1996 7.3 F350. fires off but wont run

[motorhead440]

I'm helping my cousin get his 1996 F350 7.3 auto back up and running. It will fire off but only run for one or two seconds then it shuts off.

Changed the fuel filters, blew out the return line, replaced the fuel preheater. There was a lot of sludge when these parts were disassembled and cleaned. Truck started and ran fine after the previous maintenance for only about 20 miles then resumed the original symptoms.

Fuel seems to flow real well through the disconnected return however we havnt checked pressure at the shrader valve. Thinking about replacing the mechanical fuel pump and R&R the valve that switches between the fuel tanks.

Suggestions appreciated.

[glovemeister]

Have you dropped your tanks? That garbage is coming from somewhere and that place is usually your tanks. Would appear you have algae in your tanks, and there are products to clear that. I'd drop it before I did that though simply because your injectors are pricey beasts.

[motorhead440]

Originally Posted by glovemeister

Have you dropped your tanks? That garbage is coming from somewhere and that place is usually your tanks. Would appear you have algae in your tanks, and there are products to clear that. I'd drop it before I did that though simply because your injectors are pricey beasts.

Interesting. I didn't even think of something as simple as algae. Thanks!!

[mikehannahs28]

My truck is doing the same thing to,it starts and runs for a few then dies,it still drives but the problem is getting worse its getting hard to start up,its getting to where it wont stay running,have you found a problem you were able to fix?i need help with mine,i changed the cps i changed out the fuel filter and did a oil change but got no where with any of that,in fact changing the fuel filter seemed to make the problem worsen to me because after i changed it i couldn't even start the truck at all for a while then it fired up,it cuts out going down the rd to which is something its just starting to do and hasn't done before,any help would be great thanks a bunch

[glovemeister]

Originally Posted by mikehannahs28

My truck is doing the same thing to,it starts and runs for a few then dies,it still drives but the problem is getting worse its getting hard to start up,its getting to where it wont stay running,have you found a problem you were able to fix?i need help with mine,i changed the cps i changed out the fuel filter and did a oil change but got no where with any of that,in fact changing the fuel filter seemed to make the problem worsen to me because after i changed it i couldn't even start the truck at all for a while then it fired up,it cuts out going down the rd to which is something its just starting to do and hasn't done before,any help would be great thanks a bunch

Did you fill up your filter bowl with fuel when you changed filter? That can cause slow starting as the bowl is rather big to fill with a simple mech pump. So thus lots of cranking unless you prime it.

[mikehannahs28]

Yeah i did prime it up again,i still have trouble with it starting up to,this started before the filter change i thought the filter change would fix the problem but it got me nowhere so im stumped hahaha,it cuts out while i drive sometimes to as if the fuel is shut off then back on,its a quick off and on its not boggy at all when i drive it,it has plenty of power there seems to be no trouble there at all,it sure is driving me nuts hahah