BEST way to bleed diesel fuel system (step-by-step)

If you've ever ran your diesel out of fuel you know you don't ever want to do that again. In this video I show a step-by-step description on how to get the air out of the system and get your diesel running again. It's a pretty simple process once you understand how it works. Hope you find the video useful.
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[@stephaniemcguire]

🥰 I just helped my hubby start his tractor. He just thought he had let all the air out, and I coerced him into proving it to me, lol. I didn't let him tighten that nut til I saw a steady stream of leaking diesel. Viola !! Lol! He knew what to do; he just was being impatient.😊

[@davekidd9202]

Thank you lots. The tractor was on a slope tank end down and it would not take. Towed it to flat ground and your tip worked a treat. Thanks again.

[@MeesterVegas]

My friend, you just helped me out a great deal. I have the same engine, bled the first two points, sat there looking at those injector connections and dreaded trying to get to them. I had no idea the battery folded back like that! It's my Dad's old Ford 420, so I'm learning about it more and more. Thank you!

[@errorcodeguy456]

Glad you found the video useful. The first time I ran the tractor out of fuel, I didn’t get the tank full enough to push the air out. It sure is a lot easier to bleed out the air and get the tractor started again. I’m really glad that battery tray does swing out, without that there’s almost no room to work. Thanks again for the comment.

[@thomaspuccini302]

If the fuel line needs bleeding would it cause the engine to shut down, like it were starving for fuel and then shut down?

[@brandonh.8882]

Yes

[@markstewart8171]

I ran out of fuel and wanted to add to this video. If you locate the fuel hose that is dumping back into the fuel tank, take that line loose from fuel tank and attatch to an electric fuel pump, hook electric fuel pump up to external battery source then you will start blowing air and fuel out of that fuel pump, it took me 2 cranks while hand pumping the manual fuel pump above fuel rail. Worked like a charm and i was on this for 3 hrs before i hooked up electric fuel pump bleeding lines. All this after you fuel back up of course.

[@belindablunderbus1365]

this was really clearly and simply explained, thanks for uploading so I don't have to ask my father!

[@simonw2631]

This is so useful !!! I have a 1950 fahr diesel tractor and this year for some reason it had lots of problems like that with air in the system

[@dionrhoden9636]

Lifesaver, been trying to start my Toyota Lucida for an hour and couldn't figure out what was wrong. She's purring again now

[@peterlachance6399]

Thanks alot your video got me back at work alot faster and that keeps the boss happy!

[@getsmart3701]

Thanks mate, I just did this on my Valmet 502 tractor and it worked aplomb. Thank you.

[@waynesimmonsdmd41]

Good video, never realized the fuel level in the tank had to be above the filter, great tip. Also pressurizing the lines, didn't know. I've had my 235 since 1977, only time it's never failed to start was due to a battery, terminals, or I ran it out of diesle. thanks

[@TheMuddman74]

It doesnt he is speaking generally but some of the tips are very tractor specific. Most skid steers, tamps, and dozers keep the fuel in the belly, lower than everything. The basic idea is air needs to escape thru a high point exactly the same as bleeding air from a cooling system

[@p1re9lu9de2]

Thanks so much. Didn’t run out but ran into some bad fuel so this helped me a ton.

[@cherokeecountry]

Great short video. Uhhh, changed fuel filter and got air in the line. My bad. But your video helped me out. Thanks.

[@tomarmstrong9364]

Thanks.. exactly what I was looking for... thumbs up

[@healthfullivingify]

Very well explained. Easy to forget to fill fuel tank higher than injectors OR to crack the bleeding bolts on top of fuel filters (which you prefilled with diesel fuel as well). Thanks.

[@epmcdonald4562]

Obviously !Because clearly said fill up tank higher than fuel filter! Gotta quit smoking that dumb Bob shit!!

