Picking Neil's Brain

[Marty]

Got a question for Niel…..or anyone for that mater. Has any one changed a set of injectors and glow plugs on a 7.3 PSD? Wondering if its something that I can do or shouldn’t bother and send to the shop.

[rino351]

We did, on our td excursion. It was under warranty though, so we just took it into the shop.
I don't think I'd want to attempt it.

[Burg460]

I have changed them out before on a 95 7.3 power stroke. They are pretty easy. The worst thing about them is you have to drain the fuel rail or else when you pull an injector out all the fuel will go into the one cylinder and create a hydro-lock or at least I learned the hard way on that.. LOL I think there is a special socket for the glow plugs, I can't remember but those aren't too bad to change either.

If you have a decent set of tools and are fairly mechanically inclined I wouldn't think you would have a problem. If you would need some help I would lend ya a hand.

[clavos]

I've never done it, but like Burg said, I don't think it would be too big of a deal.

[Marty]

thanx Burg, I may take you up on that. Its a 99 SD but I don't think that the 7.3 has changed much. Although the problem that I was having was getting it started in the morning. low and behold I went to unplug the block heater yestorday and the plug falls off. After a little soddering and one sacrificed extenchen cord I found it much easyer to start today. think that plug hasent been working for a wile. But replaceing the injectors and plugs is something I would like to know how to do.

[clavos]

The block heater should'nt make that much of a difference. I was in Missurri last December and my truck started right up after sitting all night at about 20 below without the heater.

[Marty]

True, ............well I was thingking that the problem was far worse than just the block warmer but it seemed to make the diffrence. well se what happens tomarrow. I'm thinking that I'm having some jelling issues with the biodiesel although even after running on straight petro I still was having trouble getting it started,......but once I got it going it runs just like the day I bought it. any body think I'm retarded yet?

[clavos]

$81.00 to fill up last Sunday, Bio-deisel is looking alot better. Have you tried any fuel additives? There is a place off of Evans that can do a high pressure fuel injection cleaning on diesels too. Its called Reliance Automotive.

[Marty]

well I have found sevral additives and some work better than others. I talked to Reliance and I was told that my glow plugs are going or something in the wireing is going. Which makes sence because I have been rinning 100% petro through the truck and it is still hard as hell to start if I don't plug the block heater in. Also it it is hard to start at tempatures in the 30's with out assistance from the block heater. So I'm told that it is not a jelling issue, and the old man is running Biodiesel in his 03' 6.0 F250 and has no problem at all starting it and he has yet to use the block heater in his truck. After all that jabbering what I'm saying is that I need to replace some plugs and it's not the Biodiesel gumming up my fuel system.