2008 International 4300 been sitting still for a couple years...

[Stevenbrla]

Hi to Everybody... I also posted this in the HEF, so don't waste your time answering both, but thanks in advance. I'll read both!

I just purchased a 2008 (pre-dpf) International 4300 with DT466. It has 113,000 miles, and according to the title, has been sitting on this dealer's lot for almost 2 years. (And unsure of how long it had been sitting before titled to that dealer.)

Foolishly, I didn't do much to it before trying to run it. (I was pre-occupied with trying to get the bed/etc set-up, and it seemed to run good on a 10-20 mile test run.) Filled up with diesel. (70 gallon aluminum tank)

First day out, sputtered and stopped. Changed main fuel filter. (it was veryyyy dirty, gunky, big particles) Ran great for several days.

Friday... "Fuel filter" light came on. Then sputtered to a stop several miles down the road. Changed bottom filter, was verrry dirty. Sputtered for 10 miles, filled up with diesel, sputtered another 10 miles, then shut down and would not restart. Towed to my place. Next morning it starts, but I didn't drive it. Later in the day, it wouldn't start. Changed main filter later in the day. Was able to start it.

I know it could be many problems. But seems like fuel issues is a good place to clear up.

Suggestions on how to do this?

Oh yeah, what tool is the "correct" one to remove the top of the fuel filter canister?

For what it's worth, I sell sod for a living, and just doing my best to understand my equipment and repair what I can.

 

[Oxbow]

I would suggest that you may have an algae problem in the fuel having sat that long. I have never dealt with algae, but there is an additive that will treat your fuel to kill the algae, although I can't remember what it is called.

I think that I would drain the tank and take a peak into it to see how clean it is. You should also make sure that there isn't anything like the foil under the cap on a fuel treatment bottle floating around in the tank that is occasionally plugging the suction. Then add new fuel and change filters frequently until the problem clears up.

Another possibility is that the inside of your fuel hoses coming from the tank have deteriorated, and pieces are coming lose and restricting the flow or plugging the filters.

Good luck!

 

[Steve Frazier]

I had a similar problem with a JD B/H/L a number of years ago and I ended up draining the tank and washing it out with pressurized water to get all the junk out of it. When you're done washing it set a space heater next to it to warm it and evaporate the water that remains. I never had another problem after that.

 

[Stevenbrla]

Thanks for the help gentlemen.

My mechanic determined the manual primer pump was leaking, supposedly, and replaced it. That helped, but it still stumbled and fell down on the highway.

Then he decided it was electronic after his laptop would show it shutting down.

He determined that a wiring harness that looped through the frame rail had pulled tight and was pulling a wire coupling apart. I have a friend with a 4300 who said he had the exact same problem.

It's the harness that runs through the frame on the driver's side, right behind the front tire.

Good luck, and good trucking!

 

[Oxbow]

Glad you got it figured out, I would not have come up with a wiring harness as the problem.

 

[Steve Frazier]

Ditto! It sure sounded like a fuel problem. International has has their problems with harnesses, a buddy of mine had a 4900 that had a pinched harness between the cab and frame that would stop the truck dead in its tracks. It took IH over a year to figure out the problem. My buddy lost several loads of asphalt in the process.