Truck won't start after standing.

[young-gunn]

I've been having problems for a long time with getting my truck to start. Wasn't bad in the summer but as it gets colder it has been getting much worse.

When I go to start it, it cranks like it isn't getting fuel. I have to hold the throttle down to get it to eventually start. After it's started I can shut it off and it will fire up right away no matter how cold it is. I've let it sit for about 6 hours and it will still start. Any longer and I have problems. I've noticed this in summer but it seemed like it was worse if I left it parked on a hill.

I've changed glow plugs, fuel filter and primer (used primer but it works), my fuel lines from the primer to the engine, and installed new batteries. I'm running out of ideas and running short on time to fix this. I noticed the problem after I put the new injectors in. Any ideas?

[BUSHWHACKER]

You either have air in the fuel lines and the engine needs a good run to clear it or your replacement primer head is letting in air causing the fuel to drain back to the tank when the engine had been switched off for a while.

[young-gunn]

I've put a good few thousand kms on the truck since this problem showed up. The old primer wouldn't go hard so I got a used one off a friend from his parts truck that ran fine. It gets hard after 2 or 3 pumps and stays like that. I do feel it is air getting into the fuel somewhere but I have no idea where it could be.

[young-gunn]

I don't mean to double post but I'd like a quick answer with this. I noticed today when I parked it that I could hear the fuel cap either sucking in air or forcing air out. I cracked the cap and there was a very loud hiss. This hiss had been going on for a while now. I've read that means a clogged tank breather? Could this be causing my starting problems?

Will be checking the glow plugs tomorrow as well. had to fire it up with a fair bit of quickstart (freezing cold and starting problems made for a bad day) and I wouldn't be surprised if I blew one of my new plugs. I tried pumping the fuel primer when it wasn't starting and it was solid, couldn't pump it once so I feel I can rule out any fuel issue between the primer and engine.

[BUSHWHACKER]

A blocked tank breather will cause a vacuum in the tank which affects fuel flow to the pump, probably the reason why the primer feels solid.
You can access the tank breather and hose (one way valve) from the side of the tank near the chassis rail.

[Bogus]

When you retire for the night, take the filler cap off. If it fires up fine in the morning then its breather related, but if its just the same then your new glow plugs are probably not doing their job. ( fuse blown, wired up wrongly ?? )

[young-gunn]

Tested my glow plugs just now, all read .6 to .7 ohms. I'm getting 10.5 volts right to the plugs, and it cuts down to about 6.2 after about 10 seconds and cuts out completely a bit after. I did get the truck to start today and let it idle for a bit, didn't take it for a drive but left the fuel cap off. I went back a few hours later and it didn't want to start and I wasn't going to force it to. I'm going to drop the tank tomorrow, disassemble everything and clean it out.

I'm really leaning towards an injector problem. I never had an issue like this. Once I changed the injectors with some new ones off ebay I noticed starting problems and a significant loss in power. I tried putting the old ones back in but they were leaking badly. A company I have dealt with for unrelated parts said they would sell me used injectors (but known good) to try and if they didn't help I could ship them back and get my money refunded. This may be worth a try at this point. I will be out probably $80 shipping and a week wait just to try it though.

[young-gunn]

Pulled the tank, breather is completely clogged. The hose leading out is very corroded. Does this hose go anywhere or just sit on top of the tank? It was hanging loose when I dropped the tank. Will get a new one way valve to replace the breather asap. Will also blow air through all the lines and into the tank to get any junk out of the lines and fuel pickup.

EDIT: I replaced the one way valve with a tractor fuel filter for now (can't find a one way valve locally) and my problem went away. I ran a long hose off it up to the engine bay to keep water from going into the tank. I will put a one way valve in when I can find one.