1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Topic: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question (Read 7944 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #75 – July 25, 2025, 11:32:00 am

Please explain what you mean by
" take a 5 gallon jug of diesel and run this hose to your engine"
I think you mean use a 5 gallon jug to replace tank?
But i can not disconnect the hose from tank without pulling the tank

How about if i use a 5 gallon jug with a ten feet hose back by the engine and connect it to the water separator as fuel supply
If the engine stays running , the problem can be the hose?
By the way the hose on top of the tank with the loop does not have jacket , how come the other end connected to the water separator has jacket? Can it be the same hose?

Edmond

Quote from: turbojack – July 25, 2025, 09:24:47 am

You could take a 5 gallon jug of diesel and run this hose to your engine. If it will not run more then a few minutes, the fuel line is not your problem.

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #76 – July 25, 2025, 11:38:47 am

If i replace my existing manual water separator with this electric one, will i eliminate priming by hand ?
( i am aware of if engine does't stay running is not going to be fixed by doing so )

Edmond

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #77 – July 25, 2025, 12:05:15 pm

in the picture i don't see any wiring, but i assumed there must be some kind of connection spots
I learned i can supply power to it from glow plugs?
Edmond

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #78 – July 25, 2025, 12:18:22 pm

Quote from: rvquestion – July 25, 2025, 12:05:15 pm

I learned i can supply power to it from glow plugs?
Edmond

Just FYI, no glow plugs. Your engine has an INTAKE MANIFOLD HEATER.

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #79 – July 25, 2025, 05:16:46 pm

Quote from: rvquestion – July 25, 2025, 11:32:00 am

Please explain what you mean by
" take a 5 gallon jug of diesel and run this hose to your engine"
I think you mean use a 5 gallon jug to replace tank?
But i can not disconnect the hose from tank without pulling the tank

How about if i use a 5 gallon jug with a ten feet hose back by the engine and connect it to the water separator as fuel supply
If the engine stays running , the problem can be the hose?
By the way the hose on top of the tank with the loop does not have jacket , how come the other end connected to the water separator has jacket? Can it be the same hose?

Edmond

Sorry, I wrote that on my phone and was short on words.

Yes, to verify that your hose is the problem (or not the problem) of the engine not stay running. Take short hose, and get fuel for engine from a jug with diesel it it. Remove coach fuel hose connection at first filter and connect short hose to the remote tank. No need to worry about return line, the return fuel will just be added to the coaches tank. Now if engine stays running, problem is very likely your hose, fuel in the tank, tank pickup or ?? If engine does not stay running, then hose is not the problem engine will not stay running.

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #80 – July 25, 2025, 06:53:32 pm

It looks to me like someone has spliced a different hose onto the one coming from the tank. The pictures show 2 different types of hose. I have never seen the jacketed hose on a 98 or newer. Follow that hose from the filter back towards the front of the coach. You will probably find a connection of the 2 hoses before you get all the way to the bulkhead. I am not sure if that jacketed hose will work with the type of fitting that is is slipped over. That could be where your air leak is. You could try to put some air pressure in the fuel tank and see if you see any seepage on the lines. I would use a rag wrapped around an air nozzle and blow some air in the tank, not a lot of pressure, maybe 10-15 pounds.

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #81 – July 26, 2025, 12:16:54 am

what is mystery, is that it ran on April first when I purchased it, i drove it home between 150 to 200 miles
then for a week , i started it every day after i took of from work and let it idle for 20 t0 30 minute to keep the batteries charged
I pulled it out of storage and drove it twenty miles to a tire shop
another week after i took my grand kids for a test drive for twenty miles
why all of a sudden this?
Edmond
Tomorrow i will replace the return line check valve, may be as chuck's case , it went bad now
but remember, chuck was talking about starting the engine and he had only 3 PSI pressure after each step
mine is no longer stay running to even check the pressure
Edmond

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #82 – July 28, 2025, 12:13:01 am

Today i did follow the braided hose attached to the water separator, it goes right in the tunnel without seeing any spliced spot

Edmond

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #83 – July 28, 2025, 12:18:57 am

To all you followers, next week i will use a five gallon fuel container as a suply tank
Using a different hose from water separator to the container i will try to start the engine
A- if it stays running , i have bad hose coming from tank
B- if the engine died again in less than a minute
Then the fuel supply leak is not the issue
But, my question is, what other reason can be the mystery

Edmond

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #84 – July 28, 2025, 12:22:30 am

I also search for the check valve location, per chucks 7 years ago post, it was under AC compressor
But it looked much larger than the one i had ordered ( i ordered it using engine serial number)
See picture attached
Any advise

Edmond

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #85 – July 28, 2025, 12:35:58 am

