HPOP reservoir drain down

[BradV]

I have a 96' F250 with a 7.3 turbo and the HPOP reservoir drains down in about 12 hours or so and needs to be primed the HPOP to start it the last to days.

I am adding a little over 1/2 a quart of oil each time I prime it.

Help how do I fix it ????

[BradV]

After two mornings of Priming the HPOP to get it to start
yesterday I pluged it in at 3pm and came in and posted here ,
now this morning at 7.30am went out and it started without having to prime it.

Where do I go from here?????

[melmount]

Mine did the same thing, Did you check to see if it still drained down when you plugged it in? It should of. MIne would start when plugged in too. But it drained every nite.
My opinion for what its worth, is there is 2 gaskets that seel the reservoir.
The one between the bottom of the reservoir and the timing cover, the one from the hpop to the back of the cover. My truck had a bad gasket from the hpop to the cover.
This is if its an internal leak? External leak you should be able to see. It could still be these gaskets internal or external. A bad hpop or injector should not cause the reservoir to empty. They would cause a hard start but not emptying the tank.
mines an 01 but should be similar.30 bucks at the dealer for both gaskets.

[BradV]

Thanks Melmount
so to change those two gaskets you had to remove the HPOP

Is there any issues with removing the HPOP like timing and other seals to replace.

I am new to diesel and exactly how everything works. Tools are not an issue. So am I getting in over me head or is it straight forward and easy?
How much time is it going to take?

or
should it go to the shop?

[melmount]

remove the reservoir with the bolts on the top. Pretty simple.
Then remove the cover inspection deal on the front of the timing cover. its about a 2 inch circle(10mm bolts or 8mm). Theres an 18mm bolt with washer that holds the gear to the hpop inside.
You will also remove the 13mm bolts thru the pump front cover that attach the fuel bowl to the reservoir.(no gaskets here)
There are 4 fuel lines to remove from the bowl. Bob at Replacement O-rings for Ford Diesel Engines has the seals 2(1/4 sleeves, one 5/16, one 3/8 sleeve?) Need to change these the olf oned will be dry and should not be reused.
There are 2 10mm bolts that hold the hpop to the cover. From the back side.
The hpop lines I left alone due to they were not leaking. I just slid the pump backand put the new gasket in. Tighten the 10mm bolts. Put the 18mm front bolt(gear) and washer on. Dont drop the washer. make sure the gear is seatedon the hpop(not hard) Just dont tighten it on while its crooked(dont ask how I know)
Re seal the circular cover(10mm) no gasket for this just sealant. On the fuel lines, make sure the old sleeves are removed before new ones installed. They can be a pain. They stay stuck in the afjusting barrel part) I used a small pick an held them and spun the cap around til they freed. Its easy. Just get em out.

[BradV]

Well I decided to take it to a mechanic and found out it was three burnt off glow plug wires and a intermittently working glow plug controller . He even let it sit outside all night, it got down in the 20's and it fired right up.

Thanks for all the help

[melmount]

is the reservoir draining down? Even if it starts that should stay about 3/4 full.

[BradV]

I wish I would have got up there with a flash light and looked down in the hole , instead of just dumping oil in till it ran out the top. The mechanic I took it to seem to think hpop was OK but I can look and see if the oil is up or not. looking at the reservoir if it was 3/4 full it would hold 1/2 a quart it is pretty big. going to look next time it doesn't start.

thank you

[melmount]

just let it sit over night. Take the plug out and look. The oil level should be at the temp sensor, thats drivers side mounted ,high up on the back of the reservoir. Dont have to wait til it wont start, Once you turn it over the oil pump starts to fill it.
Just look in the morning.
Glow plugs will effect the cold start, but should not effect the oil level

[BradV]

I just went out and checked the level it had been sitting for 24 hours , the oil was a little less than an inch down from the top of the reservoir to the oil. And the temp sensor sets 2 3/8 inches down. So I am thinking it is full of oil.
I haven't plug it in since I had it fixed and it has started right up without having to wait a full minute for the glow plugs to warm it enough to start.

This week is going to tell the story it is going to get down in the teens so I will see if the starting problem is really fix.