Greetings folks -
I've got a 1979 MCI with "rebuilt" 6v92 Detroit Diesel engine. It has recently started to lose prime, and become impossible to start. What happens is that sometime after I park the fuel system loses prime. I can tell it happens because if I drop the 2 fuel filters that they are only about a 1/4 full of fuel.
lets have a little more clarification on this one. Are you saying that when you shut it down and pull the filters they are only 1/4 full? or are you saying that they are full when you shut it off but after time they leak down to 1/4 full? or do you try starting it to no avail and then pull the filters to find them at 1/4 full? these could all mean different things.
I learned that if I take both of the fuel filters off, fill them to the top then replace them that I can squirt some starting fluid in and it will start right back up. The problem is happening more and more often now - almost every time I park and shut off the bus.
you wanna be really careful with the ether. A little too much one time can be catastrophic, then losing prime will be the least of your worries.
I had a guy tell me that I need to install a auxiliary fuel pump which will help me to "force" the fuel back and keep the system primed? I'm theoritically OK with doing that, but I'd like to hear from some of y'all that is the right answer. I'd also LOVE some recommendations on how to do it - from someone who knows. Do you put the new pump inline? Meaning that ALL fuel that runs through that line goes through the pump? Or do you somehow put it off to the side and use it only to prime the system, then again somehow shut it off? Is there some other problem that is causing this now to happen? I find it difficult to understand how an engine can run perfectly well for 30 years, then suddenly need a new fuel pump to be ADDED to the system?
yes this does seem to be an approved method, and you can do it either way. what ever tickles your fancy. However, the best solution would be to find the problem and fix it. Do you have a check valve installed? how much fuel is in the tank when you park it? have you tried parking it with a full tank and see if you get different results? Somewhere you have a leak and air is infiltrating into the system. you need to find out where.