Series 3 Diesel Cutting out on low revs

Yesterday after running fine for most of the monring my series 3 suddenly seemed to loose what power it has then spluttered to a halt at a junction.

Engine cranking slowly & wouldn't fire but then after a few minutes rest started first time. Managed to get it moving & onto a car park (cut out again)

AA summoned and fuel filter (which really was full of crap) replaced & engine ticked over relatively nicely. However upon driving engine would splutter and cut out when slowing down, so much so that ended up getting recovered home. Engine fired up & ran fine to get it up the drive & parked without cutting out.

Given that the filter was full off crap, what should be the next step to elliminate the possibility that this is just a blockage somewhere in the fuel system?

Extra info - slow cranking put down to decidedly suspicious earthing strap, engine does not appear to be tightening up but I could be wrong

and:

Engine was running slightly advanced prior to all this

I presume the diesels are the same as the petrols and have a filter in the fuel tank on the end of the lift pipe. The lift pump could be crudded up so the poppet valves don't work properly or it could have a split diaphragm. And you'll have to blow through all the pipes, too.

Tinkering arpund with this yesterday I started fuirst time & ran fine, even when revved.

Adjusted timing to minimise smoke (it is an old deisel after all!) & it comntinued to run fine for another 20 minutes.

However after revving it fairly hard after setting everything else had been sorted the problem returned

The engine is not getting particularly hot, ie not overheating.
The best analogy I can apply is if it were a petrol engine it runs as if a sparkplug is not firing- there is an increase in smoke (unburnt diesel) when the problem manifests so I am not convinced this is a fuel blockage problem

Any suggestions - if anyone's in Warrington feel free to pop down & take a gander!

Air filter ?

Bromsgrove Defender said:

Air filter ?

Click to expand...

Nope,

Air filter removed/fitted makes no difference

as you aree saying its cutting on low revs, or when then engine is slowing etc, i cant remenber what its called but i use it to alter the idol speed its on the bulk head next to the gear stick, (as far as i no its designed to adjust the revs for when your using a PTO) try fiddling with that to get the idol speed up abit
ben

sounds like air i the system, if you use the hand throttle to alter idle spped it will open the butterfly valve in the air intake losing vaccuum to the servo and braking will suffer, best use that just when stationary