# Diesel Advice **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 20, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-advice/688847 "2014-05-20T17:38:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-advice/688847/1 "2014-05-20T17:38:44Z")
My dad passed last month and I inherited his truck. It’s a 1999 standard cab F-350 7.3 liter powerstroke diesel. I have to drive it from north of Seattle to Denver in July, and having never owned a diesel before, would like any advice you might have on getting it ready for the trip. It’s been regularly maintained, but has a couple of issues. The low gas level idiot light is on, and the oil temperature light is on. Both have been checked, and no obvious problems found. Oil pressure is good, oil and coolant levels are good. Anything else that I’m missing as a noob? Can a mod fix the spelling error? thanks! ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-advice/688847/2 "2014-05-20T17:52:21Z")
There’s nothing really especially diesel-specific you need to do, just normal check the tires and fluids type stuff. With the gas light (or fuel light, for pedants), that might make me a little suspicious about the fuel gauge reading. You don’t want to run this thing out of fuel. You might want to look up how much fuel the tank (or tanks) hold and use the trip odometer to decide when to fill up until you verify the gauge is working properly. Highway mileage will probably be in the high teens somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-advice/688847/3 "2014-05-20T18:23:58Z")
Just wanted to say that that truck is one trailer-towing powerhouse. You could put a 12’ camper on the bed and still tow a very large boat or travel trailer behind it without straining things in the least. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-advice/688847/4 "2014-05-20T19:04:06Z")
Fixed the title for you. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-advice/688847/5 "2014-05-20T20:07:52Z")
**GreasyJack** that was my plan. I’m going to have my dad’s mechanic give it the once over before I leave, and carry a five gallon jerry can of diesel on the trip. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-advice/688847/6 "2014-05-20T20:44:21Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > **GreasyJack** that was my plan. I’m going to have my dad’s mechanic give it the once over before I leave, and carry a five gallon jerry can of diesel on the trip. Beyond just being left by the side of the road, it’s not good mechanically to run the truck dry. Diesels can be a real sonofabitch to restart if you run them out of fuel, although the newer ones are a little better in that regard. It’s also not great for the fuel pump and injector pump. The injector pump is a really expensive part. I’d just try to be conservative with the fill-ups, like try tanking up when you think the tank should be half empty, and if the fuel gauge seems to be accurately reflecting the amount of fuel you’re actually using maybe push it a little further. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-advice/688847/7 "2014-05-20T21:00:05Z")
Make sure you add [Potassium Nitrate](http://www.dieselmanor.com/fleetguard/DCA60L.asp) to your radiator! I have a '95, and the weak spots in that engine are the valve cover wring and the glow plugs.