Fuel Smell in Cab

[pup]

I am new to powerstrokes and diesels, but not mechanical things.

2001 Excursion 7.3 stock. 180K miles. It appears to have lived an easy well cared for life.

I just got this truck and so far I have replaced the front shocks and (carefully) pressure washed the engine bay (engine cool).

I have just filled the tank with fuel for the first time.

I have noticed that the cab smells like unburnt diesel, I have read somewhere here that this is indicitive of cracked up-pipes, which I take are the exhaust to turbo pipes. Is that right? And the best repair is the international pipes.

I haven't had the truck long enough to know what "normal" power or fuel consumtion is...but the lieometer says about 17mpg mixed city, and I seem to get in 19-21 on straight streches of higway, which seems to fall into line with what I have read (short streaches only, I haven't driven this truck much).

There was an oilly film through most of the engine compartment. The worst spot was the lower passenger site intercooler boot area. I cleaned the engine to determine the source(s) of the leak.

Is there anything else that I can trouble shoot that would confirm this, or is there any other cause?

Thanks for helping out a noobie!

[jesilvas]

If it's unburnt diesel, then it can't be the exhaust pipes leaking. That's burnt diesel.
The oil is probably from the crank case venting into the air intake tube before the turbo. Bad design idea. Nothing bad really.
There's a common problem with the fuel line from the fuel bowl to the back of the passenger side fuel rail. There's a bracket holding the line in place that rubs a small hole in the hard line.
Just get a new line and then wrap some rubber or something around the line where the bracket fits there so it won't rub anymore. That might be it.

[forddieseldoctor]

First off the 7.3 did not have the up-pipes that crack. That was the 6.0 and the 6.4's. The oily film is caused by the oil that is being sucked up into the air intake through the ccv (crankcase vent). There are kits out there that modify it to stop the oil passage. The fuel smell is being caused by a fuel leak somewhere on the motor. I recommend degreasing the motor top and bottom and then look for your fuel leak. Probably the most common is the water drain valve on the back of the fuel filter housing. Once you get your fuel leak fixed that should help your fuel mileage increase just a little bit. The only accurate way to get fuel mileage readings is to keep track of how many miles on the tank and then divide by the number of gallons when you fill up. My brother has a 2002 F250 that he gets 20-21 mpg on long trips on the highway. My 97 F350 has an average of 17 mpg. It all depends on the truck and the gears.

[pup]

OK, thanks for the replies.

I poked around a little and found a touch of raw fuel under the plug at the rear of the filter housing, but there was no accumulation. I am away from the truck for the next week or so, but will continue to watch these areas.

One other question, could leaking intercooler boots give this condition?

[jesilvas]

No. Intercooler boots may leak oil that will accumulate from the crankcase venting into the air intake system but not diesel.

[Field Worker]

Originally Posted by pup

OK, thanks for the replies.

I poked around a little and found a touch of raw fuel under the plug at the rear of the filter housing, but there was no accumulation. I am away from the truck for the next week or so, but will continue to watch these areas.

One other question, could leaking intercooler boots give this condition?

Hello, This is my first time here on this forum. I wanted to say that I also had the smell of diesel in the cab and found that the filter bowl was leaking at the drain lever. It was not much of a leak but enough to stink up the cab. Once fixed I have not had the smell again

[powerstroke bates]

check rad tank for fuel if there is could be injector cups had same problem this last winter

[pup]

Well, I think it was as simple as bumping the drain lever when cleaning the engine. The replies sent me looking in the right direction and saved me some time (and money) so thanks again!

[forddieseldoctor]

Sometimes it's the simple stuff that bites back hard.

[Goose]

look right by the front diff to for a drip you can get the oring kit for like 10 or 15 bucks online