hard starting

[bdjunkit]

I recently bought an 89 d250 5 speed, the guy told me that it had sat for awhile (like 2 yrs.)within the sitting time he would go out every few weeks and start it and let it run. From what he says he had to start it using starting fluid shortly before I bought it. Long story short, I got it cheap, figured I could go through it and fix the "starting issue" but I'm at a loss.
this thing runs great and very smoothe after you give it a little shot of starting fluid. I hate spraying it though I know its not good for it.Any help would be great guys, thanks!

[peobryant]

Getting air in somewhere?

[bdjunkit]

Well I checked all the fittings up at the injectors, then at the ve, then between the ve and lift pump, and all the way back to the tank. The feed line from the tank is new and I also put on a new lift pump and filter. I did prime it after all that and it fired. But that was last week and I figured it was fixed, but went out the other day and it wouldnt start as always. When it cranks theres no smoke coming out of the pipe, I'm thinking maybe the injectors arent popping fuel in. Is that logical? is my IP dead?
The thing runs great once its started.

[Richie O]

Im going with air. I had one truck that would crank forever before start. I found an air leak. It ran mint once it fired.

[SChandler]

Check the return line, it seems to be a common source of leaks that cause hard starting.

[grengo]

Did you ever get the problem figured out? I'm having the same problem. i haven't had to resort to starting fluid yet, but if my truck sits for more than 4 hours i have to crank it over quite a bit to fire but after that it starts and runs fine. This problem didn't start til after i turned in my smoke screw 2 turns. but it didn't start doing this til a few days later.

[bdjunkit]

No I still have the problem, I havn't had much time the last month to mess with the truck, It's got me stumped, still shooting it with either to start it, and as always it runs great once started. I even tried cranking for like 5 minutes to see if I could bring fuel all the way up as if it lost total prime, and still wouldnt start not even a burp. Also I'm not sure but the truck feels a little sluggish going through the gears especially mid power to high rpm's, but its also stock hp 160? and I'm use to my 2000 24valve's power delivery. Does a power loss and "only fluid start" make sense to anyone? or still looking like an air leak? Thanks guys.

[Richie O]

I use starting fluid when I HAVE to. If I had to always start it with starting fluid I would not run it that way. Its hard on stuff.