Changed Fuel Filter and Now Won't Start
OK, so I screwed up: 330HP C7 Diesel Cat engine, changed the single fuel filter and didn't pre-fill, didn't go through the prime sequence. Started normally, ran for 30 seconds or so then died. ...
Forum Discussion
talloto.
First off, to others, if the OP is correct, he has only "ONE" FUEL FITLER and no secondary and NO PRIMING PUMP. And, Brett and I talked for a while on my EXACT SAME SITUATION. If you didn't read my thread, here's what I had. I changed the filter and didn't pre-fill the new one "PER CAT'S INSTRUCTIONS in the CAT owners manual I had.
Second, if the OPs fuel level is/was lower than the mounting point of the SINGLE fuel filter, then, as it did in mine, when the filter was removed, the fuel in the line drained all the way back to the tank. OK, now you've got around a 25' long air bubble.
Third, on mine, the fuel "Disappeared" from the filter base to the "lift pump" or otherwise known as the "Transfer pump" too. I say disappeared because it didn't leak all over the ground when I removed the old filter.
Fourth, if that happened in your case as it did in mine, your line from the filter base is also "EMPTY"!!!! So, what you had totally when you tried to start it again, after the 30 second run time, was about 35' air bubble. So, as Brett and, Freightliner customer service advised, I had to pressurize the fuel tank and, open the line to the filter base. Then, when I got fuel there, I made sure that the filter was pre-filled. Then, that's when I found out the fuel line from the base to the back of the HEUI pump or, the transfer pump as some call it, was empty too.
So, I loosened the fitting and removed it from the transfer pump and had the DW pressurize the tank one more time. I finally got fuel to that point.
I buttoned everything all up and cranked it again. It took about 20 seconds of cranking before it started to sputter. Then, I kept cranking (for a total of about 35 seconds and the beast lit off. When it finally started, there was no sputtering or coughing. It was smooth as glass.
So, that's what most likely happened to the OP. I put some serious time on my starter that event. Never again will I face that situation. I've since installed dual shut off valves in the lines so I isolate that filter during the change out.
Scott
First off, to others, if the OP is correct, he has only "ONE" FUEL FITLER and no secondary and NO PRIMING PUMP. And, Brett and I talked for a while on my EXACT SAME SITUATION. If you didn't read my thread, here's what I had. I changed the filter and didn't pre-fill the new one "PER CAT'S INSTRUCTIONS in the CAT owners manual I had.
Second, if the OPs fuel level is/was lower than the mounting point of the SINGLE fuel filter, then, as it did in mine, when the filter was removed, the fuel in the line drained all the way back to the tank. OK, now you've got around a 25' long air bubble.
Third, on mine, the fuel "Disappeared" from the filter base to the "lift pump" or otherwise known as the "Transfer pump" too. I say disappeared because it didn't leak all over the ground when I removed the old filter.
Fourth, if that happened in your case as it did in mine, your line from the filter base is also "EMPTY"!!!! So, what you had totally when you tried to start it again, after the 30 second run time, was about 35' air bubble. So, as Brett and, Freightliner customer service advised, I had to pressurize the fuel tank and, open the line to the filter base. Then, when I got fuel there, I made sure that the filter was pre-filled. Then, that's when I found out the fuel line from the base to the back of the HEUI pump or, the transfer pump as some call it, was empty too.
So, I loosened the fitting and removed it from the transfer pump and had the DW pressurize the tank one more time. I finally got fuel to that point.
I buttoned everything all up and cranked it again. It took about 20 seconds of cranking before it started to sputter. Then, I kept cranking (for a total of about 35 seconds and the beast lit off. When it finally started, there was no sputtering or coughing. It was smooth as glass.
So, that's what most likely happened to the OP. I put some serious time on my starter that event. Never again will I face that situation. I've since installed dual shut off valves in the lines so I isolate that filter during the change out.
Scott
