About two weeks ago during our arctic blast my fuel line snapped off while driving home. It was the line from the filter to the engine. It was metal the entire length which might be why it broke. Anyway the local salvage had one with rubber line in between the connections. I picked up new rubber line and replaced the old, installed. Made sure little gaskets were there etc. Anyway, this morning It started then died. I had to restart as if I had replaced it and the line is empty. I suspect that air is getting in somehow. Should I pull the line and replace the gaskets, clean off everything, and replace the clamp style fasteners with the screw type on the line? Or could it be something else. Drove fine to work this morning (25 miles). Talk to me like a 5 yo... Thank you for reading!

 

What are you driving??

 

1998 cummins 24v, 60,000 mi.

 

Keep in mind, everything I know about diesels is written on the inside of my left eyelid.

If you just cycle the key, do you hear the lift pump run? If the pump was drawing air somewhere, it would have to be on the suction side, but, that's in the tank. I would more wonder if there wasn't a check valve somewhere that failed, and is allowing fuel to drain back into the tank.