Occasionally getting a diesel fuel smell when turning on the fan air circulation in a 2003 F250 Ext Cab Lariat 4x4 7.3 L diesel. Occurs on start up after setting for awhile. No external fuel leaks are apparent. Doesn't do it every time at start-up which confuses me a bit. Sometimes a very faint odor and sometimes much more noticeable. Can sometimes smell the odor outside the truck too. Where could this smell be coming from? Where should I look?

My first vote goes for a leaky fuel bowl. This could be the drain valve o-rings beginning to leak some. The fuel sits on the top of the engine and just bakes off. I had the same issue but mine leaked enough so that if I parked nose high it would run off the back of the engine and drip on the ground. Did a complete fuel bowl rebuild and solved the problem. Complete rebuild kit of o-rings from DieselOrings.com was only about $20.If you can get up and reach or look behind the fuel bowl you probably will find fuel.Hope this helps. PM me if you need more details.Terry

If you find that it is the fuel bowl drain as described above, I havce some extra viton O Rings and could send you a pair.

Agree, check the fuel bowl and valley. Mine did that when ULSD came around. Replaced orings and life went on.

Could be starting to leak out of the drain valve itself, would not see any on the motor, but if gets bad enough it will be coming out the drain pipe below the motor, and should be visible, mine was . I just replaced the entire drain valve. Cheap fix.

camperfamily wrote:Agree, check the fuel bowl and valley. Mine did that when ULSD came around. Replaced orings and life went on.X2

Diesel Fuel smell occasionaly in cab of F250 7.3L

MrVan
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
The Ford dealer replaced just the fuel valve which includes the 3 O rings. So far it has stopped the fuel smell
StirCrazy
Moderator
Jun 11, 2014
I hope you did all the other O-rings on the fuel bowl and not just the drain valve. if not you might go through this all over again. the others are not expensive, 5 to 8 bucks for the 2 o rings and 2 selves. I paid 25 bucks for a new drain valve on line. My drain valve was not leaking, it was all the other seals and o rings, but I replaced it anyways as the new one had the proper O-rings and the ULSD would eventual make them leak.

Steve
Swmpbgy1
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
MrVan wrote:
No more diesel fuel smell inside or outside. Thanks to all of you who immediately diagnosed this correctly. Thanks again

Mine too......Thanks Dave!!

Swmpbgy1
mike_brez
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
Dave H M wrote:
MrVan wrote:
Ford Dealer verified that Diesel Fuel Valve is leaking. Quoted $245 to fix with $62 valve plus labor. I was and am still in total disbelief. If it is only the O-rings leaking then $4.00 in parts and some personal labor can fix this. oh and BTW they charged me $118 for a lube and oil change. Probably the last time I'll go there.

Amazing, The ford stealer that I go to has a sign along the road that says oil and filter change 19.95. Bib Ridings in Taylorville IL. I feel sure youtube has a how to on changing those O rings. It is a piece of cake, but kinda rough on my way too big belly. :W

BTW, I even took the wife's Toyota in for that price which is obviously for gassers.

So if you cruise youtube or have a do it yourself neighbor like me, I can send you the O rings for grins.
MrVan
Explorer
Jun 10, 2014
No more diesel fuel smell inside or outside. Thanks to all of you who immediately diagnosed this correctly. Thanks again
MrVan
Explorer
Jun 06, 2014
up2nogood wrote:
Dave H M wrote:
MrVan wrote:
Ford Dealer verified that Diesel Fuel Valve is leaking. Quoted $245 to fix with $62 valve plus labor. I was and am still in total disbelief. If it is only the O-rings leaking then $4.00 in parts and some personal labor can fix this. oh and BTW they charged me $118 for a lube and oil change. Probably the last time I'll go there.

Amazing, The ford stealer that I go to has a sign along the road that says oil and filter change 19.95. Bib Ridings in Taylorville IL. I feel sure youtube has a how to on changing those O rings. It is a piece of cake, but kinda rough on my way too big belly. :W

BTW, I even took the wife's Toyota in for that price which is obviously for gassers.

So if you cruise youtube or have a do it yourself neighbor like me, I can send you the O rings for grins.

Ya cheap fix, I too fixed my own ,not a big deal .

I'm so impressed.
Swmpbgy1
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
Dave H M wrote:
MrVan wrote:
Ford Dealer verified that Diesel Fuel Valve is leaking. Quoted $245 to fix with $62 valve plus labor. I was and am still in total disbelief. If it is only the O-rings leaking then $4.00 in parts and some personal labor can fix this. oh and BTW they charged me $118 for a lube and oil change. Probably the last time I'll go there.

