Detroit Diesel 671 fuel issues

Oh man. I had twin Detroit 671's in a boat we owned a long time ago. Turbocharged in line 6 as I recall. They are almost indistructable. Running the fuel down low in an old boat or vehicle can be a real problem. Dirt, water, algea, etc can lurk at the bottom. I'm sorry money is tight. If you can, I'd drain the tank before doing anything else. Clean start with new fuel and filters would be a good idea. Starting fluid shouldn't hurt as ling as you limit its use. Those engines could run with cracked heads and broken rings. Many a fisherman could make it home when other types would have given out.

Detroit, they might sound good to start with, but sit over top of one 10~12 hours a day over the road driving & it wont be long you'll be sick of hearing it.
One thing about driving a truck with Detroit, you'll stay awake at night, cause you'll be to busy shifting gears trying to make it go on flat ground to fall asleep.
Neil

After replacing the fuel pump on my Detroit Had the dry fuel pump issue, solved it as follows: Fill all the fuel filters with fuel. loosened the fuel line on the pump a little, wrapped a rag around an air nozzle and applied air to the fuel tank at the filler tube this pushes fuel through the system to as close to the pump as you are going to get it. when the fuel starts to drip out of the loosened fuel line tighten it back up and start the engine. May need to use starting fluid to get it to go. On my current bus someone added an air chuck to the fuel cap.

I love the sound of my 8v71 when you drive this bus, you barely hear that engine just enough to know it is there. but you only hear the wind hitting the bus it is awesome. I love my Holiday Rambler. but there is nothing like my bus. I love my 671 as well. I will get some fuel later and PRAY that it is a simple problem like low fuel. which I think is the issue. I will update and hope have good news.

OP, I'd start by filling the fuel filters and putting more fuel in your tank.
I was surprised to see 6-71s in the landing crafts used on D day.
G...HVAX. what's the difference in using WD 40 and starting fluid? Granted you have to use less starting fluid. If it wasn't for starting fluid I'd still be trying to start many of my engines on a cold day... actually I'd probably be posting on the TC forum, not on Class A. I have no idea how many cases of starting fluid I've bought or how often I've used gas on a rag to keep a engine running long enough to get fuel to the injectors. Granted you need to wait long enough for the grid heater (if hot) to cool down before using.:S

The older engines could take a lot of sulphur in the fuel, and it can expand the o-rings, and keep everythign well sealed.

You might have a small air leak from the lack of sulphur. Be sure to look at the engine once you get it running.

Also never use starting fluid on a diesel. Your older engine might take it, but still I would not recommend it.

If you are out of fuel, take off the air filter, and have a can of WD 40. Spray that while cranking, and the engine will run fine on WD 40 as long as you keep spraying it.

Yes 10 more gallons should bring up the level enough to make a difference. Probably need 20 or more to actually start driving the RV again. Lucky for you, your engine can burn just about anything. A buddy had a 8V71, and he bought fuel from a local airport, what had been drained out of airplanes. Really cheap too, only about $0.35 back in the late 70's when diesel was around $0.95.

On aircraft carriers, all they use is jet fuel to power all the auxillary engines, forklifts, generators, anything that was not run on electricity.

Good luck!

Fred.

The one sound I hate about my 8V71 is the cash register bell going crazy when I fill up the tank

Yeah it is a new issue. but the tank is wide and the dip tube is in the middle and it is sloped to the right where the fuel gauge is, is in the right back corner. so it is reading just below a quarter. so it may be a false reading. I may dump ten gallons when I get paid and see if that fixes it. God I hope it does. Yes I LOVE LOVE LOVE that sound of the detroits and I have an 8v71 in my Flxible and love that sound. I love the sound of it when I drive off when it spools up.

Wow, a "671"! I've not heard those numbers in quite a while. Way back in '80 when I joined SDFD, we had (4)- 6V53s, (2)-671s about 3 dozen 8V71s and had just purchased (10) of the "92" series. I actually liked all those series Detroit's. I personally think the sound of a 92 series is the BEST sounding diesel engine ever. The 6-53 series were so incredibly loud they drove us all nuts.

The 8-V71 series were fun to drive and, the 92 series were seriously fast, for it's day.

Anyway, I hope you get that "bit of nostalgia" working. Has it done this same thing before, with the same level, more or less of fuel? Or, is this something new?
Scott

Could be low fuel, hole rusted in pickup pipe in tank, leak in fuel line, line pluged, filter gasket not sealing. Your fuel pump will not pump air. You have to find a means to force fuel through it to reprime. Some buses have wide tanks. If it is parked on a slope, with low fuel level, it will suck air.

What kind of bus?