93 F350 No Start

[F350-93]

They other day I was driving and my truck just died out. It seemed like it ran out of fuel but I'm pretty sure it had some still, although I'm not sure because my cluster stopped working. I tried putting gas in it and it still wouldn't start, it turns over, and smells like gas when I try to start it. Glow plugs still turn on. I replaced the fuel filter a few weeks ago so that should still be good. It didn't have any leaks that I could find. It's a 93 F350 7.3 non turbo. Any help would be appriciated, this is my first diesel and I'm not too sure as to what it may be.

[KMA Towing]

"I tried putting gas in it and it still wouldn't start"
"Glow plugs still turn on"

first off.... drain the fuel and put in diesel


if you just made a typo and it does not have gas in it then...

will it start if you squirt a small amount of ether down the intake?
what is your fuel pressure?

[F350-93]

That was a type, haven't gotten used to typing diesel yet. I don't have a fuel pressure gauge and I have not put diesel into the intake yet, how would I do that

[KMA Towing]

dont dump diesel into the intake!
you will flood out the truck


get some ether (starting fluid) and shoot a squirt down the intake.

to do this take the air filter cover off and squirt a little ether (like 1 second) down the hole (aka intake)

if it starts let us know.

do not squirt a ton of ether down the intake you can cause engine failure
a little goes a long way

also I take it you dont wrench a ton? if you have a limited mechanical ability and no real history with diagnostics then I have to tell you that you might be better off taking the truck to a shop.

I hope it does not come to that but I have to warn you in advance that it probably will from the way things are sounding so far.

[F350-93]

Actually I used to be a mechanic, I just wasn't sure if everything still worked the same on a diesel. I haven't ever had to work on one, but thanks for the suggestion, will try in the morning. My original guess was the fuel pump went out but I don't have a pressure gauge to test and don't want to drop the tank if I dont have to

[F350-93]

Update: tried the starting fluid down intake today, it started but only ran for a few seconds. Also I tried flipping it from front tank to rear tank and it didn't make a difference.

[KMA Towing]

check for power at the pump
make sure you are getting fuel pressure.. if you have no gauge then its a guess if the pressure is high enough.

open your drain for the water separator and roll key on and check for pressurized fuel leaking out of drain.

how much fuel did you add? your pickup tubes can be broken or clogged restricting flow or sucking air in the lines.

without the right tools its gunna be a pain in the butt to figure out...


GL man

[Young-SC-Owner]

Kma, it's a 93...does it have electrical or mechanical pump? I think it has a block mounted mechanical pump


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[KMA Towing]

ya my bad... that is a mechanical pump on the block.

and at a cost of $20 its a cheap part to throw at the truck to see if it works.


if it started on ether then its not getting fuel

and those pumps were designed to fail...lol

keep us posted