My 97 12V is giving me a bit of grief, new to diesels so I'm learning as I go. The only mod to the truck is the exhaust is just a 3" straight pipe. Not much of a mod, but the exhaust was trashed when I got it and I don't plan on tweaking it for another year or so. I've been having a little touble with the truck sputtering and dieing after it's been idleing for a minute or so. At first I thought it was low on fuel and being as it was parked on a slope, the fuel was away from the pickup, but the last time it happened I had a full tank and was parked on level ground. It doesn't happen all the time, just every once in a while, 1-2 times a week, and only after it's been sitting overnight. I'm guessing it's either a fuel line issue causing it to lose prime, or the lift pump could be crapping out. Am I looking in the right direction? I go back on duty tomorrow, so I won't be able to do anything until Friday. Figured I'd get some advice now so I can get right on it when I get home.

 

Any smoke or anything?

 

Nope. Just sputters like it's starving for fuel.

 

I guess it could be fuel lines sucking air, but you'd probably see a bunch of white smoke. Could be a lift pump, or an overflow valve. When it happens again, pinch the return line from the overflow valve and see if it clears up. A fuel pressure gauge would be really helpful in this situation. I'm sure someone else will chime in with some good ideas too.

 

I would think the same. Fuel line or overflow valve.

 

you could be developing an air leak and there are many places it can come from . I would look over all the fuel lines first then there is the strainer ,fuel heater,filter drain , if you see any sign of fuel leak air can get in too some times using 5 psi air pressure in the tank will show a leak, and sometimes its just hunting it down.Good luck

 

I'm going to pick up a pressure gauge tester tomorrow. That will give me somewhere to go from. I hate to drive it too much because with my luck it will fail far from home. At least I have another truck and trailer to get it home. Could someone tell me what pressure I should be looking for, or point me in the right direction on where to find the info?

 

From dodgeram.org, it should be 22 psi @ idle and about 25-30 @ 2500 RPM. If your pressure is low, and you pinch the overflow valve return and pressure comes up, that's your problem.

 

Thanks guys, I'll start there in the morning.

 

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