Lost Power Symptom - Fixed

[wrenchbender140]

Finally got the power back in my stroker....been down for 2 weeks.

Stock 97 F-350 7.3L, Auto with 152k

At the beginning, i started using B100, after about 3 tanks, engine lost power, switched to front tank with dino fuel and power returned. I thought I had some bad biodiesel in that tank. Decided to add 6 gal's B100 to front tank and instant power loss, and fuel gauge went crazy when around 1/2 tank.

Changed fuel filter, cleaned return screen, upgraded to new cam position sensor, unplugged map sensor, removed rear fuel tank and found a few ounces of water in fuel and a lot of algae growth, washed out tank at car wash, removed water and flush with gasoline. Pickup strainer had a lot of algae under pickup screen, removed pickup strainer and cleaned, reassembled and installed. Same symptom, no power and a violent shake if stomped accelerator. Measured fuel pressure at 45 psi and thought that was good, decided to change fuel lift pump, cleaned bottom of filter bowl and removed a lot of algae growth, pump change wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, didn't have to pull turbo. Have not measured pressure yet, since it was after dark... will do that tomorrow. Believe the viscosity of the bio was working the pump harder and just failed on bio, it was just enough to revile weak lift pump.

LIFT PUMP FIXED LOST POWER PROBLEM and I am a happy biostroker again!

Now all I have to do is remove front tank, clean and check sending unit.

[95dieselsmoke]

sweet. glad you figured it out

[POWERSMOKIN]

algae in your fuel?? that would make me stop using biodino right there.

[tjmp111]

That sounds like way to much work to make your truck smell like french fries!!
What the heck makes people want to run that crap. IMO

[POWERSMOKIN]

its renewable!

Still... Too many downsides.

[cfunderb]

Get some "Kill'em" to ensure that any microbes are destroyed, otherwise they will come back. I would start getting my B100 from somewhere else and/or inform them of the problem.

[POWERSMOKIN]

definately. Or at least fill up 1/2 100 1/2 dino fuel. should kill the buggers.

[wrenchbender140]

It looked like algae, when in fact it was diesel sludge buildup. That tank never had bio in it for more than 10 minutes, lift pump could not pump the slightly thicker viscosity fuel. Bio was not in that tank long enough to come from the BD. That means it came from the dino fuel.



I don't buy it, I make it myself for about $0.39 a gallon.

[wrenchbender140]

Diesel Fuel Facts

[cfunderb]

Originally Posted by wrenchbender140

It looked like algae, when in fact it was diesel sludge buildup. That tank never had bio in it for more than 10 minutes, lift pump could not pump the slightly thicker viscosity fuel. Bio was not in that tank long enough to come from the BD. That means it came from the dino fuel.



I don't buy it, I make it myself for about $0.39 a gallon.

Ah, I see. B100 is a GREAT organic solvent. It will clean your tank and fuel lines. I usually recommend to people that have been running #2 for a long time to start at B20 and work up to avoid fuel filter cloggins at inconvenient moments. This is the first time that I've heard of the diesel sludge killing a pump, but I suppose its possible. Now that the sludge is cleaned out, you should be good to go!