[@tripp121283]

A lot of newer diesels have a lift pump that will bring the fuel up to the filter so you wont have to fill it above the filter. Also a lot have a bleeder valve for the injector pump located in the front of the injector but is still a good idea to crack the lines since air will still be trapped in the lines

[@fireworm91]

Mmhhh i have flipped a miniescavator and have issues restarting the machine... Yes all the disel got out from the tank

[@ishankero9699]

i love you sir you saved my day ❤ awsm video

[@simontempleton4179]

Worked like a charm thank you

[@BigAgitator]

Good man! Nice tractor, just like my dad’s

[@JoelSlattery]

Thank you, you saved my day! in Vanuatu, south pacific islands

[@Dorfl62]

Very good video !! Easy to follow

[@errorcodeguy456]

👍

[@John33gfed]

Thanks! Great video and very helpful

[@lucaswinter3711]

Thank you!

[@artisansportsman8950]

I gotta thank you , i let my machine out of diesel last week and couldn't bleed it , i followed your instructions and hey presto it cracked up straight away. It needed diesel to get it above the filter.

[@jimmylee377]

thanks for the video.

[@GlennHallLivingWater]

Excellent job!

[@errorcodeguy456]

👍

[@artianrika8329]

That engine sounds great

[@SSTR87]

Thanks. I run a pony motor on my trailer and been dealing with a hard start. I'm gonna give this a try

[@hunterdillon4414]

Thanks man

[@breannamoore8012]

THANK you so much

[@youidiotssuckgood]

thank you for being concise sir and not taking 20 minutes to tell us what can be said in 3-4 minutes. Very helpful to a man with an empty fuel tank on his boat ( me).😮🤔😄🫡

[@miguelchavez5629]

Nice job bro

[@russn4933]

Nice tip - make sure the fuel level in the tank is higher than the bleed screw or you'll have a siphon.

[@CreativeCustomsC.C.]

I appreciate it! 👍🏻

[@drhamdyhassanain]

Thank You solved my problem

[@copseverywhere5160]

Turn the nuts on the fuel injectors to bleed the air out, keep it open and crank the engine until u see the fuel fly out the nut even 3 injectors tight it up and done. I usually do it, dont have to open crank and tight it up so many time

[@Thegrassman284]

Thank you sir for the no bullshit video!

[@TerryPigrider]

Love you error code guy

[@Suprem3GamerDamianWinchester]

Omgggggggggg THAAAAAANK UUUUUUUUUUUUUUU !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@gooutside6055]

Im going to try iy now

[@TeamTopKick]

I'm planning on changing my primary and secondary fuel filter/separators on my 8.2L Turbo Diesel. Do I need to prime the fuel system afterwards or should it be ok?

[@Owl4909]

good vid

[@Shpane21]

Thank you

[@chandikalakmalweerakoon1595]

Thanks bro..

[@savoielvis1]

thank you sire :)

[@jerryhunter5263]

thank you

[@JohnMiller-oz7gv]

Good video. If you just change the fuel filter do you have to bleed the injectors also?

[@kristhianvasquez8415]

Holy crap it worked!!!

[@errorcodeguy456]

👍 glad to hear it!

[@gfryer897]

Thanks

[@philipgraham-clare724]

Spot on advice thankyou. Sorted my Ford 4000 in minutes!!

[@dougwhittaker954]

Great👍

[@jxaxrxlx]

Nice video 👍🏻 just have to remember to keep refueling the tractor 😂

[@dawnmurrayhere5549]

Your video saved me! Thank you!

[@DRJMF1]

i have a cold start problem on my 2003 d4d corolla. If i press the fuel primer button, it starts much better. What is your diagnoses of the cold start problem eg fuel pressure too low in an injector. All injectors sound perfect though and electrical resistance is 1.2 ohms, so ok ?

[@tasquill]

Hey wait a minute, where's the blowing snow and minus 20c and a battery that doesn't hold a charge very well, isn't that when you usually run out lol??

[@fruitgrapepwnage]

This was the exact situation with one of our tractors in the middle of the field.

[@N3ttwerk]

I have the same 3 valve engine, I was bleeding the top (return fuel line?) and instead bled the bottom line like in your video instead and the tractor came to life.

[@tigdogsbody]

What is fun is doing the above in a seaway.

