Not getting fuel to the rail even though I can hear the fuel pump prime when I turn the key

COLE924

MEMBER
2001 FORD F-150
5.4L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
240,000 MILES

My truck had been sitting for about three years and I’m working on getting it back on the road. One of the things I did was I replaced the fuel filter. It had less than 1/4 tank of old gas in it that I diluted with fresh gas, octane booster, and fuel system cleaner. My engine cranks fine and will even start for a second or two with starter fluid. Thought maybe there’s a clog in the lines. I looked everywhere I could to find a kink in the lines somewhere but couldn’t. Fuel pump is getting juice to it because I can hear it prime. Just no gas getting to the fuel rail. Maybe a fuel pressure regulator? I hooked a siphoning pump to the Schrader valve on the rail to see if I could pump any fuel to get some flow to the rail, but it was dry as a bone. Does that mean the clog is on the other side of the filter towards the pump? Filter is brand new btw.

1 Reply

SQM

MECHANIC
6,383 POSTS

Hello,

It does sound like there is some sort of restriction on the line before the fuel rail.
One thing you can do is check for fuel before the fuel filter. If you are getting fuel before the filter, then the issue has to be between the filter and the rail.
You can also check for fuel before the fuel pressure regulator. If there is fuel then it is probably a stuck regulator, if there is no fuel then the clog is on the line.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

Let me know of any questions.
Thank you.

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