I have an '87 Grumman step van on a Chevy P30 chassis with the 6.2 diesel. I recently developed a no-start situation. Long story, I was concerned that it might be bad fuel - it has sat for a lonnng time - 20 years. I start it once or twice a month (have a solar panel on the roof, maybe 20" x 40", keeps the batteries topped up), idle if for maybe 20-30 minutes, give it a minute or so of higher rpms, then shut it down.

I keep it as I once planned to use it as a mobile shop, but liability insurance is steep, I now use it as lockable portable storage. A bit nutty but it was no spring chicken when I bought it (250 K) and I have room for it in my parking lot at my shop.

I cut a hole in the floor (will re-position it as a removable portal about the tank sender point), siphoned out the fuel (about 5 gallons), and cleaned it out with lint free rags on a coathanger. The fuel didn't look all that bad, I found some guys on the web who had not had problems with fuel that old, so I dunno. I replaced the larger filter/water separator thing mid way under the body, topped it up with new diesel before attaching it. The other boxy filter on the motor I have not yet replaced. It won't start, I suspect I have air still but I'm also wondering if the pump is bad. It wouldn't start before I introduced air into the fuel lines. I've read of guys replacing the stock mechanical with an electric.

One guy at Diesel Place recommends PAM as starter fluid, air filter removed. Sounds plausible. I was pretty sure ether based starter fluid would not be a good idea, search confirmed that but no one mentioned PAM.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K