[@quinton4286]

Best video for us airheads with tractors lol

[@gfryer897]

It works my l 180is runing

[@1RZITCH]

Some machines have a pump ball or you can install one I can Pump Fuel all the way to the injector pump on my bobcat

[@TheDreamer1980]

you can do this on any diesel engine? twice this week ive got very low on fuel to the point it was nearly dry and its now started hesitating and momentarily losing power even with a half full tanks , just like it was before i made it to the fuel station so if i crack open the injectors slightly it will remove the air ? thanks

[@totalenterpriseconsultingc3066]

Great video. Saved my this week! I have a new to me Ford tractor that looks EXACTLY like yours. Can you tell me what year and model yours is? Mine came with no paperwork.

[@brad3378]

My 1971 Ford 4500 looks like this also. The easiest way to know what you have is to find your serial number. One place is located behind the starter motor (or left of the starter if you're looking at it from the side). There's going to be a flat spot with two unused bolt holes that looks like something is supposed to be mounted there. Above the flat spot will be three rows of serial numbers. You'll need to decode it on the internet. A second place where you can find the serial number is under the hood on a foil tag. If you're lucky, the tag will still be there under the hood. Mine was missing. In my case, I could not read either serial number for the tractor, however I was able to find valid serial numbers for the backhoe attachment and loader attachment. I was able to determine the model year by comparing my attachment serials to others from pictures on auction websites. Good luck!

[@FMFInnovations]

If I could give this video two thumbs up, I would, thank you for existing.

[@Imwright720]

My tank is below the engine, it’s a generator. I’ve never had to prime it but eventually I will need to change the filter. Hopefully the little hand crank will do it

[@vicpetrishak7705]

Diesel fuel injectors have plungers , fuel nozzles operate on pop-off pressure as in this model of a Ford industrial tractor .

[@ginogallegos8079]

Acouple mistakes, #1, why are you running clear road taxed diesel instead of non taxed off road dyed diesel?, #2, isn't there a bleed screw ontop of the cav pump? Looks like you skipped that part also. #3, you can leave the injectors open till it starts leaking fuel. And you can than close #2,#3 and leave #1 open smditll fire snd fun bad but it'll run than you hop off and close #2,#3. (Best to have another helper on this type of job.. OTHER THAN THAT, GREAT VIDEO!

[@Bertrum123]

You actually crack the injector pipes turn engine and watch till no bubbles then tighten unions up the reason fuel has to be higher is it may be gravity fed a car or lorry dosnt matter as the have a fuel pump if it was true for lorry or car you would need fuel tank on the roof lol

[@scottmckillop4762]

Any thoughts on the hydraulic loader arms being in the way of the battery swing out tray? I can access the first two injector lines but getting at the third one is proving to be problematic.

[@errorcodeguy456]

I understand exactly what you’re saying. What I ended up doing was, I moved the battery on the battery tray diagonal. The battery is on a tray that swings out word to gain access to the injectors. By moving the battery into this configuration allows me to swing the battery out of the way a couple more inches. Then I am able to get a wench on to the injectors to let the air out.

[@scottmckillop4762]

Worked perfectly and the tractor is up and running again! Thank you ECG!

[@sappy4happy448]

During the part where you bleed the injectors, why not just crack them open, then crank the motor a couple of times, then tighten the nuts at the injectors and then crank the motor again? Doing it the way you show must take some time as I'm sure the process has to be repeated more than a few times. Why the need to keep going back and forth? Especially if you have a friend who can watch the injectors while you crank the motor watching until all the air is gone. In addition, I understand bleeding the fuel filter and pump, but why the need to bleed at the injectors at all? Why not just keep cranking the motor until it fires up? Wouldn't the air that's left in the fuel system just escape on the cylinder exhaust stroke? Anyone wishing to furnish answers would be much appreciated. I apologize in advance if these questions are rather obvious to those in the know. These are things I've often wondered about on diesel engines that's all. Thanks!

[@richardweinberger2756]

^^^ If you run out of fuel then your fuel pump doesn't suck anything, therefore your entire fuel system is full of air. Once you make the pump work then bleeding the injectors is easy.

[@Hotrodford]

Not all diesel systems have their fuel tank above the filters.

