...while driving with the foot held steady, random surges occur. I'm guessing air in the fuel lines, is this a good place to start looking? That's where my research is pointing.

I'm kinda new at this... Bought the truck on a Tuesday, by Saturday she was down, slightly aggravating...

So what's the easiest way to check for this? It's an old 86 Army Blazer.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

Not too many early Chevy experts here.

I think air in the lines is a good place to start. If replacing line, make sure its diesel rated.

Are you running diesel or Bio?

 

Well right now it is diesel, but bio is on the map for the future. I am aware I need to change the lines for that. But I hadn't planned to change them so soon...

What's that substance called that I need to change to, Viton or something? And where do I find it?

 

My 82 6.2 burban had the rubber line crack and it run like crap for a couple days and then nothing. After replacing everything fuel related, I found it was a rubber line that was where the hard line on the frame went from frame to body. It never leaked... just sucked air.

 

If is a surge like you just shut the power off to the truck then it picks back up I would say your getting air in the system. Check all the rubber lines and connections and make sure there are no fuel leaks from under the intake. You can tell because you will have a fuel leak dead center of the engine. You could also have a fuel pump bad. If you crank it do you get fuel out of the water separator(the fuel filter hanging on the fire wall). Welcome to the world of old trucks now don't get me wrong I love these old trucks but its 24 years old and things like rubber fuel lines don't last forever.

How many volt system does it have 12 or 24. Are the batteries in series positive of one to the negative of the other 24 v or parallel both of the positives hooked together 12v. Or if it has 2 alternates its 24v. They ran 12 on the civilian and 24 on the army.

 

I had my foot steady on the throttle, trying to limp it home, and it would randomly get a power boost, like I had pressed harder on the pedal. That's what I mean by surge more specifically.

This is going to sound extremely dumb, but I have a fuel in water light (don't know if that's common, or accurate), and it didn't light during my limp home. I know the light works, because it fires when I turn the key on. The light I doubt means anything for sure, whatever sensor attached could be messed up, but I thought I'd mention it, just in case. I'm sure it gave someone a hardy chuckle...

Due to my work schedule, and neighbors, I can't go outside and check the actual water separator now, or for a couple more days, until I get a day off. I'm trying to learn what might be the issue, while I can, until then. Should I be getting fuel there? (My guess is yes.)

Thanks for the old truck welcome, and the "I know where you are coming from," but I was hoping to NOT break down in a week. I thought about taking it back to the dealer under lemon law statues, but my state isn't very friendly on that account, but I'm not going to find a better deal or a lower mileage truck. So I'm going to suck it up, and fix it.

And it's 24v, 100% positive.

 

It sounds to me like you have a bad fuel filter. There should be two of them on it but I am not 100% positive on how the arms are. One is on the firewall and the other is on the back of the intake manifold and they both are screw on filters (they look like oil filters) If they haven't been changed I would start there.

They good thing about the old trucks is that when they break down there is only a small number of things it can be.

 

I hope you are right. First thing tomorrow, (day off hurray)I'm gonna check it out, and I'll let you know.

Seriously, if you are coming through ATL, let me know. I work at a steakhouse, I can hook you up with the most mouthwatering steak dinner, and I can cook it too!!

I haven't been here too long, but you seem to be a reeeeealy helpful guy, and what it seems like, 1 of the 2 guys, that are in the 6.2-6.5 forum.

If I was a woman, I'd totally want to have your babies right now.

 

I hope I am right to because if it has a good fuel pump, filters and no air leaks in it the next things get more expensive. When you replace the filters you need to fill them back up most of the way with something before you fill them up. I usually just use diesel fuel some people use atf and others use 2 stroke oil. It isn't a bad idea to dump some 2stroke oil in the diesel tank when you fill up. I try to help when I can there ain't a whole lot of people out there that know a lot about the old Chevy diesels.

I might have to take you up on the steak dinner. I come through ATL at least once a year on my way to Florida to visit my in-laws. If you cook it you better do a good job. Not that I am real picky but my wife has a degree in culinary arts and has ran a few kitchens. She thought the same thing about having my babies. Ha she sure got the short end of the deal there.

 

Well, she turned over this morning, it was great to hear her purr for ~5 seconds before she died again. I didn't really know what I was looking at, so I noodled and poked around. I found one fuel filter, but I couldn't locate the other. So I went to my local auto parts store, and said, "Gimmie a fuel filter," and he came back with the replacement for the one I had located. It wasn't a screw on, it was kinda a clip on, held at the top and bottom by little metal clips/brackets.

After running around all day taking care of business, I made it home after dark, but before the neighbors could b**** about me trying to crank it. After dragging some lights out there, I took the old filter off, and it was full of fuel (which I'm taking as a good sign), but I was in such a rush to put the other one on, and try it out, I neglected to put fresh diesel in it. I was thinking that the fuel pump would fill it for me.

Needless to say, I tried cranking her a couple of times, and I realized my mistake. I didn't want to bother anyone, so I didn't crank her anymore (it was around 10:45 pm), but I did take the new filter off, to see if it was getting some flow, and it was, which I'll also take as a good sign.

So I'll try again tomorrow.

I was also able to locate a Chilton manual on the truck. It's not military spec, but it should mostly get the job done.

I hope you do take me up on the dinner offer. You have walked me throughout my debate, purchase, and now issues of my diesel "career." The one I work at is in Acworth, GA, so it's not directly in the city, but a little outside. As far as my performance goes, the busiest day of the year, Mother's Day, I was there all day, cooked steak (did something different in the morn) from 3pm till close, and I didn't have a single thing come back to me wrong. So I'm not so worried there...

But dinner doesn't have to be there, it can basically be anywhere you want, within reason of course. You have helped me more than you know, and the least I could do is fill you up, and maybe get you a little snookered.




Oh, another question, (yet again) what's with the 2 stroke oil? Is it better than diesel to put in the filters? And what chu mean "It isn't a bad idea to dump some 2stroke oil in the diesel tank when you fill up." You mean every time? Or just these first couple of fill ups?

Sorry to be such a bother...