Any 7.3 powerstroke experts on the board?

Hey guys,

Before i get too long winded about what I have going on, I'm working on a 1995 Ford F-250 with the Powerstroke. Most of the following post will likely make much sense, unless you're fairly knowledgeable on these thing I dare to bet, as what homework I have done has me halfway confused even (AND I EVEN HAVE A MANUAL!)

The original problem was fuel in the oil.. I'm not positive that problem is completely solved, but what I do know is I have gotten it back together and ran it about a hour now and the oil is not rising.. before, in a hour time it would gain A LOT.

What I have done so far: New injector O-Rings, new rubber lines, new fuel filter, new fuel pump, new valve cover gaskets & harnesses, and new glow plugs.

When I took the truck apart (and removed the fuel filter canister) The Injector Pressure Regulator was "apart" (I did not know what it was at that time, but I do now). The crappy little nut had fallen off the back side, and the magnet pulled off. I see NAPA and Auto Zone call this the fuel pressure regulator, but from what research I turned up, it looks as if this would regulate the oil pressure to the injectors as opposed to the fuel.. CORRECT? It don't even come in contact with the fuel, so i don't know how it can be a "Fuel Pressure Regulator"

I put it back together, but backwards.. I put the "top hat" looking spacer towards the HPOP (High Pressure Oil Pump), and the magnet on the end, then a nut.

My questions are this: Being I put this together "backwards" will it affect how it works, as the truck does run as is, however not quite right still (but has been sitting for a long while, and I am going to clean the fuel press. regulator up tomorrow in hopes to help remedy my hard start)??

Question 2: The goofy little nut that holds the magnet on was missing (and can best be described as a "push" nut), so I found a suitable standard nut (1/2-20 nut threaded on perfect) and tightened it up nice and snug.. how tight would you suppose it should it be tightened? The magnet shouldn't be able to wobble around, right?


Thanks in advance,

Brad

I own a 95 f250 with the powerstroke, and worked on them at a ford dealership for 6 years. The regulator you are talking about is called a fuel pressure regulator in all the parts catalogs ive seen, including Ford catalogs. But, you are right. it has no contact with fuel whatsoever. It regulates the pressure from the high pressure oil pump to the injectors, which use between 700 to 2000 psi oil pressure to fire the injectors and spray the fuel into the combustion chamber. long story short, the high oil pressure is used to amplify the low fuel rail pressure supplied to the injectors to make a mist/spray pattern from the injector that will burn nice. the "top hat" needs to be put together so that the flat part, or bottom of the hat is touching the back of the magnet that has the two pin electical connector. then the nut. the nut you used will work fine, but just snug is enough for tightening. too much will break the magnet and cause other problems.

And yes, the regulator being put together incorrectly could cause a long crank/hard start problem. the order of assembly is magnet, top hat, then the nut. Try that order and please update me on how it starts.

And yes, the regulator being put together incorrectly could cause a long crank/hard start problem. the order of assembly is magnet, top hat, then the nut. Try that order and please update me on how it starts.

Thank you.

I will swap it around tomorrow and see if it helps..

Like I said, when i pulled the fuel filter assy. everything just fell apart, and I just noticed looking at the NAPA website that I had it together backwards per their picture.

Update you when I work on it next.

Brad

Update for AScheele and others:

Today I took the time to swap things around on the Injector Pressure Regulator, and I also tore apart and cleaned the fuel regulator mounted on the side of the filter housing, and pushed compressed air through the return line.

I am unsure which of these did the most help, or if it was a combined effort, but the truck now starts pretty good (got to crank just a little more than I like, but not to the point that it is what I would call it hard starting). When you get into the accelerator and let off it don't stall either.. Double bonus!

We went for a 7 mile joyride in the old girl, and the oil level is right where it was previously, so i think the fuel in oil problem is solved, but I do believe I in fact have a bad injector, as at an idle it has what can best be described as a "miss", so I guess the injectors will get pulled again and sent to be tested.

Brad

Im glad its starting better for you. but before you jump into getting injectors removed and tested, make sure all the wiring harnesses under the valve covers are good. i had to replace all of mine, and two of the connectors on the main wiring harness when i first got it.