Diesel Bombers - Shrader valve diesel's best friend

Today my 91 F-250 Diesel was down to about an 1/8th or less on the rear tank. As I was on my way to fill up, going up about 25 degree incline, the fuel filter light came on, the engine died. Of course this happened about a 100 feet from the top of the incline on a heavily travelled two lane road.

I did manage to get the truck mostly off the road & called my diesel buddy. I gave him the run down: I had checked to see if there was any water in the fuel...nope good to go there.

I also checked (while still on the side of the road) to see if I could get anything to come out of the Sharder valve....nothing. I cranked it a few times...still nothing. Surely you would think something would come out of the valve. The verdict was "you probably got some air in the fuel & will need to bleed the stystem."

A call to AAA and an hour later the truck & I were on level ground in the driveway. The neighbors once again looked on at the familiar sight of my better side as I bent over the the engine compartment. I probably should wear a belt for these occasions.

It was now on to bleeding the system. I didn't want to loosen the injector nuts until figuring out the mystery of why nothing was coming out of the Srader valve. I switched to the full front tank, grabbed a remote starter, held the Shrader valve open and cranked the engine. Within a few cranks fuel and air were coming from the valve. A few more cranks & it was pure fuel. I turned on the ignition & we were good to go.

There are few things which will put us on the side of the road faster than air in the system. Had I been carrying a remote starter with me, I could have solved this without needing to call AAA.

Bill