Questions and Answers

Oldsmobile Bravada Dumping Fuel Q. I had a new fuel pump put into my truck this past Friday, 50 to 65 psi. On Saturday I was driving home from out of town when my truck started missing and smelled like gas. The truck slowed down to about 35 mph then just gave out and coasted to a stop. I tried to start it but it sounded like the starter either didn't have enough power to spin the engine or my engine locked?

The truck was towed home on a trailer. The next morning I tried to start it and the engine spun a couple of times but it would not spin every time. I put the a charger to the battery and it would not spin the engine, but later that day I tried the key and the engine spun a couple of times, so I tried to charge it again and it would not spin.

I dropped the oil to see if something could be wrong and the oil was full of gas. The oil smelled of gas very badly. I changed the oil, charged up the battery and tried to start it again, and, it would not spin. Half an hour later I tried to start it again and the engine turned over a couple of times very slowly but would not start.

My questions are; is my engine locked? Did the fuel pump have too much pressure and blow the gas into the oil? There were no metal shavings in the oil and before my truck died there were no strange noise's, no overheating, no rough ride or anything that would indicate a blown engine?? There was just a bad smell of gas when I lifted the hood.

I tried to turn the engine with a breaker bar, and it was kind of tough to turn, but it would turn. Please help me if you can because in my mind I'm 99.9% sure the engine is locked, but, I don't know for sure. Me and my kids need our truck to get to work and school. So if you can help, Please do...

• 1994 Oldsmobile Bravada
• 4.3 liter Vortec V-6
• Automatic transmission
• 80,000 miles
• Fuel injection VIN "W"
• P/S, A/C, Cruise control

A. Under the plenum there is a "Central Point Injector", CPI for short. It's fuel pressure regulator or the lines to it which are plastic may be ruptured and filling the engine with fuel. If you keep trying to turn it over you may bend a rod!

The over fueling issue needs to be addressed first and then all the spark plugs need to be removed from the engine and turn it over to clear all the fuel from the cylinders. A fuel pressure gauge installed will probably show you that there is 50+ psi but it should hold this pressure after the pump stops running, not bleed down.

Remember we are dealing with GASOLINE here! Think SAFETY! Don't crank it over with the key after all the plugs are removed or the wires will spark and light the truck on fire!!!! Been there, done that!