Skipping, dying, gas pedal, 1997 international 3800

[Rhonda0967]

Hi. I just bought a 1997 International 3800 deisel bus. I drove it for about 6 hours to a lot near my home. It ran fine. It sat at the lot for 2 months. Then a couple of days ago I drove it to my house and it did fine. The temperature dropped but the lowest it has been is 42 degrees. Last night it was 52 and I drove it about 2 blocks before it started sputtering. Then it accelerated on it's own then died. It cranked right back up and did it about 4 times before I reached my destination. Which was only 5 miles. I stopped to fill it up in case the gas hand was wrong but it only took about $60. So it wasn't running out of gas. Please any suggestions would be awesome.

[Robin97396]

Maybe check your water separator on your fuel line. You can get some fuel additive that might help, but it doesn't sound like it's cold enough there to make a problem.

[Rhonda0967]

Thanks. We are going to check mat sensor now. My daughter spilled a lot of oil on the manifold yesterday. We were going to check several different sensors.

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

What fuel are you running on. Sensors are money just by mentioning them.
Diesel has its own problems period.regardless of fuel type?
I would start with filters before sensors?

[Rhonda0967]

It's a deisel. I found out that algae can grow in the fuel and clog up everything, especially if it sits for awhile. I was told to constantly change the fuel filters and add a bioguard to kill the algae. We cleaned the small basket that was clogged up with wormy looking things and black specks. But I was told it's best to replace both the small and large filter. So I'm going to do that tomorrow. I was also told to put some kerosene in the fuel especially since I was leaving FL and going north. They said that would clean the fuel system. One pint to every 20 gallons is what they said. I guess we will see tomorrow.

[Jdawgsfanasty]

Originally Posted by Rhonda0967

It's a deisel. I found out that algae can grow in the fuel and clog up everything, especially if it sits for awhile. I was told to constantly change the fuel filters and add a bioguard to kill the algae. We cleaned the small basket that was clogged up with wormy looking things and black specks. But I was told it's best to replace both the small and large filter. So I'm going to do that tomorrow. I was also told to put some kerosene in the fuel especially since I was leaving FL and going north. They said that would clean the fuel system. One pint to every 20 gallons is what they said. I guess we will see tomorrow.

Idk about the algae...wow, but the farmers I used to work for put kerosene in the tractors in the winter...they told it helped prevent jelling...Idk

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