01 7.3 starts and dies

[drummondracing]

My 01 7.3 has an intermittnet problem. Glow plugs working fine it starts right up and runs for a few seconds and then occasionally.... it will die and wont restart. I have noticed that the oil pressure dosent come up when this happens... This is not an everyday thing and once I start it once in the morning its fine the rest of the day. Outside temperature seems to make no difference. It may do this 2 times a week or not do it for 3 weeks. I have noticed if after a few seconds the gauge dosent come up I can give it a quick rap on the throttle and it comes up and is fine. I dont want to keep doing that on a motor with no oil pressure. A couple of times I have had to give it a small shot of start fluid and then its fine. Its obviously to do with the injectors not firing as there is no fuel smoke or smell when this happens and you can hear the sound of the engine change as soon as the oil gauge comes up.Changing the oil also has no effect. I am going camping next month on a 2000 mile trip and dont want this thing leaving me somwhere.HELP!!!!

[drummondracing]

BUMP!!!!! Anybody... ideas???

[Hank]

I really have no idea, but I did want to remind you of the problems with the wiring harness under the valve covers. I took the driver's side off a few weeks ago when mine had to be towed. I can't believe how much better it runs now that I snugged up the connection. It seems to have improved my fuel economy too.

PM Scuffy828 and tell him about it. I'll bet he can help you. Good luck!
(That's his truck on our home page!)

[SCUFFY828]

the biggest thing that i see cause this concern is low oil level, or badquality of oil, change the oil and filter if its time and see what that does first ,i have also seen the base oil pumps get worn and not refill reservoir back quick enough , but fresh oil will probably fix your problem, just for the record , the engine is getting lubed on the bottom side , is not hurting your engine , the oil sending unit is mounted on the reservoir , its like the last thing to sense the pressure build up

[drummondracing]

Thanks for the reply but like I stated changing the oil has no effect at all. I use Rotella 15w40 with a quart of lucas synthetic every 5000 on the dot. the truck uses no oil between changes. Its pretty annoying seeing as how theres no telling when it is going to do it.

[SCUFFY828]

Originally Posted by drummondracing

Thanks for the reply but like I stated changing the oil has no effect at all. I use Rotella 15w40 with a quart of lucas synthetic every 5000 on the dot. the truck uses no oil between changes. Its pretty annoying seeing as how telling when it is going to do it.

then you may have a regulator sticking in the oil filter adaptor , or the base oil pump is something to look into , when it does it the high pressure oil reservoir is draining down , and not refilling fast enough, thats why it starts and then shuts off , when it does it and you rev on it , that makes the base engine oil pump spin faster and prime faster , the only other thing i can say that ive seen is a cracked pick up tube in the pan or the o-ring around the pick up tube is sucking air , diagnostic procedure for the pickup in the pan is to overfill by 2-3 quarts of oil , jack the rear of the truck up so the oil runs to the front of the pan and see if it does it then , bs process but that will tell you if its suckin air around the o-ring

[drummondracing]

Funny you mention about "jacking the truck up' It may be coincedence but it kinda seems that when I park with the front of the truck higher than the rear is seems to do it more.... My driveway is on a slight incline and when I pull in head first with the nose up it seems to act up.. If I back in well.... I may be going crazy as well....

[SCUFFY828]

Originally Posted by drummondracing

Funny you mention about "jacking the truck up' It may be coincedence but it kinda seems that when I park with the front of the truck higher than the rear is seems to do it more.... My driveway is on a slight incline and when I pull in head first with the nose up it seems to act up.. If I back in well.... I may be going crazy as well....

try and make it do it first, and see if that is the pattern and then you may be onto something , if that is the case then , i would just overfill the engine a little and go on my trip

[Hank]

There you go! I knew Scott could help. You know everything Scott!

[drummondracing]

Thanks for the advice. Like I said one I start it once its fine the rest of the day and the gauge never fluctuates so what do you reccomend as far as "over filling" 2 or 3 quarts. Thanks again for the help,David