Community Forums

melmckayiii · 07-22-2010, 08:36 AM

Ok, we bought our RV after it had been parked for nearly 7 years. We had the oil changed, lubed up, general check up. We took it on a trip to Florida last week, and for the first 1500 miles it did great. The last 500 not so good. It started spitting and sputtering and had no power. We changed out the fuel filter, and the pusher pump for the fuel. It will idle fine and do OK to about 40-50 MPH range, then just looses all power and begins to sputter out. Any other ideas? It has a 6.5L diesel engine which I know nothing about diesel engines.

1996 Itasca Sunrise 25R

mikedes · 07-22-2010, 08:47 AM

How about algae in the fuel. I had this problem in the spring and it was a easy fix after a very expensive diagnoses
Mike D

melmckayiii · 07-22-2010, 10:47 AM

We have run a couple gallons of fuel cleaner and fuel injector and line cleaner through the tank?

mikedes · 07-23-2010, 08:08 AM

I did that also (Lucas fuel conditioner ) but did not fix it. I had to get a algae cleaner to bio degrade it - bought it from NAPA but don't remember the name - and that cured the problem
Mike

speed racer · 07-23-2010, 08:42 AM

Also check the air intake system. Some times birds build nest in the pipe and restict air flow.

dsbike · 07-23-2010, 08:54 AM

We use biocide on jet airplanes. Jet fuel & diesel fuel are just different grades of kerosene. I would check with NAPA as Mikedes suggests. There may also be water in your fuel tank. You may need to drain some fuel. Here is how to drain it, If you have a drain petcock on your tank at a low point, put a bucket under the drain & open it up, drain about a quart of fuel into the bucket. Add a few drops of food coloring to the drained fuel. If there is water present, the food coloring will collect in the water & not in the fuel. Repeat until there is no water present. If you do not have a drain you will need to remove a fuel line downstream of the fuel pump & run the pump to drain the fuel into the bucket. After doing this you will most likely need to bleed the fuel line at the fuel/air box on the engine to get any air out of the system. Another possiblitity is that there is a fuel leak in the line some where and it is sucking in air. It is possibile it could be internal in the pump.
Best of luck, I would try the easiest steps first & eliminate each possible cause.

melmckayiii · 07-23-2010, 03:35 PM

Will try the alge cleaner, and was told today to also check the air cleaner. I dont think there is water in the fuel. There is a warning light for that, and we drove it for 1500 miles prior to the problem cropping up on us? That is what really has me confused is for the first 1500+ miles after it sitting so long ran great, then the problems started.

Thank you for all the advise.

melmckayiii · 07-24-2010, 02:52 PM

Ok, no luck, but did run the codes. Coming up with sensor codes but being told something about a PDM that can over heat for the fuel pump and cause this problem. Anyone ever replaced one of these on a 6.5L Turbo Diesel?

melmckayiii · 07-30-2010, 07:42 PM

OK, it just got stranger, after a week of not running the RV, went out, started right up like normal (no pumping the pedal) and is idling perfect and the check engine light is off? And drives great??