ran OUT of fuel ?

[tretpflyr]

another weird thing happened ...

My 2000 F250 PSTD ran good the last 500 miles and today I was moving past the 1/4 mark and thinking it is about time to fuel up. At the mid point of the last 1/4 range, the "low fuel" light came on and I thought "time to find some diesel" then it just sputtered shook and cut off as I taxied into a parking lot.

I was thinking "man I have done it now" ... ruined the motor. No diesel anywhere but a marina just a 1/2 mile down the road. I had to buy some RED 500ppm sulfur boat fuel (just 2 gals) and poured it in. A few cranks and it fired up. Ran like crap for a few miles but then smoothed out (is that what you call injector nailing ?). I topped off with pump diesel (15 ppm sulfur) and some Lucas injector cleaner. Ran fine on the way home.

Questions: Do you think I might have a lot of crud built up in the tank (floating flotsam) that I ought to drain off? I had thought that when the "low fuel light" comes on that I had about 30 or so more miles before it emptied out. What is the situation on that?

[NoRalPh]

It's not uncommon for the pick-up assembly to have cracked or broken and allow air to get sucked into the system instead of fuel at 1/4 tank. Maybe that's what happened to you. The fix involves dropping the tank and getting in there. If it were me, what I'd do is to take the opportunity to upgrade the whole system and do the "Hutch Mod"

Welcome to guzzle's In-tank Hutch Mod Web Page

[tretpflyr]

Thanks ... very good information there. Still a little intimidated by it bit sure I can handle it. A few winters ago I tore down my V-twin and installed a set of high compression pistons, new push rods, cams and lifters. Put it all back together and it runs great. If I can manage that, I think I can do this mod.

[NoRalPh]

It's really not difficult at all. Once that tank is empty (and you can empty it using the trucks pump, connected to a battery, with a hose on the water drain) it's not heavy. Then pretty straight forward to open it and look inside.

Nothing like compressing rings and putting a piston into a cylinder