Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 23, 2025 ...

Fuel pump or Old Cracked fuel line??

August 21, 2013, 10:35:33 pm

This started years back and only happened every now and then but now after sitting for a week or so it takes like 15 to 30 sec to fire were it always fired on the first rev no matter what...It's like the engine looses prime after sitting for a long period of time...
I Replaced the dry rotted fuel line to the gen 2 or so years ago due to dry rot and now I think its time for the main fuel line to the engine or could it be my fuel pump??
What do y'all think???

Specs
1996 U270
8.3 Cummins, ''Never had a issue with this engine''
81,000
1806 hours
Home location, South TX,1 mile from the Gulf of Mexico ""Very Salty air"" 

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Re: Fuel pump or Old Cracked fuel line??

Reply #1 – August 21, 2013, 10:49:46 pm

I know that there has been an issue with the fuel lines in certain years.  My 98 had problems a year ago, while sitting in the parking lot at FOT.  They could not get it to start and discovered bad fuel lines and junk in the filters.  The owner had them pull the tank and run new lines to the engine and generator.  Glad it was on his account before I bought the coach.  Was told the fuel we are getting was causing problems with those years.

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Re: Fuel pump or Old Cracked fuel line??

Reply #2 – August 21, 2013, 10:56:31 pm

Does sound like air. Lots of potential spots for a leak to develop between the main tank and the injection pump. Buy a MittyVac and start eliminating potential air leaks from one end to the other.

Aside from hose, clamps and the hose underneath could be next on the list.

Pierce

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Re: Fuel pump or Old Cracked fuel line??

Reply #3 – August 21, 2013, 11:29:47 pm

In addition to possible fuel line leaks, you might want to check your fuel return check valve. When it gets old it will hang up, allowing fuel to run back to the tank. If it is just getting weak, it could allow a slow leakage back to the tank. They aren't expensive, and on the C8.3 are located on the passenger side of the engine, about chest high. Someone with a better memory will be able to clarify the specific location of the return valve.

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Re: Fuel pump or Old Cracked fuel line??

Reply #4 – August 21, 2013, 11:30:27 pm

Every fuel hose in my 100k 97 was dried and cracked.  Requires levering the tank out to one side to get to the lines... I ran my  tank down on purpose.

Feed and return lines on everything fuel touched. 

No fix with a 20 year foretravel X dealer mechanic.  Abandon in place was the service performed description. 
 

Bob

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Re: Fuel pump or Old Cracked fuel line??

Reply #5 – August 22, 2013, 09:49:00 am

Our generator failed in December. FOT diagnosed bad fuel lines for generator AND Cummins. Replaced all fuel lines. Have had no problems since. Was pleased to get the lines fixed at FOT rather than having a failure of the big engine while on the road.

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Re: Fuel pump or Old Cracked fuel line??

Reply #6 – August 22, 2013, 10:02:26 pm

Thanks all for the input.....I'm thinking I will look into this fuel check valve 1st because if the engine was caching air why would it hit and fire up after 15 sec or so???Seams to me if it was caching air it would cough, spit and my be smoke a bit before it smoothed out after start up......Thanks for the input y'all

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Re: Fuel pump or Old Cracked fuel line??

Reply #7 – August 22, 2013, 10:13:31 pm

Does it smoke white?  If it doesnt smoke, or run rough for a few seconds I dont know that I would suspect a leak.
Jerry

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Re: Fuel pump or Old Cracked fuel line??

Reply #8 – August 22, 2013, 11:31:05 pm

It sounds like it has had the fuel drain back and runs long enough to burn the fuel out of the filters and then die

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