diesel motor help please!

[WA hunter14]

I have a 1994 7.3 powerstroke that i stopped driving last november because i couldnt afford to buy new batteries for it, I finally got around to buying new batteries and trying to start it in about april, the truck ran for about a minute then died... ended up being the mechanical fuel pump broke. Replaced the pump and put 4 gallons of new diesel in the tank wich only was 1/4 of the way full, i put in some heat fuel injector cleaner and water seperator, i filled up the filer with new diesel and we turned her over. Had to turn it over for 30 seconds two times then it started, ran for about a minute sounded ok but like it was idling slowly and was smoking a little bit then it died and i restarted it and it ran again for about a minute then died again and wouldnt restart after that at all didnt fire over one bit. This motor has been a disaster for me. Any advice from you diesel mechanics would be awesome. Im just so sick of not knowing what is going on with this motor or why it wont do anything...

[huntnphool]

 It sat for a year without starting it and you expect it to fire right up and run smooth without issue?

[WA hunter14]

I don't need any bs comment from someone not trying to help, it sat half a year and was started but only temporarily then sat almost another half a year. I never said i expected no issues but yea i was hoping for it to go smoothly. Im 19 years old and i owe 6 grand on this truck I just want to be able to use it. I figured maybe someone would read my post and have dealt with a similar problem and maybe I would get lucky and it would be something simple. If no one helps then what harm have i caused? If someone does help maybe it will save a lot more time and money then you might think.

[Fl0und3rz]

You might be talking to someone who could help.

I was wondering the same, but I am not a diesel guy.

[jmscon]

You might have some air in the fuel line from changing the pump. You might try looking up a YouTube video on how to bleed the high pressure fuel lines at the injectors.

@jackelope might have something to add too.

[WA hunter14]

You might have some air in the fuel line from changing the pump. You might try looking up a YouTube video on how to bleed the high pressure fuel lines at the injectors.

@jackalope might have something to add too.

thank you, I'll figure out how to bleed them and see if that helps.

[huntnphool]

 It wasn't a bs comment, it was a question, and somewhat serious.

 Being 19 you can chalk it up to a lesson learned, leaving engines sitting that long without starting you should always expect issues. If you don't get any then you should feel fortunate.

 At this point it's going to be process of elimination, and may take a while.

 It could be fuel pressure, more accurately lack there of, you will need to check that.

 Possibly air in the lines?

 It could be the injectors, how many miles/how old are they?

 It could be oil pressure, those diesels HPOP's do not react well to sitting long periods. They require a certain amount of oil pressure to fire the injectors, it may take a lot of cranking to get that oil pressure built back up.

 I'd start with one and start the elimination process.

[huntnphool]

 Be sure to let your starter cool down for a while if you crank it for extended periods at a time.

[WA hunter14]

ok thank you that helps a lot, Now I have a path to work through. Im struggling with life right now(like others im sure) and not having a vehicle is just making life harder than I can handle. Im sorry, i dont want to be rude and disrespectful I really do appreciate you guys taking time to help me out.

[huntnphool]

ok thank you that helps a lot, Now I have a path to work through. Im struggling with life right now(like others im sure) and not having a vehicle is just making life harder than I can handle. Im sorry, i dont want to be rude and disrespectful I really do appreciate you guys taking time to help me out.

 Most of us have been there, take it a day at a time.

 Since it started and ran for a period of time, I'd start with oil and fuel pressure.

 Maybe coach will chime in since archery elk is done, I'm sure he has a suggestion or two.

[Goex2Fwithroundball]

From Oroville eh?
My favorite place on earth. I live at my little hunting cabin on Mt. Hull during deer season. Oh and the Mexican food at Trinos!

Your rig likely needs to have the air bled from the fuel system after changing the pump and opening the filter.
Crack open both fuel lines which exit the fuel filter and enter the heads. Crank the engine to bleed the air. Crank until you get good fuel coming out without air or bubbles then tighten. If it requires continued cranking let the starter rest and cool so you don't burn it up.

Let me know how it goes.

[heronblu]

Is that a direct or indirect injected motor? I know that 94 was the year that they switched over. It sounds like a fuel delivery issue to me and could be a number of things. I would start with the air in the system theory and work towards the injectors. Also check the voltage on your glow plugs relay because if that isn't working it would cause some hard starting issues for sure.

[follow maggie]

Change the oil. The fuel injectors on that engine are actuated by high pressure oil. Te system doesn't like dirty oil. I have a truck with a Cat engine that works on the same technology that sits all winter without being started. In the spring, I change the oil & filters (oil & fuel) and it fires off without any trouble. Clean oil is important.

[coachcw]

the 7.3 uses oil and fuel along with a electric pulse to fire the injectors . if it has a block heater I'd plug it in.  you can pull the fuel filter cap and crank to make sure you have basic fuel supply. . honistly you can learn a bunch  on YouTube.  all power and grounds are important for sure and the library can help with a wiring diagram. hope that helps if you get stuck give me a buzz on Monday 206 522 6100. be care full with starting fluid but a bit may get it fired up and filling the fuel filter housing with standine  fuel injector cleaner can't hurt.

[timberghost72]

A good resource for Ford diesels is

http://www.thedieselstop.com

There are specific boards for the various models and a ton of info.

Some good suggestions already posted here. Since your engine oil pressure is a part of fuel delivery control be sure to check oil level. Aeriation in the oil can also cause issues. As already stated check fuel pressure.

Good luck.