B-MAN

I changed the fuel filter about 2000km (first time I've done it myself) ago and since every once on a while, one out of every ten starts are hard, 10 seconds plus...I'm going to pull the filter out today and re-install it...I thought it was a pretty simple job but is there anything I could have missed that would cause the hard start or should I be looking elsewhere?

To trouble shoot, I uninstalled the Smarty and took it for a drive, the first thing I noticed was quite abit of black smoke under load, stock??? bad injector??? Two tanks ago I also gave it half a bottle of Howes Meaner cleaner...and it gets a shot every fill (1/8th of a bottle or so)

JPR Ram

On those 1 outa 10 hard starts, did the truck sit for a long period of time? I'm thinking you're pulling in slight amount of air in to your fuel system. Check and clean the rubber o-ring and seat. Check the rubber fuel line coming from the lift pump. Maybe it's leaking where it meats the fuel filter canister. Also, when was the last time you have either cleaned or replaced your airfilter?

Smokeman

Any fuel leaks around the filter housing or drain valve? If so then you've found your problem. If you have trouble after you reinstall maybe you need to check for any lift pump codes.

B-MAN

Thanx guys, I'll check those out, I'm headed out to the garage now... as for sitting for any amount of time,.. yes and no, the first time It had only been sitting for 5 minutes, I unhooked my trailer and then decided to move the truck out of the way...