Help! What's wrong?

[the_experience03]

My gauge is not terribly accurate and it's time to add fuel at 1/4 tank. That might be part of your problem. When you hit the accelerator, the fuel runs to the back of the tank allowing air into the lines. It could also be water. You should have a water separater. If not, it's time to plumb one in. The last idea is that you might either have some fungus growth in the fuel or it may have even gelled depending on the temps you are seeing.

I would recommend (based on personal experience ) that you change out the fuel filters, add about 10 gallons of fuel on top of some good additive if you can, drain the water separator if you have one, and prime that puppy to make sure it's getting a good shot of fuel. Let it idle until you're sure any air that was in the fuel lines is out and take it out for a little joyride. Just don't wander too far from home....

[Griff]

You also might try adding some Seafoam treatment. I have used it successfully in water contaminated fuel systems to help dissipate the water and stabilize the fuel. If I know I won't be runninging my bus (or other vehicles) for a stretch of time, I'll add some and run it through the system to help prevent problems when going to use them again. Recommended ratio is 1 oz. per gallon of fuel. I also ensure the sidelined vehicle fuel system is as full as I can get it with a premium quality fuel to help prevent condensation. Read more about it here:
http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechDiesel.htm
hope this helps!

[lapeer20m]

it could be a lot of things causing the problem. it sounds to me like a fuel delivery issue for sure.....here are some of my thoughts, hope they help.

when did you fuel up last? Diesel fuel you buy in the summer especially down south is much different than diesel fuel you buy during the winter in the north.

Summer diesel tends to gell at colder temperatures. Cold semi-gelled diesel fuel will clog either mostly or partly your fuel filter causing the symptoms you describe. You can get fuel at low throttle positions, but when trying to drive at speed the fuel required by the engine is just not able to get through the filter.

a dirty or plugged filter for any reason can cause the same problem, it might not be temperature related.

[wmah]

I know the lift pumps are a problem on the isb models but maybe yours is going south and if so the injector pump maybe trying to suck the fuel on its own. But like I said this was on the newer one and I don't know about the older ones. You could always try asking at dodge truck world and see if they can give more input.

[eggman]

Originally Posted by Pablo

I went to drive the bus today and it's running poorly. I drove it around at the end of December and I've started it a few times since. We had a few nights with temperatures in the teens. It starts right up like always and idles fine. If I drive it down the road it starts to sputter and sometimes it stalls. I can put it in drive and idle but thats way too slow. I was on my way to the fuel station to put more diesel in the tank. Do I have water in the fuel maybe? There is about 1/8 of a tank per the guage out of 60 gallons. If it's water do I just add more fuel to it and run it out? Do I have to drain the tank? The engine is a Cummins 5.9. Could I just be that low on fuel? I ran it out once and that was not fun.

I am going to focus on the statement that you make about there being an 1/8 tank of fuel in a 60 gallon tank. Mine said it was at 1/4 tank on a 60 gallon tank. $150 tow bill, to get it out of the middle of the intersection, later, I put 10 gallons of fuel in it and it ran just fine after bleeding the injectors.

I'll bet if you put some fuel in it, the problems you are having will go away.

My $.02

[Griff]

HUZZAH! Glad you got her right at minimal expense!
I've never owned a diesel-powered vehicle (and obviously the following is probably not recommended on one), but one thing I HAVE done with EVERY vehicle I've ever bought was take a couple of full jerry cans on a maiden voyage, and run the thing out of gas on purpose so I KNOW where empty is. That's right, TWE got the same test upon arrival at her home base. Empty is at 1/8 indicated fuel level.

[the_experience03]

Glad to hear you got it running on the cheap (as cheap as diesel is anyway ) I thikn just about everyone on the board with a diesel bus has had the same experience. Now you need to intentionally get some air in the lines so you have to learn how to use the primer pump. I'm glad I learned in my driveway.