V3 restart issue

[billman]

Okay.
I had some injector trouble in nov. and did not run the V3 on the ex for over a month. I drained the vo tank and purged the lines from tank to v3 manifold and back flushed from engine to the V3 manifold. A new filter and a fresh tank of VO and I thought I was ready to roll.

I ran the engine up to temp with the V3 in auto mode and nothing... 20 miles and nothing.

Now I figure I'll try to purge even though the V3 doesent need to. With engine off I press the diesel purge for 10 sec. I then turn the V3 to manual on, I can hear the pump working I give it about a minute, then start the engine.

V3 still will not come on in auto. I would love to hear everyones ideas on this so let it fly. Oh yeah, If I forgot to do something obvious...... feel free to give me a hard time.

Any help appreciated.

[greasedltn]

Did you check the prefilter screen? Also check the fuel pressure at the V3. We can go from there.

[billman]

So I checked the prescreen. As I suspected the thing looked like a popsicle in these below freezing temps. I ran it under some hot water and dried it. After reinstall and comming up to engine temp.... still nothing. I am guessing the fuel lines are looking similar to the prescreen. This may sound stupid probably because I had the install done, but, can I get an idiots guide to how the V3 works.... what heats the fuel lines, what does the v3 heat, what heats the tank, is there a loop that will thaw all things frozen out????

[greasedltn]

The fuel lines are heated by the coolant lines bundled and insulated with them. The tank is heated by coolant run to it. The V3 heats the fuel that is in it to bring it to final temp. After you start the truck and let it get to running temperature, make sure the V3 and coolant lines going to the fuel tank are hot, if not hot you have a problem with your coolant delivery. If the lines are hot, we need to look at other things that could cause problems. If you can park the truck in a heated shop, it would thaw out anything in the lines.

[billman]

Is this coolant loop always running regardless of the switch position? If not it would explain why the lines have gelled since I have been in the off position for a month. I will check the hoses to see if they are hot on mon. if so i will get messy and check some other things.

[greasedltn]

The coolant loop is always running if the truck is running. After the truck is up to temp, nothing should be "gelled". If anything is not liquid after getting the truck to temp, you might want to check your oil source.

[Jack_Toepfer]

FYI - My prescreen was also frozen when I pulled it out of the truck. Do yourself a favor and never bring any water anywhere near this thing.

I just used the light bulb from the trouble light I was using to melt the oil away (only took a minute or so) and then wiped it with a rag and hit it with some air.

[greasyX]

What about conjelled "chicken skin" in Filters and lines.V3 would run fine until cooled down and able to harden into jelly in all the wrong places.Perhaps hot oil poured into tank(over 120F),and a good system cleaning would get the bugs out.Jason (fordnut74), if this is the case could you just hook up 60 PSI air to the schrader and push the lines clean to the last union before heads?Trying to put a little oldschool fixs to those with system lockup................greasy

[billman]

The tank has been drained and refilled with good, clean, dry, oil. As far as blowing the lines... i was able to let the lines backflush to the v3 by seperating the fuel line at the v3 and letting the diesel pressure take over. As far as the tank to the v3, I am open for suggestions.

[greasyX]

Did you check the fuel pick-up in your tank,commonly overlooked.I would do that last as you'll have to pull it out of tank to check for obstruction....

[Tampa450]

As far as the tank to the v3, I am open for suggestions

The only way I know of is to have diesel in your tank instead of VO....and run it through the system.....You cant really do that right now though...

If Im gonna run out of VO....I always put a little diesel in my tank and run some through....

[billman]

I am trying to avoid droping the tank in the ex at this point of the winter. I do not nave a heated garage to do this. So what about the air in the schrader valve??? would this push vo out to the tank to clear the pickup?? If not then what? I looked at the line comming into the v3 manifold and see that it will be impossible to remove to put air on it to blow the lines w/o taking off the coolant line to get to it. Any more ideas?? I I try to blow the line, what is the recomended pressure and how do you make a good seal on the line?
Again thanks for any input.

[greasyX]

I summon the late night guru(FORDNUT74)

I have done this to kits of lesser quality,I would confirm pressure spec with Jason or james,I have had a good couple of Q&As sessions about V3 operations with them.Jason did build a pressurized system(V3).Its a matter of what sensors or fitting would need to be removed or unhooked for this matter of protecting system yet gaining flows dynamics.Jason is one of the best,if not the best designer I have talked with.I live in New England,and Grease companies are a plenty,Greasecar,Big greenbus(UNH),green grease monkeys,and all the boys up in VT(Greendiesels.net),as well as KTM Grease and those D-acres fellas,are within 2 hours of me.I know jason has your answer,and I expect that he is probably already going through this synopesis in his mind as I type this.........

[billman]

Everything up and running as of today. The coolant lines were deadheaded together on the same "T". I suspect that when my diesel mechanic was working on the injectors he disconnected the hoses to get the valve cover off. Without knowing the V3 system he must have mixed up the hoses when reconnecting them to the two T's. I also insulated the hose bundles better with pipe insulation and zip ties. Now I'm up and running in 6 degree cold. I did buy a bosch mercedes aux fuel pump that I was going to put on the system thinking I had a weak water pump. If anyone needs it I will ship it to you for what I paid for it. This is the pump that chenry put in (see his post).
Thanks to Jason and everyone for the ideas and help troubleshooting.

[skyskijason]

Everything up and running as of today. The coolant lines were deadheaded together on the same "T". I suspect that when my diesel mechanic was working on the injectors he disconnected the hoses to get the valve cover off. Without knowing the V3 system he must have mixed up the hoses when reconnecting them to the two T's. I also insulated the hose bundles better with pipe insulation and zip ties. Now I'm up and running in 6 degree cold. I did buy a bosch mercedes aux fuel pump that I was going to put on the system thinking I had a weak water pump. If anyone needs it I will ship it to you for what I paid for it. This is the pump that chenry put in (see his post).
Thanks to Jason and everyone for the ideas and help troubleshooting.

Where you live, I would install that coolant pump. Just my 90k miles of VO experience talking. It can do no harm, and will likely increase your VO temps across the board as well as decrease switchover time.