The sequence of events:

Oil terribly low (almost dry) and an ominous knocking on the way up the mountain

Full oil change, 8 LITERS

Drove normally for a couple trips then loss of power and shutoff. After letting it sit for a bit we limped it a couple miles, loss of power shutoff...this happened about three or four times and the time in between getting shorter. It seemed to help letting it sit for fifteen minutes or so but eventually the battery ran out of juice.

Upon inspection there appears to be oil around all of the injectors and the exhaust manifold.

Prior to this we had run out of diesel probably 2 or 3 times and had to prime the system and pretty consistently run on the minimal amount required (to be young, wild, and poor)

Also.. EGR delete, ignition replaced, the vacuum lines are a bit of a mess hell if I can figure them out and definitely leaky (been having to shut of the car with the emergency shut off under the hood for awhile) and a rat moved in under the steering wheel but there doesn't appear to be any damage to the wiring.

We have been purging the fuel line on and off for awhile now, fuel coming from all the injectors and she will catch every now and then but havent gotten her fully started.


Ordered filters but they only sent the plastic one, waiting on the screw on.

What I am wondering is should I continue in my efforts to purge and prime prior to replacement and what are the chances that I am possibly getting air in somewhere? Copper washers? Maybe some entire other reason she wont fully start...(a friend mentioned the neutral safety switch?) Any encouragement, suggestions, insight, help, general unrelated advice appreciated. Tired of being stranded in these lonely hills.

Will post pics as soon as I get back to the car.