ok,, this is my first deisel,, lately, when I park up hill,,, the front of the truck upper most,, I have a hard time starting it,, when its leavel,, no problem. Could this be water in the tank? Would those feul additives work to remove it,, draining the tank requires removeing it,, there is a sheild under there, that comes out with the tank. Is there any other way to remove the water? Do I need to replace the fuel filter also?

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), August 16, 2001

Answers

What year and make is your truck?

-- Gary (burnett_gary@msn.com), August 16, 2001.

85 chevy, 4 speed

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), August 16, 2001.

If it starts on flat land I would not say it was water, I would start by changing the filters but I don't think it is that either, Maybe a weak fule pump?. Dose it do it on a full tank?

One easy fix...don't park up hill

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), August 16, 2001.

it has dual tanks,, and does it on both. And I have been backing in my driveway,, and it is helps. Dont think I got ahold of some water in the fuel? Have been getting ALOT out of fuel cans,, (get fuel from work)

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), August 16, 2001.

Stan,

I'm going to guess it's a fuel pump problem or that your fuel is draining back to your tanks overnight and the pump has to work longer/harder to get fuel back up to your engine. A diesel should fire almost immediately at the turn of the key after the glow plug light has gone out.

Before I spent a lot of money on that I'd give the fuel additives a shot, though. It's pretty cheap and not a bad idea given your fuel source, anyhow. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), August 16, 2001.

it has happened even within a short while of driving it,, like an hour. Dont know if the fuel would drain back that fast

-- STAN (sopal@net-port.com), August 17, 2001.

I had a diesel in a boat and had to change filters often.I had two filters a primary and secondary. You probably have a water separator with a drain. If you use fuel additive plan on changing filters because they will need it soon after. My racor filters seemed to clog at the worst time in rough sea because the fuel stirred everything up. You could probably find a motor head message board with people that could help you. Good luck. By the way what kind of miles per gallon do you get?

-- ed (edfrhes@aol.com), August 18, 2001.

Hi Stan, I asked Lunatic, he has driven semi's for some 18 years, he said the the fuel will begin to drain back to the fuel tank as soon as the truck is shut off, that there is a one way valve or diaphram that is suposed to stop it from draining,and hold some fuel at the engine, but he had heard of many trucks that have the same problem as yours and most of the people he knew just parked nose down. He thought this causes some fuel to puddle somewhere in the fuel line, so it would start sooner. If you like I could ask Lunatic, to ask the shop mechanic at his truck yard if he thinks it would be any thing else.

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), August 20, 2001.

I don't know if anyone will read this or not, I just found this thread today. I have driven diesel pickups for years. I have owned three that had a small drain nut on the bottom of the fuel tank, and that facilitated draining any water that accumulated in the fuel. However, I don't know if this was a factory item or not--two were GMC 6.2L 1/2 tons, and one was a Ford F250 w/7.3L. I also agree that you should drain your primary and secondary fuel filters regularly, while the truck is running.

-- HannahMariaHolly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), August 23, 2001.