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hello there and thank you for your help. I've been working on a 1988 diesel ford club wagon (size 6.9 I think) lately at a lodge in Alaska, my summer job. Normally I don't do maintenance but know enough to get around so I was asked to get this thing running. well I had a pilot look at it and he told me to put in a new fuel pump. I did so.... hoping I did it right. Tryed to start, but it wouldn't and then a friend of mine came up and sprayed some ether into the intake. Now I remember hearing somehting that ether should not go in diesels but he already did it... (and I've seen other mechanics do it on this van before) so we tryed to start, it fired up for a sec and now we have a worse problem, a very loud bang/clicking noise!!!! what have we done!!! where could the noise be coming from?!?!? can you please help me locate the problem and maybe help me find a solution? Thank you again for your help. __ Mark- in Alaska
Answer -
Mark:
I would like to move my family up to Alaska in a few years so I have to say I envy you!
On the ether subject. You can use ether on diesel engines, BUT it is advised to not do so IF you haven't been showed how. The reason people are told not to use ether is because of glow plugs. The Ford diesel you are working on has glow plugs in it. If you spray ether into the engine and cycle the glow plugs you can actually blow a piston out of the engine (in rare cases!). The best way to use ether is to have someone turn the engine over First, then spay ether while it is turning over, AND keep turning the engine over for about 5 seconds AFTER you stop spraying the ether. Only spray it in small bursts.
On you engine, you most likely just got too much ether in it. When you spray too much ether the engine will Clunk (sounds like a rod bearing going bad). Keep turning the engine over for a bit to clear the ether out.
To get your engine started. Try removing the fuel filter and filling it with fresh diesel (fill it as much as possible). A diesel engine is very picky about air in the fuel system. After you have the filter full, make sure the batteries are fully charged, try to start it with ether like I described using 2 people (1 turning it over, one spraying) at this point it should start unless there are mechanical problems.
If it does start, let it run for a bit sure all the air is out of the fuel system before you shut it off. Let the engine cool down and see if it will start under it's own power, if not let me know and I can walk you through some steps on what to look for.
If it does not start, let me know and we will see what we can do. Thank you MIKE.
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Hey Mike!!! You don't know how much of a relief and help your reply was!!! I followed the steps you gave on the starting fluid and it started up!!! WOW!!! It ran well but then I noticed a leak in the fuel line that goes from the fuel filter to the fuel pump. It's got a crimp below a bracket that holds it in place. My question is should I pull the line out and patch it up somehow,(if so...what do I patch it with?) or should I order a new one.... It's not a flexible tube, it's copper or whatever metal they use on those lines... Thank you for your quick response!!!
PS: Alaska is fun, Im here for the summer to make some tuition money for my schooling in Northern Arizona. Great bear viewing, bald eagles, king salmon fishing etc!!!! Everythings so darn expensive though!!!! gas is $3.65 and a pack of cigarettes costs seven dollars!!! well anyway, thank you so much for your help!!!
AnswerI highly suggest that you replace that line with the propper new one. If you patch it and it doesn't seal correct, it can "suck air". That will lead to hard starting, low power, and grey smoke while it runs.
Glad to hear the ether worked, if you have any more questions feel free to ask!....MIKE
