**Extra Fuel**

[74Argosy24MH]

Diesel pumps need to be primed either by a hand pump in line, the electric pump in tank or pressurizing the system with air.

John

[mcneon]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Quick question: I know marine diesels need to be primed if they run out of fuel. Is the same true for modern day pickup trucks with diesels?

I've had two diesels, and I ran out once in each one.

The first was a '92 Dodge Cummins with mechanical injection. In this one, you had to loosen the fittings on every injector with a couple of wrenches, then crank the starter motor until all the air was purged from the lines.

The second was a '95 Ford Powerstroke Turbo in an E250 van. The Powerstroke has EFI, so I had high hopes that I could just add fuel and drive off. For some reason, though, I had to pour fuel into the filter housing, which is in the vee on top of the engine. It's probably a very accessible location in a pickup, but a major pain to get to in a van - lots of disassembly of air inlet pieces and heat shields.

I hope more modern diesels are easier to get running that either of these, but if you have one, I'd advise you not to find out!

Bob McKeown
Nashville

[Janets Husband]

I have not run out yet in my DuraMax but the book says I will have to bleed and prime the system at the fuel filter. Done this at a filter change not a problem. Hope I don't have to do it for real.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by JohnG

If we have learned anything it is that ANYTHING can be fixed.

Show me where the buzzer is, and give me a pair of wire cutters. I will fix it. You will never hear it again.
Terry

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by 74Argosy24MH

Diesel pumps need to be primed either by a hand pump in line, the electric pump in tank or pressurizing the system with air.

John

A simple thing to do on EFI Diesels would be to program the ECM to turn off the injectors when the fuel quantity is less than 1 gallon. OBDII can tell fuel quantity that closely. That means that you have 1 gallon less of usable fuel, but think of the aggravation it could save, just adding a few gallons of fuel, restarting the engine, and driving away. No priming, no grease, no removing covers. No cursing and gnashing of teeth. The only down side would be if the fuel sender malfunctioned, but that is what we have AAA for...
Terry

[MarkE]

I haven't carried extra fuel along on any of my trips, so far. But, I agree with Tinsel Loaf that it can be very tense when driving at night, with the 'low fuel'
warning lit (for quite a few miles), hoping that over the crest of the next hill will be a gas station.
I've had that happen a couple of times and it ain't fun. Soooo, from now on, when on long Airstream excursions, I think I WILL be taking along a small amount of extra gas.

[norbert]

Originally Posted by argosy20

A simple thing to do on EFI Diesels would be to program the ECM to turn off the injectors when the fuel quantity is less than 1 gallon. OBDII can tell fuel quantity that closely. That means that you have 1 gallon less of usable fuel, but think of the aggravation it could save, just adding a few gallons of fuel, restarting the engine, and driving away. No priming, no grease, no removing covers. No cursing and gnashing of teeth. The only down side would be if the fuel sender malfunctioned, but that is what we have AAA for...
Terry

well, mr.mastercylinder.....if its that simple, why havent those brilliant engineers thought of it?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by norbert

well, mr.mastercylinder.....if its that simple, why havent those brilliant engineers thought of it?

They have. It is used on larger diesel engines, like the ones in big trucks, trains and ships. They are even more of a pain to prime than our little ones.
Terry

[norbert]

guess it boils down to the almighty dollar......