1989 Dodge Pickup 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel - Fuel Line Bleeding Procedure

This document is page 2 of a service procedure article ("Highlighted Article Text") for a 1989 Dodge Pickup equipped with the 5.9L 6-cylinder Cummins B Series Turbo Diesel engine (VIN code 8). It explains how to bleed air from the fuel system. A warning cautions against bleeding fuel lines on a hot engine due to fire risk from high exhaust temperatures, and warns that extreme fuel pressure could penetrate the skin. The four-step procedure covers: (1) opening the fuel bleed screw on the banjo bolt to bleed low-pressure fuel lines and the fuel filter (referencing Fig. 3); (2) operating the hand lever on the fuel lift pump until a steady fuel stream flows, then tightening the bleed screw to 72 INCH lbs. (7 N.m) — if the pump doesn't seem to operate, rotate the engine 90 degrees and repeat; (3) bleeding high-pressure lines by loosening the fuel line nut at the injector and cranking the starter (no more than 30 seconds, with 2-minute intervals between cranks); and (4) starting the engine and repeating on all fuel lines one at a time until it runs smoothly. A caution notes the lift pump hand lever must remain in the upward position after bleeding. Printed December 16, 2003; © 2001 MRIC and Snap-on Tools Company.