1998 Chevy 6.5 Starting Issue
 

Hi Everyone,

I Will try to make this short as I can.

I got a 93 6.5 3500 from my friend. He was using it and use to fire up one shot and go in the summer then he let it sit for about 4 months until fall with no batteries that was before I got it.

I tried to start it in the fall with strong batteries from a friend and I remember I was getting fuel out of the bleeder near the filter, it cranked strong and fast but wouldnt start.

I tried about 5 times and I never checked for smoke out the back or at injectors. I quit after no start.

What I did remember is he said it had a diesel leaking somewhere but he couldnt identify it properly to me. He said a pipe and no location.

Anyway I spoke to a guy who did some work on the truck and found out the leaking from a pipe underneath I think he meant a line underneath I dont know where tho. Its around -20+ daily and I need the truck started asap now.

My plan is to tow it underground, buy 2 good batteries, crank and look for that leak, check lift pump, bleed air out all the way to the injectors and look for smoke out of the tail pipe. (Gps were recently changed).

Question.

Will I be able to start the truck with the leaking because it was running before with the leak or will it not be able to start until I cut and repair the line? and please explain why so I can understand diesel trucks more.

Thanks.

Sounds like your plan should identify the problem but it wouldn't hurt to double check those glow plugs. Check for power at each connector.

Id pull them all and test to make sure they get red hot.in that weather your gonna need all 8 working at peak performance.

Thanks and Good Point.

Any info on the diesel leak? It maybe before the or after the pump. do you know how it will affect the starting and also what would be the effect after the truck started and sits for 3 days?

There are 2 lines under the intake-the IP line and the water in fuel drain line-both are under lift pump pressure when the engine runs and a leak there can make for no starts.

Ok I finally checked the lift pump because no fuel was comming out of the t pipe.
By the way its a 1993 3500.

It was cold out there when I climbed under the truck. I ran a jummper cable from battery to
Lift pump. I just unplugged it and connected 2wires to the cables.

Those fitting were very old looking so I just detached a rubber hose I guess used to repair a bad line after the pump.

It was so cold I wasnt thinking a touched the power to the female connector and got a spark. I hope i didnt
Mess something else up.

So when I hooked up power straight to the pump I could hear a small hammering sound kind of low knocking
Noise. Would that mean pump is good?

But no fuel out of pump. What to do next? Truck had just under half tank when I got it. Could that leak empty the tank?
Why no fuel after the Lp. Truck was driving.

What to do next?

What is the best way to see if there is any fuel in the tank and were should I look for fuel in the tank?

LP's can make noise but not pump any fuel-that is one of their failure modes.

The reason the truck was able to run is that the IP has the ability to pull fuel straight from the tank when the system has no leaks on the suction side.
This however is very hard on the IP.

An easy way to check for fuel in the tank is to remove the tank side line from the LP,a sciphon effect often makes fuel run from that location,or connect a rubber line there and try to sciphon fuel from that point.

A simpler thing to do would be put fuel in the tank so you know it has some and repeat the test.

Will do.

Im curious if you could have gelling issues. If its -20 and the truck has been sitting for several months it could have a summer blend in it. I dont live in that cold of a climate so i haven't had to deal with that.

the sock filter in the tank could be also be clogged.

I think you have q good point It did have summer blend. I totally forget now if fuel was comming out of the t valve. Just crankkng no fire.

Winter fuel plus diesel fuel conditioner Is a first step. Now about checking the sock? Is it a hard job?

Yes. You have to drop the tank to pull it out the top.

take racer55's advice first.

You could put some diesel911 in with your fresh fuel. It should clear that line to the LP pretty fast if it is gelled.