Well, just got home after being stranded 30 miles from home with a dead dmax. I think it must have been the fuel I bought because it drove fine to where I was going last nite, then about 3 this morning when I went to come home, it wouldn't stay running for longer than 30 seconds. It was acting like it was running out of fuel (pulsing at idle) and I kept having to prime the system to start it. After about 15 times of that crap I made it into a town and sat until morning until I could buy a fuel filter. That is a hassle without tools! Got it on, truck started, idled good for about 5-10 minutes; then I tryed to take off.Teh check engine light came on and It runs ****ty and sounds like a 12 valve cummins and can barely get out of its own way revved past 2000rpm (if it even will). Wouldn't go any faster than about 35-40 either. Whats this sound like to you guys? I think injectors but can't find out till tomorrow when I take it to the stealer. This truck had me so pissed off this morning that I almost bought the new super duty an hour ago. Lets just say GM is lucky that Ford makes an inferior product, otherwise I would have been driving my new ford right now! Ah, feels better now that I vented a little bit :)

How long did it take for problems to surface after you took on fuel and where was your fuel gauge when it started? What was the outside temp?

I had about a 1/4 tank, maybe a little less and filled up to a little more than a half a tank right by my house. Then I drove straight to where I was going about 30 miles away. Temp was about 45° and it ran damn good on the way down. Went to leave about 5-6 hours later, it was about 30-35°. Truck started, but died about 30 seconds later. So I kept priming it and driving and coasting until i got to a station and filled it the rest of the way up. Still wouldn't stay running until I could change the fuel filter at about 10 this morning.

Filled up yesterday morning after running it pretty low - light came on shortly before I pulled in to fill up - 30 gallons - drove it back to the campground and, with the exception of a couple of tours around the park @20-30 mph, it pretty well stayed put.
Hooked up to the trailer this morning about 10 to head back home (approx 200 mi). Got about 5 miles down the road, running strong when all of a sudden it just dies, like someone threw a switch. Pulled off, sat for about 5 minutes, tried it, fired back up. Drove another 3 or 4 miles, same thing. All told, this happened about a dozen or so times. Eventually I got to where I could keep it running, but only within a range of about 30-40 mph on average, and doing my best to give it no more fuel than it absolutely had to have, to climb hills and such.

60 miles later, I get to a town where I can buy at least a junk a$$ Chinese version of the filter at the O'Reilly's, install it, prime it, fires right up. Check engine light goes out, never got a WIF indicator to begin with, and then hit the road. After 40 minutes, I began thinking I had it solved when it started doing it again. Did manage to nurse it the rest of the way home, but a 3 hour trip got doubled, and I'm having a hard time trusting my truck now, at only 40000-odd miles.

Seems like it's starved for fuel, if I had to describe it. Sometimes it would die, but while winding down in gear, it would kick off and start running again sometimes, almost like supply catches back up and it can restart again. What would starve the engine of enough fuel and not be an obstructed filter? Did I lose an injector or two? Fuel pump going bad? Contaminated fuel?

Whadda y'all think? I think I'M pretty bummed out right now. -:t

Your blaming the truck for bad fuel? Sure you didnt put gas in?

bad fuel. drain tank start over.

I had about a 1/4 tank, maybe a little less and filled up to a little more than a half a tank right by my house. Then I drove straight to where I was going about 30 miles away. Temp was about 45° and it ran damn good on the way down. Went to leave about 5-6 hours later, it was about 30-35°. Truck started, but died about 30 seconds later. So I kept priming it and driving and coasting until i got to a station and filled it the rest of the way up. Still wouldn't stay running until I could change the fuel filter at about 10 this morning.
Hard to say for sure but it does sound like you're getting a dose of H2O. 1/4 tank is about where that sender cup starts to bring in fuel from the tank bottom. Before that the cup fills from the top so you won't get much water if any at that time because you are pulling fuel from about 4" above the tank bottom. Sounds strange but that's the way that sender works. Thats the same level when it nailed me once and I heard of at least one other member (cant recall who) that had the same thing happen at 1/4 tank. I would drain the tank as a first option.

Do you see any water at the filter drain?

yeah, thats the way mine acted too, like it was starved of fuel. After the filter change it will run, just sh**ty.

ALWAYS carry a spare fuel filter in the truck along with the necessary tools to change it. This should be viewed as the first rule of diesel truck ownership. Whether you are capable of changing it or not, having it available on site can save your rear.

I carry a rubber strap wrench, and WIF sensor wrench with my restriction gauge in the same case. Behind the seat is a Mega, OE, and OE oil filter unless we happen to run short and they get robbed for a shipment.


From there, follow Patrick's simple and direct reply...

ALWAYS carry a spare fuel filter in the truck along with the necessary tools to change it. This should be viewed as the first rule of diesel truck ownership. Whether you are capable of changing it or not, having it available on site can save your rear.

I carry a rubber strap wrench, and WIF sensor wrench with my restriction gauge in the same case. Behind the seat is a Mega, OE, and OE oil filter unless we happen to run short and they get robbed for a shipment.


From there, follow Patrick's simple and direct reply...


Believe you me I will from here on out, but even with the new filter, I got the same result. And I got it for the last 150 miles of my trip. I could see it continuing over a short distance, but 150 miles? And if this was a water issue wouldn't it float the WIF sensor eventually and trigger it?

No, dmaxalliTech, I did not put gas in - I haven't owned any vehicle that ran anything other than diesel for over a year now - plus if someone hasn't got the sense to pay attention and put in the correct fuel, then they probably shouldn't even drive a riding lawnmower, let alone a diesel vehicle.

