hard hot start [diesel]

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Bunny Boy - 01 Aug 2005 20:39 GMT

1989 Ford F-250 7.3L V8 diesel. 220k miles (160k on engine)

Engine starts fine when it is cold. Runs good. When it has been running
a while and the engine is hot, then after being parked 10 minutes or so
it won't start. It cranks just fine but won't fire up. Spraying a
little WD-40 in the air intake makes it fire up every time.

Any clues as to what could cause this, or suggested diagnostics that
could reveal the cause?

Thanks,
Bunny

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Derrick Hudson - 01 Aug 2005 23:00 GMT

> 1989 Ford F-250 7.3L V8 diesel. 220k miles (160k on engine)
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Any clues as to what could cause this, or suggested diagnostics that
> could reveal the cause?

This sounds a lot like vapor lock. Fuel injected vehicles with an
electric fuel pump don't exhibit this phenomenon. I don't know if
diesel engines were ever affected, or if your '89 has electronic
injection. I know that the gas engines after '86 were EFI.

HTH,
-D

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Dave D - 02 Aug 2005 08:42 GMT

> 1989 Ford F-250 7.3L V8 diesel. 220k miles (160k on engine)
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Thanks,
> Bunny

Try this - carry some ice with you in a container, after the engine is hot
and the "no start" condition exists, put a double handful or so of
ice,wrapped in an old shop cloth, towel or whatever, on top of your
injection pump. Leave it sit for a couple of minutes and then try to start
it. If it starts, the problem is vaporized fuel in the injection pump, if
not then good luck....

Dave D

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Bunny Boy - 03 Aug 2005 02:55 GMT

Hey Dave:

I left the ice on for ten minutes, and it started right up!

So where do I go from here?

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Bill M - 10 Aug 2005 06:05 GMT

Just to be outside the box, I'll suggest that your fuel has excessive
alcohol in it. Alcohol allows water to mix with fuel, and might be found in
fuel. The cure? A few drops of water. Crazy, huh?

Bill M

> 1989 Ford F-250 7.3L V8 diesel. 220k miles (160k on engine)
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Thanks,
> Bunny

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