I bought a 1997 ram 2500 cummins with a automatic trans and after it sits for a few hours it has a hard time starting. In fact without pushing the throttle it wont start at all. What is wrong? The truck has an auxiliary fuel tank that has a tank switch that does not work and as far as i can tell it is pulling fuel from the stock tank but does not switch to the auxiliary could that switch be part of the problem? I cant tell for sure if the truck is getting air in the system or if the fuel is just bleeding off back into the fuel tank. So anybody got any idea what is wrong?

 

Easy enough to tell if it is air. After setting when it would normally be hard to start, open the hood, drivers side of the engine low middle of the block is the lift pump. At the top of the lift pump will be either a black rubber covered button or a white plastic rod ( depends if the rubber cover on yours has rotted off ). Anyway, use something like a garden hoe or a broomstick to pump that button until you hear a sound from the injection pump similar to forcing air thru your front teeth, a hiss if you will every time you push the button.

Now, try starting it, if it starts right up, you have air getting in, very common on trucks this age, most of us have already replaced the factory lines with diesel rated rubber hose by now.

BTW, having to give it just a bit of throttle to start quickly is normal on P7100 pump trucks.

 

I changed the oil today and there is diesel in the oil. What does that mean? I still have had no luck tracking down the air leak in the system could it be a stuck injector?

 

The truck smokes when it first starts but runs fine after that. Could it be the lift pump?

 

Update. I have replaced the hose on the lift pump and that helped but it still is starting ruff. I was looking at the injectors and there is fuel coming out of the base of the injector by the manifold what does this mean? I still cant find any reason why there was fuel in the oil could this have something to do with it? Please help i need an answer badly

 

When you say fuel in the oil, you have to be more specific, is it making oil? ( oil going up not down during the life of the oil ) or do you just smell diesel in the oil.

Making oil is a strong indicator of a serious injector problem that should be addressed immediately, just smelling diesel in the oil is normal........ Seepage of fuel at the base of the injector isn't great, but mine does a bit, if it is enough to puddle, then it might not hurt to get an injector install kit and reseal them.

 

Just to clear up things. There was probably a gallon of diesel in the oil when i changed it. So somehow there is diesel getting into the oil pan. How is this happening?

 

Ouch.

Injector, get them changed now.

 

I think i just want to put stock injectors back in the truck. Where is a good place to buy stock injectors?

 

There are some for sale now in the classifieds...

 

What has happened to the injectors in my truck?

 

How many miles? They eventually wear out, or can start leaking by.

I am at 184k on mine, and if this dose of Seafoam doesn't clear mine up, I'm giving serious thought to either changing them or having them redone at a local shop. Mine are nothing near what yours are though.......

 

The truck has 200,000 miles on it.

 

Ok, I am at 184K, legitimate known service , and mine has been dropping in MPG a bit, smoking a bit more at WOT. I know soon it will be time for Injectors.

Now you have to decide if you want a set of stock replacements or something just a touch nicer......

 

Just whatever will be cheaper the trans in the truck is not to strong so better not get carried away