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I've been having to cycle the ignition key 3 or 4 times to get fuel pressure up to start the engine. Just put in a Motorcraft fuel pump last summer, and its working fine, but bleeds down pressure. So I thought I'd install a fuel line check valve. Its got a fuel pressure regulator at the fuel rail (or so I thought, its actually called a fuel pressure damper) At first it work just as intended and started right up, the fuel pressure stayed high as it was parked. Then I went to start it about the 3rd time, and it started right up, but then it started stumbling bad and wouldn't start. I immediately suspected engine flooding, and removed all of the spark plugs and cranked the engine. Only 1 plug was wet, and no fuel came out of the holes. Ok, so it should be good. .....put the plugs back in and tried to crank it. It locked up! I put a ratchet on the crankshaft pulley and tried rotating it, locked in fwd direction, moves freely in the other. Checked the oil and it had a gallon of fuel inside the sump! So I drained the oil, put some fresh stuff in and tried to crank it again. (Stupid move, I know). The vacuum hose came off of the pressure regulator and shot right at the ignition coil, flames grew fast as I ran inside the garage to grab the fire extinguisher. Luckily, I got the fire out fast and only burned a few connectors. I'm rebuilding the engine now and reparing the fire damage. The manifold was full of fuel and it was being sucked down the breather hose and all going into cylinder #1. I couldn't see what was happening on the outside of the engine. You have to be careful when the ignition system is hot and you have fuel problems. Has anyone else tried installing an inline check valve? I think the higher pressure just imploded the fuel pressure damper which is not designed to handle that. So I guess I should've added a high quality fuel pressure regulator with return.
