What does gelling fuel cause our beloved powerstrokes to do?
My truck was blowing white smoke like it was going out of style, missing terribly (felt like it was shivering), had no power or throttle response in drive, loping, and stalling. I threw a small bottle of Diesel 911 (orange bottle) in, but didn't have tools to access the fuel bowl and it didn't seem to make any difference. (tank is about 5/8ths full) Temps were around 5 this morning.
Tonight I managed to get it home with a shade more power, maybe 1500rpm tops, but the temps were up to 15. White smoke started out on fog the neighborhood setting, but eventually settled down to a trace. Tried to let it run this evening, decided it wasn't polite to smoke the neighbors out, and managed to make it maybe 100 feet before stalling. Managed to get it started and running long enough to get it parked and called it quits.
No codes on the computer, CEL only came on when it was loping between maybe 200 and 700 rpm, then would go out again. WTS light acts normally, glow plugs and gpr were replaced back in October and has been starting fine since then.
As long as your fuel was purchased in the past month I'd think you have the "Winter Blend" (20-30% Kero depending on where you live) and gelling shouldn't be an issue at +5 (the Diesel 911 was a good idea though)
If you were really gelled-up, your truck wouldn't start at all, if partially gelled I think it would "un-gell" with just a little driving.
First thing I would do is to get the tools to open your filter canister and replace that filter, for good measure if nothing else
Not sure why your CEL came on and yet there were no stored codes, what are you using to scan for codes?
Fuel pump? I was seeing the missing, loping, smoking, 1500 rpm limit when my pump quit. Did it happen when you were driving or did this happen on start up? Did you have your truck plugged in?
I'm guessing it happened on startup and I just didn't notice until I turned the corner and went to get on the gas. I'd locked the front hubs for the first time since my street is an ice rink. I gave it some gas but didn't really feel any acceleration so I figured I was slipping. Put it in 4wd, still didn't notice much throttle response, and told myself maybe the extra drivetrain was just sucking up my power.
Got the fuel filter replaced, waited for the pump to stop, started, ran ok for a bit, ran rough and eventually died.
Remembered the directions to add Diesel 911 to the bowl so I pulled the filter back out and noticed the fuel level was nowhere near what it was. Poured in the 911, tried to start and got nothing. I didn't hear the fuel pump run that time.
I have a scangauge II hooked up to it. The CEL came on when it was bouncing between 4-700 rpm. Once I restarted it and the idle smoothed out for a bit, the light went back out. Now I'm wondering if it has a working fuel pressure gauge..
Forgot to add that I'd last filled it up in early/mid November from my corner gas station. I don't generally see much diesel sold there, so I'm not sure when they cut over. Glow Plugs, GPR, and both batteries were replaced in October.
Temps made it up to 25 today so I'm doubting it's gelled fuel at this point. I'm having it towed to a shop on Friday so I'll update again when I know something more. Here's hoping it's a plugged screen somewhere and not something like a head gasket.
The shop just called (5:45pm local) and they wanted permission to pull the valve covers and check the injectors and glow plugs. They said fuel delivery wasn't an issue to the motor.
Got a call today.
They checked the glow plugs and injectors with the valve covers off and no problems there. With the truck warmed up from being in the shop, they couldn't replicate the problem so it's sitting out in the cold tonight to see if they can get it act up again. Low of 10 tonight, here's hoping for something.
Not yet anyways. They called on the 28th and said that it wouldn't start the first time they tried, and then it was fine after that and they hadn't been able to get it to act up for a week and a half. They asked if I wanted it back or if they should keep it a little longer and see if it'd do it again. I decided to bring it home, and it's been fine since.
The only 2 things I'm sort of watching now is I'm not sure my ebpv is activating, and I've noticed that below around 10 degrees the high idle goes to around 1200 rpm instead of 1000 on the nose.
I know this is a very old thread but I'm having the issue except for our temps have been abou -30 with the windchill was plugged in over night she fired right up this morning little cranky but let it run for half hr drove about 5 miles down the rd and it started chugging like it was out of fuel but had 3/4 of tank sat for 5 mins started it up ran fine the rest of the day then coming home after driving for the day I was pulling a buddy out of the snow amd I noticed the rpms wouldnt climb pat 3k it like deadlines there and fell on its face tons of whit smoke also tthn coming home it ran horrible running for for 2 mins shutting it off for a few then restarting ran fine for 45 secs then stuttering and stalling eventually? ? New injectors glow plugs icp all in the last three months wasnt as cold yesterday maybe -10 ran fine all day just dont know if the pump is going or is it jelling can't gey the cap off the bowl right as off it being so cold and the plaatic sorry for the book and bringing an old thread up just these are the exact symptoms im having thanks guy I really appreciate it
That's exactly what mine does when it's jelling up. I've taken to holding my foot on the gas and seeing if I can hold 2k rpm for a few seconds before starting out. I guess I'm glad the fuel bowl heater is there but I kinda wish for a tank heater too.
Thanks for replying man iv been so frustrated today trying to take care of my girls driving the big truck through this deep snow and it kept stalling hopefully tomorrow will be a better day put some 911in the tank so we will see
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