Fuel Pro 382 running dry and engine stall...

mqbus767 · March 25, 2023, 12:16:02 AM

Hello alll. Hope ya'll are doing well and staying safe.

I have a 2001 MCI 102DL3 with a DD60 12.7 in it and a Fuel Pro 380 fuel processor. I've not had any issues with the engine since we bought it. A couple of weeks ago I started it up and it ran for about 10 or 15 seconds then lumbered to a stop. It would not start after that. I checked the engine and noticed the Fuel Pro was dry and the filter was black. Thinking that it was a plugged fuel filter, I replaced it, filled the Fuel Pro up, and started it again. It ran until the fuel pro went empty and died. Tried a couple of more times (filling the fuel pro) before I had to give up.

I'm headed back out to the bus to work the issue but wondered if anyone has had a similar experience to mine.

Thanks!

buswarrior · March 25, 2023, 03:13:42 AM

How much fuel is really in the tank? Dip it, not what the fuel gauge reads.

Fuel theft? Leaked away?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

luvrbus · March 25, 2023, 04:47:14 AM

Check the fuel level and look a lot of buses have a primary filter before the fuel pro that plugs.The Fuel Pro also has a check valve in the housing that will stick not letting the fuel pickup

Jim Blackwood · March 25, 2023, 08:17:41 AM

Make sure your antifreeze is not low. I've had that problem twice now.

Jim

RichardEntrekin · March 25, 2023, 01:38:44 PM

If you can, prime the Fuel Pro, and have someone else crank the engine while you watch. I had an air leak, actually a broken fuel dip tube, and the clue was air bubbles coming into the clear bowl, just at the fuel inlet.

Not saying this is your problem, but it's an easy check to ensure you are pulling fuel and not air.

mqbus767 · March 25, 2023, 01:47:59 PM

Thanks all for the pointers:

Low coolant was my first thought, but then I saw the Fuel Pro draining down and engine lugging to a stop. (Not a shutdown)
Fuel theft was my second thought. Checked with tube, plently there.
No air bubbles in the fuel pro that I can see.
Have not found a primary fuel filter yet. Anyone know where it might be on the 102DL3? (I've consulted the manual and nothing about a primary fuel filter either)
I'll examine the check valve to see if it's stuck. Good tip!

buswarrior · March 25, 2023, 03:35:06 PM

Follow the fuel lines, there's no telling what has been done, lots of unnecesary things, old timers had a hard time trusting these new fangled fuel filters to work alone, and just had to add things...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

luvrbus · March 25, 2023, 04:47:13 PM

Quote from: mqbus767 on March 25, 2023, 01:47:59 PM
Thanks all for the pointers:

Low coolant was my first thought, but then I saw the Fuel Pro draining down and engine lugging to a stop. (Not a shutdown)
Fuel theft was my second thought. Checked with tube, plently there.
No air bubbles in the fuel pro that I can see.
Have not found a primary fuel filter yet. Anyone know where it might be on the 102DL3? (I've consulted the manual and nothing about a primary fuel filter either)
I'll examine the check valve to see if it's stuck. Good tip!

The 3 piece repair kit .ball,spring and the insert are not expensive about 15 bucks for the kit.My FuelPro was a add on the primary filter was just before the FuelPro

RichardEntrekin · March 25, 2023, 05:46:45 PM

I was taught to cut electrical problems in half whenever I could.

You could easily rig a line out of 5 gallon container of diesel directly into the fuel inlet port of the fuel filter. It would at least tell you where the problem was upstream or downstream of the filter.

luvrbus · March 25, 2023, 06:25:46 PM

Some MCI DL3's were spec with a lift pump at the tank for priming.you turn it on and it ran for a couple of minutes and shut off

Dave5Cs · March 26, 2023, 11:21:34 AM

What about your fuel pump?

luvrbus · March 26, 2023, 11:48:43 AM

Quote from: Dave5Cs on March 26, 2023, 11:21:34 AM
What about your fuel pump?

The fuel pump is sucking the Fuel/Pro dry so it has to be down stream ,the series 60 uses the same gear fuel pump as the 2 strokes only with a higher relief valve for more pressure FWIW

buswarrior · March 27, 2023, 10:03:17 AM

I was reminded by an old busnut friend of ours, check the o-ring on the filler cap, the unit may be sucking air directly, you won't get bubbles from this, with it being at the top.

Another thing to add to my PM list for the new one...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

RichardEntrekin · April 03, 2023, 10:09:10 AM

Any updates?

mqbus767 · April 11, 2023, 02:06:58 AM

Haven't had a chance to revisit the issue, but hoping to this weekend. I'll update here when I know more.