After sitting idle for a week or so (typically 10-14 days, sometimes more, sometimes less) the engine doesn't catch immediately. The fuel seems to have drained back leaving the injector pump w/o an immediate positive head - i.e. no prime.

It failed to catch twice in the last several (10?) times that it has been parked for an extended period. I'm concerned that fuel could be leaking into the crankcase and/or that the injector pump will be damaged (:shakehead) by air intrusion. At the least, the mechanical lift-pump is suspect?

Note than when this does occur I always manually refill the system using the manual priming pump before attempting another start - that has always worked (so far).

I have found and corrected a loose hose-clamp on the (infamous) fuel return line, and checked all the other connections, and so far so good. It always catches immediately and every time until the next time it gets 'put in standby' but I hate crossing my fingers before I hit the key. There is no obvious sign of fuel in the oil, and it performs as it should.

I would appreciate input as to lift pump problems, consequences and/or recommendations so to determine if this is an 'inconvenience' (i.e. just drive it more) or is potentially leading to a big problem.

Thanks for your time.

I have been sitting here thinking about your lift pump problem for a while but cant come up with anything yet, but I tell you what, check in to Dieselram.com and the boys there are very good at helping sort out things like this. You might have to regester but it costs nothing and will save you lots. Hope this helps......Regards....another CTD owner....

Progress... Fuel Filter 'not-tight' on threaded post & threaded filter post loose in the housing! AND the (inner) post-gasket appears not to have been renewed at last servicing (by a dealer no less :disappoin ).

I decided to change the fuel filter and discovered it was about as loose as it could possibly be without leaking fuel ... maybe loose enough to allow air to enter the fuel system at a high point. After removing the filter (with one finger), I tried to remove the rock-hard and cracking post-gasket I discovered that the filter-post was also loose in the housing.

The threaded filter-post has a hex-socket on one end allowing it to be easily tightened snug into the housing. The post o-ring groove positions the gasket correctly to seal filter flow in from out, so either a loose post or failed post gasket could allow unfiltered fuel to enter the main pump.

The new filter is now installed with a new center-post gasket, and so far it appears to have solved the 'drain-down' problem described above.

Checking the filter-post and verifying that your service people have changed the post-gasket (if applicable) may be well worth the time.

Congratulations, makes life a little easier and probably you can get a good nights sleep now.............