W

watmic

New Member
My P38 has developed a problem which makes the car stop as if starved of fuel every few miles. Having just had a new diesel fuel filter fitted it has now developed this problem. The car has a hand pump / bulb in the fuel line just before the filter and when the car stops has goes hard as if pressurised. after a while it will go down and I am able to hand pump fuel again, which allows the car to start, but only for a short time. my local specialist has been unable to diagnose the problem, please help:(
 
99% chance its fuel filter mine was same, soo as i changed it was all ok (well untill everything else went pete tong)
 
Check in-tank pump, injector leak off pipes, fuel filter, fuel lines to injector pump.

The non-standard bulb means this problem is chronic and the last owner couldn't/didn't solve it.
 
The car has been looked at by Safari engineering, they have checked the fuel filter, and bypassed it and taken the bulb / hand pump off to see if any of these things cure the problem, they have not. Just the same
The car had a new fuel pump just before we got the car, therefore what else can I check?:(
 
When new pump fitted was fuel tank emptied and cleaned? Had same symptoms on a Volvo truck, after many visits to many different garages was finally diagnosed as a sort of microbiale `seaweed` or `jelly` in tank! HONEST !
The `gunge` which forms in seaweed like small sheets gets sucked up and blocks the pick-up pipe; engine stops; suction stops; gunge drops to bottom of tank, until few miles down road over a bump, or round a bend it floats past the pick-up and wraps itself around it again. Sounds incredible ,but honest... Could equally be some bit of plastic bag in the tank doing the same thing, I s`pose.
Anyway drain tank, flush with clean diesel, and change filters. After draining tank let diesel settle in transparent container, and have a look-see.
I certainly don`t guarantee this as a solution but it takes some time and only a little cash to check it out.
Good luck.
 
Hi mate,
Sounds like you have a virus in the tank,if you go to a marine yard they can tell you what stuff to put in tank to kill it.Boats have bigger tanks and are left with fuel in them for long periods of time so are more prone to "infection".
Regards Vic
 
gtland said:
When new pump fitted was fuel tank emptied and cleaned? Had same symptoms on a Volvo truck, after many visits to many different garages was finally diagnosed as a sort of microbiale `seaweed` or `jelly` in tank! HONEST !
The `gunge` which forms in seaweed like small sheets gets sucked up and blocks the pick-up pipe; engine stops; suction stops; gunge drops to bottom of tank, until few miles down road over a bump, or round a bend it floats past the pick-up and wraps itself around it again. Sounds incredible ,but honest... Could equally be some bit of plastic bag in the tank doing the same thing, I s`pose.
Anyway drain tank, flush with clean diesel, and change filters. After draining tank let diesel settle in transparent container, and have a look-see.
I certainly don`t guarantee this as a solution but it takes some time and only a little cash to check it out.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

I had the same with my fleet of Volvo trucks, the issue was with the fuel, it was an organic growth. At the time I was using Bio Diesel, I had to clean out the fuel tanks and flush out the fuel system. I now only use mineral diesel and no problems.

The company that carried out the lab tests on the samples said that the condesation in the fuel tank from fuel returning from the injectors was helping the organic matter grow.

Alan
 
We have this problem with biodiesel. The stuff to use is called biocide...do a search on fleabay or a boat yard as suggested above.
 
Hi guys!!

Now I found the problem for my father´s old Benz... Some years ago I remove the tank and noted the "gelly" stuff in the tank...but I didn´t pay attention on it...
The diesel filter is always full with this black "gelly"... now I know its a virus thing:confused:
Thanks
 
Just had car back from Thames Valley Diesel Electric, and after parting with GBP777.00 for a new fuel pump and tank flush and 4 new glow plugs it is running fine again. all I have to do now is fix the air suspension!!!
 
considering it went in with 1 fault and they repaired 3 which 1 was the actual problem, hence the 700 quid
 
watmic said:
My P38 has developed a problem which makes the car stop as if starved of fuel every few miles. Having just had a new diesel fuel filter fitted it has now developed this problem. The car has a hand pump / bulb in the fuel line just before the filter and when the car stops has goes hard as if pressurised. after a while it will go down and I am able to hand pump fuel again, which allows the car to start, but only for a short time. my local specialist has been unable to diagnose the problem, please help:(
Click to expand...

You have blockage in or after the filter. Check that you have nothing floating about in fuel line from filter to pump. If not change filter again, if this cures the problem well and good, if not check wiring to fuel shutoff valve on pump.
 
Victor Lampart said:
Hi mate,
Sounds like you have a virus in the tank,if you go to a marine yard they can tell you what stuff to put in tank to kill it.Boats have bigger tanks and are left with fuel in them for long periods of time so are more prone to "infection".
Regards Vic
Click to expand...


sounds to me like you have got what we call "diesel bug" its a living breathing organism of bacteria commonly found in red diesel (im a marine engineer) the best stuff to put in ur tank is sum product called FORTRON and its a clear bottle with blue liquid inside... trust me its the best stuff to use, ive used it sooo many times and its never let ,me down... it kills the bug and cleans pump and injectors... it even makes engines run if they have got water in the tank, oviously not pure water but ive seen it for my own eyes!! not sure where to get it from try a google search, im so confident with this stuff that if it is the "bug" and it doesnt sort it il come free of charge and fix the problem, just keep your receipt from buying fortron, THATS HOW GOOD THE PRODUCT IS,:D:D:D:D:D
 
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