97 fuel pump and vc gasket fail

[Newport]

Thought I would contribute to the great info pool here. Nothing new, but maybe it will help.

97 f250 started having very occasional hard starts and rough idle. This just a few days after I changed the fuel filter and didn't do any air bleeding. Thought it was some air, hoping it was.

Then it started falling on its face here and there, really rough running, but then it would recover back to great for a while.

Bought auto engenuity data and code odb reader but it wasnt showing me the problem, even when I caught the rough running. Granted I am new to diesels so learning as I go.

Cleaned out a clogged ebp tube and sensor. Found the ebp valve was unplugged by prev owner. Plugged it back in after finding ebp sensor reading correctly. Did not fix the problem.

Cleaned off the fpr screen. Did not solve the problem.

Did buzz test, all good. It would not do a cyl contrib test, I guess the oil temp wasnt hot enough. Got it up to 144f, wasnt too set on this being worth doing so I dropped it. Koeo and koer tests all good.

Still not sure what data would have helped from ae tool. Thinking about measuring the fuel pressure from the schrader valve, didnt though...

Then it really started going bad. Had to limp in with a really rough engine. Took it to a local pro.

They put a wet guage on the schrader valve and drove it with it visible while driving. When the thing fell on its face the pressure dropped to nothing.

Replaced the fuel pump. Also found that the drivers side valve cover gasket, forward connector on the inside, had melt damage. Guessed that this was from running it while so rough a bit much.

[ryandamo]

those valve cover gaskets will do it, they like to melt when glow plugs go bad

[Newport]

Forgot a few things. DTC of P0344 (cps circuit A intermittent, misfire) happened after two episodes of rough running. I did change the cps, didnt fix anything. Original cps was only a few months old after taking to dealer for recall items.

Two mechs code readers didnt find the code, must not have been compat with powerstroke obd. Auto engenuity did find them of course.

I will ohm the glow plugs again to make sure that did not cause the vc gasket connect melt.

I did also see P0472, low exhaust back pressure. That came before I cleaned the ebp tube and havent seen it since.