Today will not start.
- Cranks but will not start
- Exhaust is Black not grey or white
- Fuel flows freely to fuel filter. Cleaned fuel filter just in case
If you cleaned the filter, it would have been better to replace it!
Removing and reinstalling the filter will cause you to induce air into the system, so you will need to bleed the air out at the input to the injector pump and at the injectors.
- Cleaned Air intake just in case
Again replacing is a better option.
- Tested glow rail and see power to glow plugs
That doesn't mean the glow plugs are actually working, pull them out and put power to them and see if they glow... Do Not Hold them with your hand while trying this!
- Oil is lower than I like but OK
Well then fill it with oil.
- Radiator is not low
- Stop Soleniod. Not sure I have one but every switch I could find is not stuck
How do you stop the engine from running? Do you just shut off the key to make it stop (stop solenoid) or do you pull a lever or pull the throttle down to make it stop (mechanical shutdown).
- Connected battery to truck and then tried to start to see if battery had an issue. Cranked as before
Thoughts:
- Engine Needs Fuel, Air, Compression and Spark
???(No spark in a diesel)???
- Battery had the power, so not that
- Air is getting through, so not that
- Fuel appears to be getting through as exhaust is Black, so not that
Bad assumption, poorly injected fuel will smoke like mad!
- No stuck solenoid as it cranks, so not that
Bad or stuck (if you have one) Fuel solenoid will not stop it from cranking.
- If you agree, that leaves compression, glow, or bad fuel
Bad compression will most of the time blow smoke out the breather tube, yes bad glow plugs will do it, bad fuel can cause problems too!
If compression:
- How do you test? Remove injector and put in auto compression meter?
It must be a diesel compression tester, a automotive (gasoline) tester will not work! Yes it will go in the injector hole.
- If blown head gasket that would cause compression issues. Any way to test for that other than pulling the head?
Very unlikely, but compression tester or pull the head!
Glow:
- For glow I could remove plugs and rig to battery (more work than it's worth)
Yes pull and test them... not that much work???
Bad Fuel:
- if only thing left is bad fuel then will drain.
Drain, and Replace, (not clean the filter), and bleed all the lines all the way to the injectors.
Any other ideas or suggestions?
Get a service manual, it will help all the way around.