Amazing, The ford stealer that I go to has a sign along the road that says oil and filter change 19.95. Bib Ridings in Taylorville IL. I feel sure youtube has a how to on changing those O rings. It is a piece of cake, but kinda rough on my way too big belly. :W

BTW, I even took the wife's Toyota in for that price which is obviously for gassers.

So if you cruise youtube or have a do it yourself neighbor like me, I can send you the O rings for grins.

Dave:

I put in tho o rings yesterday that you sent me.....only need 2, but now when I start the Excursion, its seems as if I'm getting diesel blowing out of the valve drain tube.

The valve turned rather easily before the o ring replacement. Now it is rather tight with a noticable click when closing it. Is it possible to overtighten the 4 torx screws? I didn't think I did.

Any ideas??

BTW....I had issues with my belly getting in the way while I was laying across the top of that big 7.3l......:B

dan
MrVan
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
Dave H M wrote:
MrVan wrote:
Ford Dealer verified that Diesel Fuel Valve is leaking. Quoted $245 to fix with $62 valve plus labor. I was and am still in total disbelief. If it is only the O-rings leaking then $4.00 in parts and some personal labor can fix this. oh and BTW they charged me $118 for a lube and oil change. Probably the last time I'll go there.

Amazing, The ford stealer that I go to has a sign along the road that says oil and filter change 19.95. Bib Ridings in Taylorville IL. I feel sure youtube has a how to on changing those O rings. It is a piece of cake, but kinda rough on my way too big belly. :W

BTW, I even took the wife's Toyota in for that price which is obviously for gassers.

So if you cruise youtube or have a do it yourself neighbor like me, I can send you the O rings for grins.

Thanks for the offer. I am struggling with a bad back, but I had already received the O rings I needed but when the Ford Dealer offered to replace the whole valve for $60 and no labor I decided that that was something I could handle even I know that is a rip off since only the O rings need to be changed not the whole valve. The Customer relations person lost her confidence and some ar4rogance when I handed her the three O rings that needed to be changed and I told her that I had paid less than $2 for them. She then went and got the new valve and a mechanic followed her in the mechanic tried to convince me that Ford puts a special adhesive on the O rings and that is why they change the whole valve. My interpretation of that was that it was pure BS. I decided to let them put the whole new valve on so they would be responsible if it continued to leak and since they were doing the labor at no charge I figured I at least ought to let them make a few bucks on the part. I do know I don't trust them now any more. The Service Manager at the dealership that I normally work with was not there and I don't think I would have gone through this whole mess if he had been there. Going to have to find someone I can trust.
cummins2014
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
Dave H M wrote:
MrVan wrote:
Ford Dealer verified that Diesel Fuel Valve is leaking. Quoted $245 to fix with $62 valve plus labor. I was and am still in total disbelief. If it is only the O-rings leaking then $4.00 in parts and some personal labor can fix this. oh and BTW they charged me $118 for a lube and oil change. Probably the last time I'll go there.

Amazing, The ford stealer that I go to has a sign along the road that says oil and filter change 19.95. Bib Ridings in Taylorville IL. I feel sure youtube has a how to on changing those O rings. It is a piece of cake, but kinda rough on my way too big belly. :W

BTW, I even took the wife's Toyota in for that price which is obviously for gassers.

So if you cruise youtube or have a do it yourself neighbor like me, I can send you the O rings for grins.

Ya cheap fix, I too fixed my own ,not a big deal .
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2014
MrVan wrote:
Ford Dealer verified that Diesel Fuel Valve is leaking. Quoted $245 to fix with $62 valve plus labor. I was and am still in total disbelief. If it is only the O-rings leaking then $4.00 in parts and some personal labor can fix this. oh and BTW they charged me $118 for a lube and oil change. Probably the last time I'll go there.

Amazing, The ford stealer that I go to has a sign along the road that says oil and filter change 19.95. Bib Ridings in Taylorville IL. I feel sure youtube has a how to on changing those O rings. It is a piece of cake, but kinda rough on my way too big belly. :W

BTW, I even took the wife's Toyota in for that price which is obviously for gassers.

So if you cruise youtube or have a do it yourself neighbor like me, I can send you the O rings for grins.

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Diesel Fuel smell occasionaly in cab of F250 7.3L

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