Part-time POS and I need help!

[HillBilly_12v]

I have a 1994 5.9l 12valve, standard trans, long bed. When it works, I love it! When it acts like a diva, I question my life choices...

Recently it's pulling this, "may or may not start" crap and it's really getting old. I know it hasn't lost fuel prime in 2 days, but I just went out to start it and it will not fire. I cranked it for 30sec, twice and it wouldn't go.

It sat for a year the last time this happened. I had given up, and it sat until the batteries died. I decided to get it going in 25, and bought new batteries last week. When I replaced the batteries I found 2 corroded crimp connectors on the 12v battery cable. One of them broke in 2, that's how I discovered them. After replacing those crimp connectors and the batteries it fired right over. I let it run for 15 minutes to warm up and lubricate since it hadn't run in a year.

Now, 2 days later, I go out to start it this evening and it just cranks over... what could possibly be the reason that it will run one day, and not the next. Then start again a week later without changing anything? Like I said, I'm pretty sure it's not losing fuel prime. I just don't know else to check.

So, please, I need help!

 

[rzr6-4]

Is it cold where you are? After sitting that long it could be a bunch of condensation in the tank or your ethanol in your fuel is settling out and you’re not getting good fuel anymore. Might’ve had a good mixture before still in the fuel lines to get started but now that your drawing from the fuel tank that the water and ethanol have separated out from the mixture, it’s hard to say what’s being injected into the cylinders now.

There are some fuel additives made for getting rid of water, I would put a couple of those in and shake the truck around for a little bit to mix it and then try to start it.

Others may have more intelligent ideas but anytime something sits for a while bad fuel/water are the first thing that come to mind (since you’ve already swapped the battery).

Edit: Just realized this is a diesel so obviously no ethanol but water could still be an issue.

 

[HillBilly_12v]

It is in the 30s where I live. So your bad fuel theory could hold some weight. The thing is, I would expect it to have ran terrible for the 15 minutes if it had water or spoiled fuel. And it never stumbled once. It'll surely start again next week, and I could drive it for an hour, so long as I don't shut it off. Once I shut it off, it doesn't want to start for some length of time.

Is there a way to drain the fuel without dropping the tank?

 

[Badger 13]

There is no drain valve on the tank. Under your fuel filter you should have a small valve that you can drain some fuel into a container and see if there is water. I would maybe ask your question on the TDR Forum since it is a diesel forum, and very helpful.

Good luck with it.

 

[HillBilly_12v]

Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know what the TDR forum is

 

[HillBilly_12v]

Nevermind, I found it with a goog... thanks, they sent me in the right direction. Shutoff solenoid...