Fuel Issue 2003 Peterbilt

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by NightWind, Nov 12, 2023.

  1. NightWind

    NightWind Road Train Member

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    I have a 2003 Peterbilt 379. 6NZ CAT.

    Symptoms
    • In the past few weeks I've noticed fuel is coming out of the tanks at the caps.

    • I changed the caps(new ones) it's coming out of both caps almost like the tanks have some pressure on them.

    • New fuel tank breather valve and cleaned the hoses to them. and frankly all that seems to have made it worse.

    • The fuel pressure has been at 80 since I've had the truck but shortly after I got the truck during a regular servicing Cat upgraded something on the fuel system

    • I have cut offs on both tanks for the returns and service lines.The ball cut off valves haven't been changed since they were installed.

      The turbo boost presure runs about 28 (turbo has a waste gate). With the Pittsburg Power turbo the boost was about 32, that turbo had no waste gate.

    • I have noticed that when I fill up, the passenger side tank holds 50% more fuel than the drivers side.
    Any help would be appreciated as I am bumping my head here.
     
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  3. Oxbow

    Oxbow Road Train Member

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    Puzzling for sure if it's doing it on both tanks. It's coming out of the caps and not the vents, correct?
     
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  4. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    Did the pass side tank taking 50% more start at the same time?
     
  5. Oxbow

    Oxbow Road Train Member

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    Since you have shut-off valves for the draw and return for both tanks, I would probably isolate one of the tanks and see what happens. It sounds like you are getting pressure somehow, and that perhaps there is a check valve in the vents?

    You don't have fuel tank heaters do you, like Actic Fox?
     
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  6. NightWind

    NightWind Road Train Member

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    Yes out of the caps
     
  7. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    Swollen fuel lines internally.
    Given the age of the truck any rubber fuel lines would be suspect.
    Could also be some piece of junk in a line or at the fittings after the valves where the tanks combine.
     
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  8. Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

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    ^ this. I actully just had a very simular issue on my pile o crap. For mine it was overflowing the passenger tank. Turns out the drivers side fuel return line swelled up on me a bit around some crud in the lines when they pulled the tank to clean it and put new webbing on sonit was backfeeding both tanks into the passenger side faster then i could burn the fuel best as i can tell.

    Ended up replaceing a LOT of worn old fuel lines and that seems to have fixed MY issue. Not a hard or especially expensive fix but time consumeing and you best like the smell of diesel though cuse your gonna smell like it for days afterwards (one line was so badly rotted when i went to pull it lose it broke and poured diesel all over my chest and face) lol.

    Not 100% thats the solution but its a place to start.
     
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  9. NightWind

    NightWind Road Train Member

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    That has been some what gradual as sometimes the truck wash people bump the cutoffs at the tanks and I don't always catch it in time but the passenger side does take more fuel than the drivers side.
     
  10. NightWind

    NightWind Road Train Member

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    I have reached out to Peterbilt factory for the fuel line schematics. I haven't decided 100% but I will probably bite the bullet and replace every line as it seems simpler to do that than spend a fortune "troubleshooting" the issue. Not to mention the age of the lines. I can get the new lines made locally. IF that doesn't solve the problem then I don't know what will.
    What did you replace the lines on yours with? @Artic_Fox
     
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