hose. The clear hose will tell you instantly if you have an air leak. Have had clear hose on my unit for two years now....keep a spare hose on hand.

BTW Have seen brand new MBenz filters suck air...two mechanics and the diagnostic computer could not tell the problem. This took a young mechanic with his heel priming the pump to start the unit, plus the filter is over a foot long with a clear glass on the bottom. On top of this the primer was stiff to hand pump...that's why he used his heel!

 

[Behemoth60]

I had the same problem you describe. Took me a year to diagnose and correct it. I tried everything. Including a complete fuel system bypass driving off a coke bottle fulk of diesel fuel!

Turns out it was the pick up in my fuel tank. I blew a little compressed air backwards into the tank. Its been perfect ever since.

 

[dadio13]

thanks alot. Great tips. will try both. Peter, Where did you hook up the air? Fuel intake at filter?
David

 

[dadio13]

I can hear a sparatic gurgling niose in the tank when i shut it down after its acted up. Almost like the tank has indigestion.

 

[Shes Mad]

If your tank is gurgling, you have a return, or pressure issue. Try opening the cap after you stop, and see if it sucks air. You also have a check valve and lines on your fuel filler. They may be a cause of your pressure issue. You have to remove the cover in the back of the right rear wheel well to see the underside of the filler tube.

The separator is the black canister in front of the power steering reservoir on your right front fender. You can open the bottom and drain it, or the top screws off and you can look in it. Should be full of fuel after you shut it off.

 

[Behemoth60]

I can hear a sparatic gurgling niose in the tank when i shut it down after its acted up. Almost like the tank has indigestion.

The problem is definitely in your fuel tank.

The right thing to do would be to drop your tank, and clean everything... there's a clog somewhere. The cheap and nasty fix would be to shoot some compressed air back through your fuel line, both your fuel supply and return lines. I had to do a little trial and error to narrow down which one was my supply and which was the right one, but the diagrams and pictures from 'She's Mad' should get you started.

 

[dadio13]

Thanks everyone, Great help and much appreciated. I will update once i get a chance to address this.

 

[Senior]

The problems you are describing sounds like a problem I have come across many times in Ireland. Muck and dirt can build up on top of your fuel tank around the sender unit and over time corrodes the pipes leading to it sucking in air and starving the pump of fuel.

Hope this helps

 

[dadio13]

Thanks, I am going to have someone drop the tank and check into all issues arround the fuel tank. I am hopefull we will find the problem. I figure it must be minor since i can let the truck sit overnight and it will fire right up with a prime and run great for awhile till it sucks enough air somewhere to lose prime.

 

[Behemoth60]

i can let the truck sit overnight and it will fire right up with a prime and run great for awhile till it sucks enough air somewhere to lose prime.

This is exactly what was happening to my truck, and why it was so hard to diagnose. It seems like an air lock... when truck get's hot, it starts to sputter and die... initially under full throttle situations, eventually all the time. Sit for a while, and it runs fine. Air lock... right?

But diesel fuel doesn't evaorate and create air locks like gas does!

After sitting over night, the fuel can trickle through the clog in the pick ups and run well on a 'Cold Start', for a while... Until the tow truck pulls your truck home from the side of the road...

My problems started after spending 2 weeks in Moab hanging out in the dusty desert.

 

[dadio13]

Thanks Peter,
That sounds like the problem. I was scared it was the injector pump at firs but i realized it probably was not since runs excellent on a fresh prime and a rest..for at least long enough to realize if something was broken in the pump itself this would probably not be possible.

i am going to book and appointment at local Rad shop( they do gas tanks too) and have them inspect and clean tank and inspect and clean the pic ups. See if they can test for leaks etc.


I was ready to let it go for a whole lot less then i am asking last week but now i am reconsidering what i will do with the old gem. I calmed down (someone probably could have low balled me and got it i was so mad..lol) but I am buying a more modern rig tommorow and gonna re evaluate what to do with my cruiser.
David.