Since i may end up replacing the fuel hose from tank to the engine, today i took two pictures from both ends of the tank
A- from passenger side, which it has to come out
Two bolts, may require to detach door and the frame around opening to give enough opening

B- from driver side, fiber glass covers the tank end and sides
Only fill cap can be seen
By the way where the fill neck is coming out of fiberglass wall, looks like being sealed or calked around the ring hole
I can not even see bolts or nuts either
I read on forums " remove six nuts " i only see two

Also it looks like the tank can not even being pushed from driver side
Why Foretravel would design it like this
I wish the tank capacity was 80 gallon instead was built shorter to allow access to the hoses without pulling the tank out?
Or why the hoses where not placed close to the end of tank in reach
Have any one replaced the hoses on a 98 u295 36 feet? To match mine? If so please advise how to pull the tank out

Thanks in advance
Edmond

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #86 – July 28, 2025, 10:37:34 am

The covers will need to come off both sides, there are some air vent tubes on the drivers side that need to come out, there is a drain plug in the d/s bottom of the tank be sure to put board under the tank so the plug will clear. I took mine out of the passenger side. You also have hoses and wires that lay on top is the tank just work the over the fittings. Patients is the key. I'm not sure on a 98 but I think the side trim around the door will need to come off, and of course the door assembly will need to come off. If have push loc fitting you can reuse them just don't scratch them citting the old hose. Trident doesn't recommend using then but they work just fine. NO HOSE CLAMPS they will cut the inner linner of The hose. I just used a black tie wrap. Been over 5 years all good and no diesel smell anywhere.
I'll bet you have diesel smell when you open your bay doors or walk around you coach after you shut it off.

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #87 – July 28, 2025, 11:31:48 am

Quote from: rvquestion – July 28, 2025, 12:22:30 am

I also search for the check valve location, per chucks 7 years ago post, it was under AC compressor...
But it looked much larger than the one i had ordered...

I don't know what you ordered without seeing a photo or link to the item online.

In your photo the red arrow does point to the overflow valve, so you are looking at the correct location.

In my old "fuel system" thread I replaced the original overflow valve with an adjustable valve from Tork Tek.

Overflow Valve to Adust your Bosch P7100 Injection Pump

The one I used may look different from the one you ordered, but it should be close to the same size. See my photos below.

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #88 – July 28, 2025, 02:18:18 pm

We always replaced the valve when we either imported the MBZ OM617 engines or put turbos on the non-turbo engines. The valve is important for several reasons.

1. It keeps the fuel from running back to the tank resulting in slower starts.

2. It keeps the inside reservoir of the Bosch P pump full of diesel at all throttle settings and RPM. It won't give any more power than a factory new pump with valve but as the valves age, the ball gets microscopic surface passages and deformed ball seats allowing the pressure to drop. The drop in pressure results in each stroke of the P pump to have less than factory pressure. I've never seen any broken springs but they do occur.

3. The injectors gradually wear and lose the nice spray pattern. It's pretty easy to DIY the injectors to clean up the pattern and adjust the pressure. Harbor Freight or Ebay sells the testers. This is not for Detroit unit injectors. Also not for any electronic injector. Check to see if your injectors can be disassembled easily.

The factory only gives each pump a limited amount of time to make sure each cylinder gets the correct amount of fuel and to make sure each cylinder gets it's fuel at exactly the right time. If you have a little extra cash, pull the pump and take it to a pump shop to adjust it so each cylinder is getting the correct amount of fuel at exactly the right time. The pump shops can also add fuel for more power but may not be EPA legal.

When we installed turbos on non turbo engines, the pump shops always added more fuel. Unless fuel was added, the power increase was minimal with only lower EGT. With added fuel, the OM617 and Rayjay turbo did not produce any more smoke but only more power. Shops know what is OK and what is not.

Pierce

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #89 – July 28, 2025, 09:34:32 pm

It looks like I may misunderstood completely mistaken overflow valve and fuel return check valve
I did order the check valve
See the heart department print below

Now, I will Ask For overflow valve
Thank you for the explanation
It looks like I'm in good school. I appreciate everyone all the members.
Edmond

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #90 – August 01, 2025, 10:48:19 am

can any one please give me the link of those who cut the floor to access the fuel tank hoses?
I saw one, but don't remember where to find it
also i like to know if more than one person did the same
I am thinking to take that route which appears to be much less work than pulling the tank out

edmond

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #91 – August 01, 2025, 11:22:07 am

I don't see the length of your coach listed. That would need to be listed for info on cutting through the floor. I personally would not go that route as with the tank out more room to feed the hoses as they go both directions. But do what is best for you.

