Marnie & Stephen's Truck Page

Last updated 2007 Sep. 2

2003 F350D 7.3L X-Cab XLT FX4X4 3.73Rear

I was the proud owner of a 2003 PSD. Wow, what a truck! I had put this off way too long!

Over the years I have owned a few trucks, mostly Ford. I got my first Ford because it was cheap and I needed a truck. The truck was way over-built and I like that!

I bought my first diesel in June 2001. I don't think I will ever go back to gasoline, at least in a truck. I am convinced diesel is the way to go.



Click on thumbnails for a larger picture....

In the woods on her first elk hunt. X-Monitor w/grabhandle.

The day after I bought it was the time to camp as the next day was opening day of Elk season. I told the sales person I was going Elk hunting and he said, "No problem, bring it back in when you are done and we will wash it for you."

This one got traded in with our fifth wheel RV for a motorhome.

1984 F250D 6.9L X-cab XLT 4X4 T19 4.10

My first diesel. There was a lot of body rust and the engine was very tired with a cracked block.

Gelling

Parafin on inline filter or "gelling." After a couple hours in the sun."

If you've never seen it before, this is what an in-line filter looks like after parafin precipitates out of the fuel, or "gels," in cold weather. I had Rotella DFA in the fuel. My pump plugged up and then the filter. This day it was around zero F and interestingly, even after the temperature warms up the filter stays clogged! The pump can clear itself when it warms up but the filter can't. The filter finaly melted when I put it in the sun for a couple hours.

Why me:

I had an electric fuel pump on the frame under the cab and an in-line filter before it to protect the pump. Ford's original design had a mechanical lift pump which is not as likely to plug up.
Also, this was probably Diesel #2 (last fillup was in September.)
I had no fuel heater so the recirculated fuel doesn't heat the tank.
Rotella DFA definately did not live up to its -40 F claim!

Gel forms at warmer temperatures at the filter than we think...

Here are some terms I have learned:
Cloud Point (CP) is any where between 35 F and -100 F (read on)
Cold-Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) (appx. Cloud Point - 3 deg C)
Low Temperature Flow Test (LTFT) (Test performed in Europe)

Understanding CFPP

Legal requirements for Diesel in Dublin: CFPP of not above - 12°C (10 F) or a cloud point of not above - 7°C (19.4 F) There are no such requirements in the USA that I could find.

According to a study conducted by the US ARMY, In the U.S.A. actual values vary widely with region and season.

For those with an electric fuel pump you might consider the Racor Fuel Line Heater

Winter Thaw is an emergency winter diesel fuel treatment that thaws gelled fuel. Carry some for emergencies if you drive in temperatures below freezing. It is cheap insurance.


1984 F250 351ci Reg-Cab XLT 4X4 3.55Rear

After I let the '76 go I was in the market for a truck. My hunting partner always takes great care of his stuff. I told him that if he ever sold his truck I got dibs. He was even nice enough to let me make payments.

But I needed something to tow with so I sold it to a good new owner and this truck is now in semi-retirement in Hawaii.

1976 F250 360ci Reg-Cab 4X4 T19

My first full size truck, I think this might be the only picture I have of it. The price was right and what a workhorse! My hunting partner nicknamed it "The B17" because of the noise going down the freeway (no door panels.) I sold this one to a friend and she sold it a while later. I still see it around Flagstaff hauling cords of wood!

1981 (I think) Datsun

My first truck. It could barely pull its own wheels on the freeway but it did well off road. This was taken on the beach in Puerta Penasco (sp?) in the early eighties.

Truck Links:

BD Power!

Diesel Injection Service Diesel Injection Service

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