Thread: Devastating phone call....

Originally Posted by one_iota

This was lifted from the LRO forum (MM and DB should be aware of this):



Curiously I've not been able to find this on GTR so I can't vouch for its veracity. Although there is a Special Service Message for what to do if contamination is suspected.

there is something liek that, in the sb section under drivabilty, its to do with the fuel valve, even the dealer knew nothing of it and was shocked when i showed them

Originally Posted by landymad

Firtsly, Dullbird and Muddy mech, i've been getting more and more angry at the sad state of your defender due to the fuel issue and my sympathies are with you guys. I think you are doing the right thing by getting all your facts straight before going off, as is my experience with these things is that organisations have 1 good listen to you and that's all ( if they listen at all, that is). So it pays to get your argument straight the first time.

On a related topic, I had a chat to Sydney Filters about racor filters and the interesting difference between the Racor and the Delphi CAV is in the element.

The CAV filter runs a straight paper element whilest the racor runs a special water repellant element. Neil at sydney filters reported a test he did where he filled both types of element with water. The CAV element saturated and eventually the water started leaking out, but the Racor element held the water like a paper cup.

The thinking there was that if the water doesn't get out of it when it is full like a cup, there's no way that it's going to get through it into your engine.

So, although there might be outward similarities to the Racor and CAV housings, if you really want bulletproof protection, the Racor sounds like the way to go due to it's repellant element.

Having said that, I've got a CAV on my 200tdi, it's always been fine but I will do the water test the next time I go and buy filters for a service. I've never delibrately injected water into my fuel system to try it!

Prices for a racor are: 500FG $375 plust gst or 460R10 $360 plus gst

The 500FG has turbine action which helps separate the sediment even more.

l8r!
Winston

thanks you have more than doubled my knowledge.
this must be something like gordon has availabe from opposite lock.
i guess this episode will increae sales, may be i could get some commsion to pay for the repairs.

Here's a 500FG from a US site on eBay that ship worldwide. US$155 which is about AUD$160 at the moment!

eBay Motors: RACOR 500FG FUEL FILTER WATER SEPARATOR BRAND NEW (item 310067038722 end time Jul-24-08 03:52:23 PDT)

Originally Posted by muddymech

for those of you following our pain, landrover have determined its not there fault and nothing wrong with the car so we can pay for it our selves.

will post there reply once its all finished.

This is just nuts! For LR to just say "it's not our fault" is unbelivable. On one of the other LR forums I watch, (Defender2), there is posts regarding fuel contamination problems, its hardly a one off problem. I really hope a more reasonable end comes to your problem.
I've been getting steadly more and more nervous with my vehicle and don't really need the stress of the "whats that noise" game.
Best of luck to you and DB over this issue, and if I see any other posts on other sites I'll let you know.

Tim

Originally Posted by landymad

Firtsly, Dullbird and Muddy mech, i've been getting more and more angry at the sad state of your defender due to the fuel issue and my sympathies are with you guys. I think you are doing the right thing by getting all your facts straight before going off, as is my experience with these things is that organisations have 1 good listen to you and that's all ( if they listen at all, that is). So it pays to get your argument straight the first time.

On a related topic, I had a chat to Sydney Filters about racor filters and the interesting difference between the Racor and the Delphi CAV is in the element.

The CAV filter runs a straight paper element whilest the racor runs a special water repellant element. Neil at sydney filters reported a test he did where he filled both types of element with water. The CAV element saturated and eventually the water started leaking out, but the Racor element held the water like a paper cup.

The thinking there was that if the water doesn't get out of it when it is full like a cup, there's no way that it's going to get through it into your engine.

So, although there might be outward similarities to the Racor and CAV housings, if you really want bulletproof protection, the Racor sounds like the way to go due to it's repellant element.

Having said that, I've got a CAV on my 200tdi, it's always been fine but I will do the water test the next time I go and buy filters for a service. I've never delibrately injected water into my fuel system to try it!

Prices for a racor are: 500FG $375 plust gst or 460R10 $360 plus gst

The 500FG has turbine action which helps separate the sediment even more.

l8r!
Winston

What you are talking about is a hydrophobic filter media. AFAIK there are several manufacturers who maks similar products, and as there are so many different companies that make elements for the CAV, there may be one which uses hydrophobic media.

I just checked the fuel filter on mine and there was only the smallest amount of water and hardly any sediment in the bottom of my jar (maybe 2-3ml). This would have been since the filter was presumably replaced by Land Rover about 5 weeks ago.

So how much water would be considered a problem?

Also, the Land Rover branded filter clearly has "Fuel Filter, Water Separator" labelled on it so why doesn't that make Land Rover still liable for any damage caused by water getting through it?

Originally Posted by solmanic

I just checked the fuel filter on mine and there was only the smallest amount of water and hardly any sediment in the bottom of my jar (maybe 2-3ml). This would have been since the filter was presumably replaced by Land Rover about 5 weeks ago.

So how much water would be considered a problem?

Also, the Land Rover branded filter clearly has "Fuel Filter, Water Separator" labelled on it so why doesn't that make Land Rover still liable for any damage caused by water getting through it?

See another service bulletin attached where about 40mm or more is mentioned.

Originally Posted by solmanic

Also, the Land Rover branded filter clearly has "Fuel Filter, Water Separator" labelled on it so why doesn't that make Land Rover still liable for any damage caused by water getting through it?

If you put enough water in the fuel it will get past any filter/separator eventually.