1995 F350 7.3L manual trans., 100,000 miles. Wife drives it mostly pulling a horse trailer, she noticed it losing power on a trip to GA., it would run rough and not develop much power, requiring a much lower gear to get up small hills, it finally quit, had it towed, the guys that looked at it said it was the fuel filter gasket leaking due to impropper seating when I changed it. They said the codes showed a "possible" problem with the "fuel injection computer" but it ran fine after reseating the gasket. She almost made it home to centeral FL with the same symptoms, gradual power loss, rough idle, at stop lights she had to press the throttle a little to keep it running then at the green light she said it had "normal power" for a while, untill finally it wouldn't run at all. Towed it home, she tried to start it the next day with no luck...a few days later when I got home I tried to start it, it acted like it wanted to start but wasn't getting enough fuel so I pressed on the throttle a little and it started but was a little rough, I let it run and it gradually smoothed out. I drove it to a shop and it ran fine. I am an aircraft mechanic but have very little experience with diesels so I figured I'd let them have a crack at it. They found no problem/codes and it ran fine for them, they decided to replace the cam sensor and after doing so it wouldn't start. as they looked further they found fuel puddling under the fuel pump and suggest replacing the pump. I looked at it and saw no evidence of the fuel lines leaking or a leak elsewhere in the area. QUESTION 1: it sounds like a fuel starvation issue, but would a fuel pump leak cause intermitent problems? QUESTION2: can the pump be changed without pulling the turbo? it looks like the fuel filter housing could come out easely, but theres a large bolt comming off the back of the fuel pump that might be tough to get out. QUESTION3 : any other ideas...thanks for your help

 

The first set of mechanics were retarded... The fuel pump is driven off a lobe on the cam, so no fuel injection computer...

You can test fuel pressure at the schrader valve on the side of the fuel pressure regulator which is on the side of the fuel bowl.

You can remove the fuel pump without taking the turbo off...

How's your fuel filter look?

 

Fuel filter was new before GA. trip, haven't looked at it since. Can fuel pressure be checked without running engine?

 

Can be checked while cranking...

 

I saw a bolt on the firewall side of the eng. with 2 fuel lines comming out of the fitting...it looks difficult to remove...should the bolt be removed, or detach the fuel lines from the engine? Where can I get a manual for this engine?

 

https://www.dieselbombers.com/ford-p...d-manuals.html

That's a pretty good link to some online manuals.. I believe you're talking about the banjo bolt... I have never had mine off so I'm not sure..

 

Ok, thanks, I'll let you know what I do.

 

It's fixed! The fuel pump was leaking, and it can be changed without pulling the turbo. It was actually pretty easy. The banjo bolt wasn't any trouble. It was a little difficult to lift the pump, had to be creative with wedges, but that was it. Thanks for the info!

 

Glad you got it figured out!