Best way to prime c15 fuel system?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by TruckNorris, Jun 10, 2016.

  1. lilillill

    lilillill Sarcasm... it's not just for breakfast

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    I just changed my fuel filter 2 days ago. The next time I change it I will try only opening the bleeder bolt and if there is resistance on the pump I will open it some more. Hopefully that does the trick because I really dread fuel filter changing time.
     
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  3. WrenchWrenchWrench

    WrenchWrenchWrench Light Load Member

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    Yeah if your building pressure while priming with your bleeder open then something is wrong. You should be able to bleed the air out from there, close it up and give it a few pumps to then build pressure to the head and fire it up.
     
    lilillill Thanks this.
  4. lilillill

    lilillill Sarcasm... it's not just for breakfast

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    The line that exits the back of the head is pretty much inaccessible on mine. Unless you know of a trick on the Columbia. I can't even reach back there and touch it with my hand it is jammed so far up under the dash. Nothing like the 379 I drove which had the same motor.
     
  5. bavarian

    bavarian Heavy Load Member

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    Then open it at the bottom at the pump. You might not get the air off the hose but at least you get fuel in the head.
    Trying to prime the system through the bleeder bolt isn't the way to go. You need to start at the highest point of the system and that's where it enters the head.
     
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  6. TruckNorris

    TruckNorris Light Load Member

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    Oshkosh, WI
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    Thank you guys for the advice, I'm heading to Peterbilt to get my parts then down to the shop and see if I can get this prick started.
     
  7. WrenchWrenchWrench

    WrenchWrenchWrench Light Load Member

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    DO NOT open any fuel lines at your fuel pump, that is before the bleeder screw in the circuit and your going to fill your secondary filter with air. If for some reason the bleeder doesnt do what cat engineered it to do, trace the line from from the back of the cylinder head to the secondary filter housing and crack it open there. That will force the fuel all the way through the rail to the pressure regulator which is the last thing in the system before returning to the tank.
     
  8. 6wheeler

    6wheeler Road Train Member

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    I have the same truck.
    Push the prime pump 4, or 5 times.
    Spray starting fluid in the filter.
     
  9. TruckNorris

    TruckNorris Light Load Member

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    Apr 7, 2012
    Oshkosh, WI
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    Tried that yesterday, the pump was firm but still ran rough then died. Checked the primary filter and it was 75% air again
     
  10. Alaska76

    Alaska76 Road Train Member

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    If your primary filter is filling with air, check for a leak between the tank and filter. Sounds like the system is sucking air through a cracked hose/improper fitting/improper mount, etc.
     
  11. TruckNorris

    TruckNorris Light Load Member

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    I broke the fuel system at the primary filter, I'm expecting the fuel ran back to the tank and possibly between the filters and head, so the entire system very well could have been empty.
     
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