That being said, however, it wouldn't surprise me if some new on the job fuel delivery driver fCensoreded up and sent about 500 gallons of unleaded into the wrong hole in the ground.

So, assuming I go ahead and drain the tank dry and clean it out really well, what could you recommend to me as a regular additive to help keep the tank as free from water as I can? I already have a Nicktane on the list to try to keep as much of everything else out as I can....

I don't mean to sound crabby or anything - just have a 3500 mile trip coming up this next month, and it's kinda weighing on me a little bit having this pop up so close to it.

This may or may not be worth noting, but, should the barbed end on the WIF sensor have anything on it, like a hose or a rubber cap or something?

Thanks guys...

the more I think you're right about the water in the fuel, regardless of what the WIF sensor does or doesn't pick up. It makes sense that if there was water in the bottom of the tank when I filled up, then I would have scattered water molecules every which way in the fuel when I filled it up, or possibly it was a batch full of water at the station where I bought it. It's still reasonable that water in the tanks at the station was was still stirred up if the fuel guy had just delivered there that morning, which means I would have gotten a large dose of it when I filled up later that same morning. I think it's also reasonable to assume that the fuel settled somewhat in the period of time I sat idle while replacing the filter, which probably got all stirred up again while heading down a fairly bumpy highway. for several minutes.

There are about 15-20 gallons in the truck right now, and the truck is sitting at home today. If at all possible I'd like to hit whats left with FPPF or Primrose or something to get that quantity of fuel down to something I can manage before draining the tank.

Incidentally, what's the easiest way to drain the tank?

If you still have them, you might want to cut open the old fuel filters to get a better idea of what's happening.

Also,

60 miles later, I get to a town where I can buy at least a junk a$$ Chinese version of the filter at the O'Reilly's

Do you have the band and model of this O'Reilly filter. I thought all Duramax filters were made by just one manufacturer, Racor. They just have different labeling on the outside of the can, and on the boxes.

Do you have the band and model of this O'Reilly filter. I thought all Duramax filters were made by just one manufacturer, Racor. They just have different labeling on the outside of the can, and on the boxes.

I don't recall the manufacturer on the box - wasn't one I recognized, though - left it inside with the sales guy when I went outside to put the filter on. He found it cross-referencing the ACD filter # that I had. The filter canister itself was featureless - with the exception of "MADE IN CHINA" stamped on it. It cost about $30. I'm going to replace it with OEM as soon as I get the tank cleaned out. China or no, though, if it gave me a shot at getting the rest of the way home, I was going for it.

Where are Racor's filters manufactured?

Get a Nicktane.. and fagitaboudit




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No comment. Later! Frank

quick update on my truck: I got in to drive to work this morning and the thing ran pretty good, but still not perfect and the engine light was still on. Then about noon on my way to school it was running even better with the engine light still on, and then on the way home the light went off and it ran like a champ (for stock that is!). I have no idea what the heck to think now but I am still going to go to my appointment at the dealer to see what codes it threw. I am relieved that its getting better but still bummed because I spent so much time turning it back to stock for the dealer! oh well, better this was anyhow!

I have no idea what the heck to think now but I am still going to go to my appointment at the dealer to see what codes it threw.

Yeah, definitely get back to us and let us know what codes were thrown, if any. My engine light stayed off after replacing the filter on the road, even though it died a couple more times afterward.

Went out last night myself and found a truck stop that had Fuel Power, and bought all they had (4-8oz. bottles). Threw one in last night, then drove in to work this morning with no problems. Kept it under 2 g's though - I want to ease this crappy tank the rest of the way through before I get on it any. Then I'll fill up at a station I've regularly traded with, throw in another bottle of FP and then see where I am.

The one good thing that has come out of this is with all the slow driving, I'm getting some pretty good fuel economy! ):h

ok, just got back from the dealer, and they found: "code P0193, fuel rail pressure sensor. 610 engine driveablity concern."

The code was actually stored into memory and wasn't a current code. So now I ask, how long and under what circumstances does it take a code to go from current to history?

They checked the sensor and it was within specs, so I guess it is fine now. I took it to Brett Chevy in Kent, WA. This is the second time I have been there and they have treated me very well and fixed me up in record times with minimal wait for an appointment to bring it in. I would definately recommend them to anyone in the area!

ok, just got back from the dealer, and they found: "code P0193, fuel rail pressure sensor. 610 engine driveablity concern."


Huh.... so what does this mean? I guess not a bad sensor since it tested OK, but I've heard of sensors being bad despite that. Disruption of high side pressure obviously occured in some way - not from trash but probably some water. Doesn't sound like you got it as bad as I did, fortunately.

I wonder if the code remains "current" as long as the condition is present, and then whenever the condition corrects itself, or is corrected by someone, it goes into memory. I'd be willing to bet that I have the same code in memory right now - may go by the dealer this week and see, just to know.

Was thinking Nicktane but now I've seen the Racor setup with the clear bowl and petcock and am liking that a little better for keeping tabs on any water accumulation... Gonna wise up and try to keep my bases covered from now on... not something I want to have to contend with again anytime soon (read never).

Thanks for getting back with the info so fast.

I hear you there. If i get put in another situation like that again I am going to to nuts, and it wasn't even that bad. Just very inconveinient.

how do you drain the tank?

how do you drain the tank?
Beats hell outta me - I'm about 90% sure there's no drain plug on the tank, though. Probably have to syphon out some if there's a lot, drop the driveshaft and the tank's supposed to be pretty simple to get out beyond that. Asked the same question earlier though, but no one responded.

I just hope I never actually have to do it.