84 F-250 6.9 diesel fuel line purging

[bennetr]

Finishing up my head gasket replacement. Is it necessary to purge the air from the fuel lines to the injectors and how do I go about doing it?
Also, I did not pay much attention when we disconnected the exhaust pipes from the manifold. Is there no gasket? Is it metal to metal? Is does not look right but I have nothing laying around that looks like it should go there.

[97chevyman]

pipe to exhaust manifold there should be a little steel donut thing, and just hold it to the floor while cranking and give it a minute. I amnot familiar to the 6.9, does have injectors like the 7.3 or is not like the gas injectors as for placement? i think you will be ok by just flooring it and cranking.

[ModMech]

Exhaust is metal to metal, all Ford diesels are this way.

As to bleeding the fuel system. Yes, you need to do this, and properly or the battery and starter will be ruined before it is started.

1) Losen all the injection lines at the injectors about 1/2-1 turn from tight.
2) Remove the glow plug fuse
3) Crank engine until you get fuel from at least 6 injector lines.
4) Tq all injector line tube-nuts to 18 ft-lbs. They don't need to be any tighter.
5) Reinstall the glow plug fuse.
6) Turn key to "run", wait for the "Wait to start" to extinguish, and start engine.