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #92 – August 01, 2025, 11:48:15 am

I have been looking around for John Hagrath post about this but I have misspelled his name and can't find his post. If I remember he went through the floor for both his coach and his brothers to replace those lines. He should chime in on this once he sees this thread.

Here is one that was done long ago by a member that was just posted a couple of days ago that you might have saw.
Replacing Generator fuel line on '99 U320

Mike

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #93 – August 01, 2025, 12:02:44 pm

Quote from: Pamela & Mike – August 01, 2025, 11:48:15 am

I have been looking around for John Hagrath post about this but I have misspelled his name and can't find his post.

Do either of these help?

Replacing fuel line to generator

Fuel lines

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #94 – August 01, 2025, 03:54:40 pm

I sure thought he had posted some pics. of his cut out and how he patched the hole after the job. It even seems like he used some super dooper tape to seal up a leak at a fitting till he could do a proper repair.

Mike

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #95 – August 01, 2025, 04:33:05 pm

Quote from: Pamela & Mike – August 01, 2025, 03:54:40 pm

I sure thought he had posted some pics. of his cut out and how he patched the hole after the job.

I think I found it

Main Fuel Hose Size

I did also find a couple of posts where he used Rescue Tape as a temporary fix

C8.3 Starts Quickly on Full Tank of Fuel, Slowly on Partial Tank

Parker HTFL-8B Fuel hose..

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #96 – August 01, 2025, 04:53:53 pm

M,

That is what we were looking for. Outstanding work. That has some info that will help Edmond
On a side note how can he remember something like this from 10+ years ago?

Pamela & Mike

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #97 – August 01, 2025, 06:22:51 pm

Its a 36 feet one
I don't like to cut the floor too, but hearing the headache of removing tank? Specially if i even can not see its mounting bolt on driver side
Its covered by fiberglass
To take the tank out i saw others cut the fiberglass wall and re patched it
But i agree if the tank is out then can get in that compartment and run the hoses to either direction

I wonder why there were not two welded nuts on the tank ( behind the fiberglass wall ) with two bolts to mount from underneath?
This way there was no need to cut the fiberglass
Anyway still thinking
Tomorrow i will use a canister and portable hose to supply fuel to water separator by disconnecting the line coming from the tank
If the engine didn't stay running again, that means the problem is not fuel line coming from the tank

Lets say if this happened tomorrow, what else is there to kill the engine less than 1/2 minutes after starting
And advise is appropriated

Edmond

Quote from: craneman – August 01, 2025, 11:22:07 am

I don't see the length of your coach listed. That would need to be listed for info on cutting through the floor. I personally would not go that route as with the tank out more room to feed the hoses as they go both directions. But do what is best for you.

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #98 – August 02, 2025, 01:13:11 am

i used to be a cabinet maker, good knowledge of wood working and i am getting closer to choose the cutting the floor to do the hoses instead of taking the tank out
those who have done this please help me with following questions
- how thick is the plywood?
-what is under plywood which must be cut with plywood
- there should be a chassis ( frame ) under the plywood floor, can some one describe that?
i assume the white ceiling above the tank , is under the frame? and the plywood is sitting above the frame?
because the frame is not exposed in any of the basements
any way here are pros and cons of replacing the fuel lines through the floor hole

PROS of cutting the floor
no need to remove tank's side doors
no need to remove tank's side door trims
no need to empty the tank
no need to cut the fiberglass on the driver side
no need for come along and jeep
no damage done by drain plug
no need to patch the cut fiberglass
no help may needed to pull or push the tank
no damage to other wires or air lines etc when dragging the tank out
if the job didn't finish in one day ( which it will not ) you can lock up the Rv where it is and go home

CONS:
remove passenger seat and recliner out of way
detach and lift the carpet from the passenger side to cut the floor without cutting the carpet
cutting a 12x12 hole in the nice plywood floor
tight room to access the fittings to disconnect and reconnect them
more important, harder to pull and push the hoses through the tight room
reinstall the cut out piece in same hole properly ( i have a drawing for how to patch the hole in the floor, see attached picture )
lay the carpet back

OTHER OPTIONS :
cut the carpet where its needed and have a carpet guy to seam it back ( much less work than removing the seat and lifting carpet
cut the carpet above the tank to do the job, then have a carpet guy to seam a different color carpet to look like a runner
it can be a darker color to match FT exterior decals

Edmond

Re: 1998 Foretravel U295 - Air in fuel system question

Reply #99 – August 02, 2025, 09:47:11 am

I would pull the tank where it me. As Craneman says way more room to work. But as always DWMYFG. You will also need to remove the covers in ceiling of the bays. And I still don't know where you need to be cutting fiberglass! You and a good helper can do the whole job in 2 days or so

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