Loosing prime detroit 60

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Transportauto, Dec 10, 2022.

  1. Transportauto

    Transportauto Light Load Member

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    I've got a 99 fld that when sitting over night won't start engine turns but looses fuel. Looking for fuel on hoses seen nothing but decided to replace them due to the cracking I was seeing. I can fill the water separator up and get the truck primed runs great but if I shut it off for 2 hours it just spins, over night fuel water separator glass will be empty. I have removed the fuel return line over the transmission and watched it (engine off) I don't see any fuel leaking.
    I was originally thinking I was getting air in the fuel but that wouldn't explain the glass being empty. My ideas were it's leaking back to the tanks or injector Orings leaking?
    If it was the Owings wouldn't I see a good amount of smoke once it starts?
     
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  3. ibcalm19

    ibcalm19 Road Train Member

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    It is an air leak in the system. You should pressurize the system to find where it is.
     
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  4. Transportauto

    Transportauto Light Load Member

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    Air leak even though I'm not seeing any bubbles in the glass and the fuel hoses are new?
    As for being able to pressurize the system what method do you use?
    I'm sure I could fab something up but figured someone might have a simple solution to do so
     
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  5. ibcalm19

    ibcalm19 Road Train Member

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    You could put a check valve between the fuel separator and fuel line. The air leak could be behind the check valve. It doesn't matter that the lines are new air is getting into the system that's why you are losing the prime. You have to locate from where..
     
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  6. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    5C42114E-80BF-4B59-9DF5-1FF4FE36D4F5.png You’ve got a bad check valve. It’s located on the back of the head, on the return (top) line. Rarely they’re located further down from the head. Yours should be right at the head. Replace it, problem solved.
     
  7. Transportauto

    Transportauto Light Load Member

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    I thought about the check valve being bad but wouldn't I see suction on the return line over the trans as the fuel is routing back through the system?
    Also what method do you use to pressurize the system?
     
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  8. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    Lots of info about these in the search block.
     
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  9. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    Check valve behind the head, like mentioned.
     
  10. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    Check valve holds fuel in the head. When it’s bad, it drains into the return. I think there’s also a check valve built into the fuel pump also. Easiest way to pressurize the tank is by blowing air into it, using a rag wrapped around the blow gun. Will prime the system quick. Once when I didn’t have any air in the Trucks tanks, I used a mini air compressor, cut the end off the hose, hooked to one of the tanks vent line, secured with hose clamp, with both caps on, and other tanks vent line crimped. It worked great. Took a long time to build pressure, because my tanks were low. Be careful, don’t need much pressure. Less than 7 lbs. I believe. I put 18 lbs in mine. Big mistake. Don’t try to remove caps till all the pressures bled off. If you do, it will blow off once opened and break your hand.
     
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  11. Raffito

    Raffito Light Load Member

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    You can take the check valve behind the head apart and see if you have a broken o'ring. There is also another check valve on the fuel water separator inlet hose, take it off and see if it has any debris suck in the valve.
     
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