Reading another thread about starting problems convinced me to post this. My 6-71 was acting up this summer. It would start right up and die 4 or 5 seconds later. A couple more tries and it would catch and run. After this happened the third time, I pulled the fuel fitters. They looked fine and I put them back on. My bus has always been a good starter. After the fifth or sixth occurrence, I pulled the primary filter again. It looked perfect, but I decided to empty it into a clean ice cream bucket. Nothing but clean fuel. For some unknown reason, I dumped the bucket, and refilled the filter. I filled it to the top through the large center hole. Then I noticed the outer part of the filter wasn't full. It took another cup or so to fill the outer part. I got a new filter and filled it through the center hole, and of course the entire filter filled up right away. Starting problem solved. I don't know if the bio diesel, or Power Service, had loosened up something new, I'm used to my filters looking half full of tar when they need to be replaced. I now know you can't judge a filter by looking at it, or the fuel in it.
I would suspect you got a slug of water in your tank, water will cause the filter element to swell and not let the water pass into the pump and injectors.
Thanks. Yeah, that could have happened. I ran the fuel tank down to the lowest level, in the 8 yrs I've had it.
If feasible, you might consider pulling the fuel tank and do a thorough cleaning. 55 years of fuel oil can accumulate a lot of build up. Could save money in long run from fewer filter changes. I did this to both my coaches. It is amazing how much crud builds up.
Yeah Chessie, that's how the fuel level got so low. I ran it down in order to pull the tank out. I wanted to rebuild the supports underneath it. That task is still on my list, as I didn't get it done this summer.