Fuel leak

[irondoc]

Hi guys, I have a significant fuel leak in my 2011 D4 2.7. It's dripping from the fuel tank and cross-members. I changed the filter recently, so that is the likely culprit. It was an aftermarket one.

I pulled the filter off. there is no fuel above the housing, so it seems as if it is coming from the filter to bousing connection. It screws on and off ok and seems to click into place properly, but I am out of ideas.

There is no o-ring that goes on top of the filter is there? The o-rings that come with the kit go on the bottom where the water sensor is, but as far as I can tell, there is no o-ring for the top, the filter just screws straight onto the housing.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Lucas

[PerthDisco]

The filter engages with the teeth on the outside and by rotating 45 degrees it clamps into the housing. There is no external o ring.

The good filters show you the lock and unlock position on the filter. There’s an arrow on the plastic body you line up with. A bit fiddly to line up but super secure when done properly.

[DazzaTD5]

if its a cooper branded filter it will likely leak. Over the years I have tried different brands and the only one that fits properly is the genuine filters.

Also in the top of the filter is a rubber type oring that can randomly pop off and get left behind in the filter housing, make sure there isnt one in the top housing inside the tube.

[101RRS]

if its a cooper branded filter it will likely leak. Over the years I have tried different brands and the only one that fits properly is the genuine filters.

That is what I have found as well - only use genuine. Also overtightening the sensor on the bottom of the filter can cause a small crack in the plastic with a resulting drip, drip, drip. Of note the price of a genuine sensor by itself is about the same as buying a genuine filter kit, which includes filter mount/bracket, new filter and the sensor.

Garry

[PerthDisco]

The Ryco ones available from Repco are excellent quality to my eye.

[irondoc]

Is it possible the leak could be coming from somewhere else? There is fuel on top of the fuel tank bash plate that is gradually leaking out as I drive around. I haven't done any damage or serious offroaading lately.

[rovers4]

Do you park on a slope?
Do you fill to the top?

My Def weeps when near full parked on a f-r slope.

There is a fault in the joint on top of the tank.

When down by 15 litres or so, all is fine.

[irondoc]

Thanks for your help guys. I've cleaned everything up and driven around and had another look at it and it is definitely leaking between the housing and the filter. It's a Ryco filter. It seems to lock on ok, but I guss the tip rubber seal isn't that great.

I've ordered a new genuine housing and filter, so hopefully it arrives before the weekend when I am supposed to go to Fraser island. Cheers

[irondoc]

Just an update - I went to a great auto parts place that had 3 fuel filters for the car:

Ryco Z1116
Cooper WCF249
Mann WK8022X

The guy said they had a note on the system saying the Ryco was better than the Cooper. However, he thought the Mann was probably the OE one for the Landrover and was just rebranded by LR. The instructions and marks on the filter looked the same as the OE LR one. Mann Filter much more expensive than the others.

I don't have a water sensor on my fuel filter at the moment (not sure when my mechanic didn't put it back on?) so can only comment on the top rubber seal. The Mann Filter and Cooper seemed to have the same top rubber seal, whereas the Ryco looked a little different and probably "shorter".

Anyway, I bought a Mann one. It was a little harder/tighter to get on than the Ryco one, so hopefully will seal better. I will see if it leaks over the next few days. I'd be tempted to try the Cooper one as it seemed to have the same top seal as the Mann one, but it didn't look as well put together.

Cheers
Lucas

[Tombie]

Glad you’ve solved your issue

I’ve been using Ryco now (in stock local) and no issues at all.

I’ve used Ryco air oil and fuel filters for a while on all the LRs and no detriment.

[DazzaTD5]

The genuine filter is made by Baldwin, which is also Fuel Manager and another brand that eludes me at the moment, made in the U.S.A

Unlike for a Defender TDCi, the D4 filter isnt available as a Baldwin/Fuel Manager.

[DazzaTD5]

Do you park on a slope?
Do you fill to the top?

My Def weeps when near full parked on a f-r slope.

There is a fault in the joint on top of the tank.

When down by 15 litres or so, all is fine.

If its a Defender TDCi (2007-2016) there is a one way breather that allows air into the tank, the valve gets jammed and as the vent is lower than the filler neck fuel leaks out until the level is lower than the vent.

I route the breather to the top behind the filler neck.
The vent has a loop plastic tube on the end of it, depending on what shift built it (thats my guess) depends on if its directly on top of the tank, just off to the passenger side wheel arch, or on the drivers side just above the chassis.
The later revision of the Defender TDCi they routed the vent to the same spot behind the filler neck.