Problem: Explain your problem in concise language . Cranks but won’t fire! ____________________________

Demographics: tell us about your truck and your ambient conditions:

- Year: 1995
- Truck model and class (ie: c2500) k2500
- Automatic
- Mileage: (indicate miles or km) 165000
- Replaced parts and mods (IP, PMD, chip/PCM, TM, injectors etc) Max-e-tork by heath diesel, new IP, New OPS, New fuel L/P, New Fuel Filter, rebuilt heads 1000 miles ago. new glow plugs, turbo master by heath diesel, truck is also lifted w/35" bf Goodrich T/A KM2's.
- Model: ‘S’ or ‘F’ engine, NA or Turbo, EGR? F, Turbo
- Ambient outside temp: (indicate *C or *F) 35f-60f
- What fuel are you using? (#1 Diesel, #2 Diesel, Bio, VO, WVO, etc) BP diesel?
- What fuel additives are you using? None, but in the past I have used Amsoil fuel conditioner
- Where are you located? OK but truck died in Conway AK

General maintenance: inspect and evaluate the condition of each. When were they last changed?
- Air filter New, but the roadside guy sprayed a bunch of ether in it
- Fuel filter new from o'reilies, $35 filter
- CDR Valve? not sure what this is
- Coolant – last flushed/replaced at coolant flushed during head-job(no innuendo intended) No temp issues ever after head job
- Oil – synthetic/regular, changed at 1000 miles ago, system washed with diesel prior to change, forget the brand, but it was a mid-grade, interstate maybe?
- Batteries – state of charge, (matched set) replaced new, 2xinterstate 710cca replaced before trip. voltage dropped before stall and upon recharge hold charge and tested good at autozone.
- Battery cables and grounds (removed, cleaned and tightened): all good
- Glow Plugs - how many miles on them? 1000 miles What type? bought from ssdiesel
- Injectors - last changed at ??? I have never changed them???


History: (Describe how the problem first appeared.)
- What were you doing when it happened? driving down highway, no load.
- How was the truck running fine before this problem appeared? no issues at all until. oil pressure dropped and some cheap truck stop oil was used. pressure continued to be low. voltage was only at around 9 or 10v during event. replaced OPS again (only 500mi on the old one) final stall occurred with voltage lowering to what i assume to be lack of voltage to run L/P.But not sure. After new alternator and full battery charge rolls over easy but wont fire.
- Has this problem ever happened before? no, even when I rebuilt heads due to bad gasket it started. I has never had a starting problem or problem running even with the heads bad. it just blew white smoke and smelled like burning coolant. which was fixed with gasket.
- Describe any related factors that might be part of the problem. overfilled with cheap oil
- Have you checked for DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Codes)? (Y.N) there was never a check engine light.

Diagnostics:

1] Starting:
1a] Does the engine start?no
1b] Does the engine crank over? easily
1c] Are your batteries fully charged? yes
1d] Have you removed, cleaned, and tightened all battery connections? yes
1f] Does your glow plug light come on? yes For how long? no more then 30 sec
1g] Do you see smoke from the exhaust while cranking? What color? unknown, I had to have a buddy charge batteries and now it just keep rolling over. didnt mention any smoke though.

2] Fuel Issues (if not running):
2a] Can you hear your lift pump working? yes
2b] Do you get a steady flow of fuel from the water drain (T-handle) ? yes
2c] Loosen the inlet line from the IP – is fuel coming out (Lift Pump on)? ___________
2d] Loosen an injector line and crank the engine - does fuel come out? yes
2e] Do you hear a vacuum (hiss) when you remove the fuel cap?yes

3] PMD / IP Issues
3a] Location of PMD (on pump, on intake, remote mounted) on pump
3b] Condition of Extension harness (if used) Vendor or Homemade? n/a
3c] Condition of grounds / ground wires to IP / PMD. Check Harness. good
3d] PMD Make:??????_____________

4] Stalling Issues
4a] Do you experience stalling only when hot? no, never ran hot_
4b] Does it stall under particular circumstances? (ie hit bump, or on accel) n/a
4c] Does pouring cool water over the IP seem to help with restarting?N/a
4d] Is stalling momentary (engine recovers)? n/a
4e] Does SES light come on when engine hiccups? n/a
4f] Does cruise control quit working when engine hiccups? cruise always worked fine
4g] Does re-starting seem to reset engine, restoring cruise and power? n/a
4h] Changes to dash lights or instruments during stalling events? wont start
5] Running Issues
5a] On cold start, does upper rad hose get hard before engine warms up? n/a_
5b] Any bubbles or oil film in coolant overflow tank? no, I know why you are asking
5c] Any white slime on oil surfaces (dipstick, CDR, oil Fill cap)? no_
5d] Excessive white smoke from exhaust on cold start? no
5e] Excessive black smoke from exhaust under hard acceleration? never

6] Performance Issues
6a] Do you have gauges? only stock
6b] Maximum boost under load? unknown
6c] Have you added a performance PCM (reflash) or Chip? Max-e tork prom by heath diesel
6d] Have you changed exhaust / downpipe / crossover? no
6e] Wastegate – mechanical

7] Temperature-related Issues:
7a] Single or dual thermostats? single
7b] Have you replaced them lately? Manufacturer of replacements? yes 1000mi
7c] Have you pulled and cleaned Radiator and coolers lately? no
7d] Have you replaced the fan clutch? Manufacturer of replacement? no
7e] (winter) Have you tested your antifreeze? Good to what temp? did fine with freezing temp over night
7f] (winter) Are you using a winter grille cover? no

 

I would say that your glow plugs are not working.
blown fusible links?
bad glow relay?
no power to glow relay heavy terminal from batteries?

 

It would seem my oil is full of diesel and that is why I have low pressure on pump and not getting compression. I have been told that my IP pump needs to be replaced. I am not sure if I should try to rebuild myself or not. Which seal would have to go out in order for their to be diesel in my oil?

 

You have an electronic IP-I would advise against trying to reseal or rebuild it yourself.

If it is indeed your IP causing the problem the frt seal is a possible cause,in that case I would go with a rebuilt IP from a reputable vendor.

Do some window shopping and each time you settle on a rebuilt -google the vendor/rebuilder.
the good ones seldom get mentioned online,but the bad ones will have a lot of reports about their low quality.

 

I read that this can also happen if the truck idle's for long periods in the cold. I let it idle at a truck stop parking lot for close to an hour and a half in about 30 degree temps. The problem started shortly after. IP is barely a year old and was bought new from what i understand to be a reputable shop. Is their any truth the the idle theory?

 

There should not be unless the engine was repeatedly started with ether or you have several pissing injectors.
Peeing injectorts can burn holes in pistons and waer out rings causing low compression and hard starts-the problem would be severe to put fuel in the crankcase though.

I would tend to blame the IP for excess fuel in the oil.