Yes I know I'm stupid, that aside Im also really lucky. I was driving home after a little R&R with the family somewhere in Mississippi where there is no Gas Station for 50 or so miles. Well i pull into the first gas station i see and right there at the pump she runs out of fuel... Well I fill it up and turn it over a few seconds and it starts runs dies... that happens a couple times then it finally keeps going. Well I get on the road and immedaiatly notice a loss of power, and my cruise doesnt work. I havnt looked at the vacuum lines yet, but other than that, Did I do something really bad to the engine by running it out of fuel???

You didnt mention bleeding the air out of the system. Maybe it has air in it still.

I agree, you probably didn't do any damage, other than sucking any goop off the bottom of the tank as you ran it all the way down. You likely have air in the lines. I recommend that you crack the fuel/air bleed line (see FAQs) with the key on, engine NOT running, but Lift Pump on... drain some fuel, see if the Lift Pump can get rid of some air. That will ensure fuel up to the filter at least.

If you need to bleed more air, you may need to crack the fuel line on the Injection Pump, and bleed air from there. Lastly, you may need to crack injector lines and bleed air out of them as well. However, if it is running, I think you can simply run it on the freeway for a few minutes, and it should drive all the air out of it that way.

Good luck!

Rob :)

If it spit back when it stalled you may have popped a vaccum line off.

On our 95 yr model we can put gear select into drive and turn key to start and this will allow the lift pump to run.
Lift pump only works during start and run.
By now I'm sure you have cycled the key and truck is fine?

Cruise control does not work off vacuum. OUr trucks are drive by wire. I suspect you may have a DTC. Is the SES light on ? Did you check for codes ? Even if the SES came on then went out, if it stored a code your cruise will not work. Trust me on this I spent alot of time getting mine working. The procedure for checking and clearing codes is in the FAQs. 94-95 is OBD1.

Also sputtering would not "pop" a vacuum line off. That would be on a gasser. Remember guys the vacuum system on these trucks is supplied/driven by an independent pump, not manifold vacuum. You most likely have air and a stored DTC. Check for codes and drive the truck. I learned a valuable lesson on how a little air can screw the truck up big time. It makes the ECM do weird things to balance out the rpms and by doing that actually takes longer to purge the air. GMCTD did an extensive technical write up in my Help, Injectors thread about why this happens. I didn't believe it until I saw it for myself. BTW GMCTD still waiting for current photo to build statue of you on my front lawn....:D

Alao Naval, you need to go here too..:D
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=241769

There is a code that will set when you have air in the lines. After you cycle the key it should run fine. If not, clear the codes and then you should be fine. I imagine it is fine already since you haven't reported back yet.

How much did that cost you to fill up? lol

I agree, you probably didn't do any damage, other than sucking any goop off the bottom of the tank as you ran it all the way down.


Unless your fuel pickup is on a float, you're always sucking off of the bottom of the tank.

Unless your fuel pickup is on a float, you're always sucking off of the bottom of the tank.

Yes, but as you draw the fuel down, any contaminants will be concentrated in the remainder of the fuel. If you have dirty fuel to start with, it will be really concentrated when you're drawing the last bit off the bottom of the tank. Thus, I try to NEVER let my tank get below 1/4.

Rob :)

Yes, but as you draw the fuel down, any contaminants will be concentrated in the remainder of the fuel. If you have dirty fuel to start with, it will be really concentrated when you're drawing the last bit off the bottom of the tank. Thus, I try to NEVER let my tank get below 1/4.

Rob :)
That's wise and smart. Also, during the humid summer months, the lower the fuel level in the tank, the more condensation occurs resulting in water settling to the bottom of the tank.

Cruise control does not work off vacuum. OUr trucks are drive by wire. I suspect you may have a DTC. Is the SES light on ? Did you check for codes ? Even if the SES came on then went out, if it stored a code your cruise will not work. Trust me on this I spent alot of time getting mine working. The procedure for checking and clearing codes is in the FAQs. 94-95 is OBD1.


Your right.. My Bad:o:

Your right.. My Bad:o:
Don't sweat it. Everything I know about 6.5s I learned from this forum, no where else.

Thanks for all the help everyone, Ive been learning quite a bit in my first week of owning a 6.5 TD. As for my problem, somehow everything corrected itself overnight, with no problems with the cruise or turbo at all today. My guess is that I sucked something into the fuel filter that clogged it until it could settle out?? Not really sure but glad it fixed itself!:D

How much did that cost you to fill up? lol

Well I put 28 gal in it, but also bought about 4 more and put in a tank, just incase. total = $135

Thanks for all the help everyone, Ive been learning quite a bit in my first week of owning a 6.5 TD. As for my problem, somehow everything corrected itself overnight, with no problems with the cruise or turbo at all today. My guess is that I sucked something into the fuel filter that clogged it until it could settle out?? Not really sure but glad it fixed itself!:D

I'm still guessing "air in the lines".

Rob :)