[@asimk9518]

Can we not open return to air to got out through top of injectors

[@jeremylakenes6859]

Sometimes (i know it isn’t good) you can use starting fluid and it gets the air and everything moving out fast. If you don’t have enough battery and you are a good distance from home, starting fluid might be your saving grace. Just don’t use too much

[@nandishkumarkh3387]

Any suggestions for starting innova for airlock n battery desd

[@mchl8]

Hey i onow this is an older video, just for fun i watched it. I like the video. Um just a few comments. I run diesel and all of my filters are higher tge the tank i cant help it. Now also as primiing the high pressuer pump wide open throttle during prime doesnt hurt. As long as ur dispersing the air w fuel. Nice vid.lol

[@aceace2625]

How would you know all the air is out of the first step top of the fuel filter

[@freda1078]

it stops bubbling and solid fuel comes out

[@memine5926]

My fuel tanks on my truck r 2 feet lower than my fuel filters. Any suggestions?

[@kakkiaanen]

What if fuel tank is lower level than the filter?

[@danielwaterton1148]

Nököhammas i was thinking the same

[@danielwaterton1148]

I work on. Diesel trucks just add fuel turn over and bleed the lines always gets started

[@walidissa7608]

Add air pressure in the tank.

[@jimh712]

Use an electric fuel piump...

[@gohan555554321]

Does this process use up a lot of energy in the battery? Is that why you say make sure it is charged?

[@errorcodeguy456]

Yes, sometimes you have to crank it quite a bit to get all the air out. There have been times where I drain the battery all the way down, then I have to charge up the battery and continue on with the process. There have also been times that I have gotten the air out pretty quickly, and it starts right up. Any other questions let me know.

[@gohan555554321]

Ok thank you so much, my battery got weaker in the process haha just making sure that was normal

[@jameschittenden1460]

Bleeding vw 2.5tdi engine

[@gregbailey3710]

Thanks. Won't again!

[@nandishkumarkh3387]

How to start innova when diesel is empty n air lock

[@rickyreyes8777]

What do I do if the the filter is higher than the tank?

[@richardweinberger2756]

Take the filter off and fill it with fuel.

[@mfumich]

It’s not quite like that on all Diesel engines. My fuel filter sits significantly higher than the fuel tank.

[@dennybaker8755]

spray easy start down the air filter - then it will start - air out done .

[@hipstarchild]

will this method work on a diesel car ?

[@amuqaj37]

Bee JayGee yes

[@timwainz]

does that turn over with a screwdriver

[@jimh712]

Looks like thats a Massey Ferguson.. Its just a flat key..

[@sheepdogman1]

Use lift pump so you don’t drain the battery

[@Nolanyoyo]

if you kept cranking wouldn't it eventually bleed itself

[@errorcodeguy456]

It is really important to fill the gas tank high enough so there’s enough pressure to push the fuel through the system. I have tried it without purging the air out, and it didn’t work for me. There are some systems that are set up like this. I have always remove the air so I don’t have to crank the engine so much. If you do crank The engine make sure your starter does not get too hot.

[@Nolanyoyo]

cool, was just curious. Might come in handy if its some newer diesel that you can't get to nothing on

[@phillipschuller791]

I’ve always bled my injectors with my engine cranking

[@michaelhardee6875]

It seems that I'm constantly bleeding the lines. I see that bleed bolt from the fuel filter, no fuel flows out, no bubbles and I have enough fuel in the tank. Please help

[@brandonp4626]

Make sure everything is tight. (Fuel filters, injectors and your lines are in good shape)

[@tubbers20]

Thumbs up! :^)

[@trevorbyron9448]

Bingo

[@byloyuripka9624]

imagine teaching people to crack an injector and someone having a limb sliced off by a huey system

[@tyjack1702]

Hopefully they say. If your fuel gauge doesn't work fix it. Lol!

[@EwePeople]

😢

[@Nicholasjames1234]

Where is the muffler? 😂😂

[@dewaynemiguel3349]

Be glad it isnt a old detroit 2 stroke they arnt that easy

[@wt1236]

Buy petrol driven equipment

[@bdougie3807]

Running Diesel out of fuel = CARDINAL SIN!!!

[@solascriptura9988]

🤦🏻‍♂️ I ran my diesel out of fuel 😞

[@kristopherc286]

Don't let invasive plants rip your fuel lines off

[@Primusux]

I like how he tells us not to run our diesels out of fuel like telling us not to piss on an electric fence -like we’re fucking idiots.