Exploding fuel pump

Another possibility to throw into the mix - the fuel inlet was blocked and the pump ran dry and exploded.
Petrol fuel pumps, at least, are cooled by the fuel running through them, but you should never run one on the bench without fuel running through it. There is no air inside a running pump, so no oxygen for combustion, but a dry pump will always have some residual fumes and fuel that mixes with air and sparks from the motor and kaboom, supposedly.
Could the diesel fuel pump inlet block suddenly from gunk in the tank (from a farm drum?) and cause the pump to explode before the engine can stall and cut power to it?

I look forward to the autopsy, and glad everyone's ok.

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Originally Posted by d2dave

I wouldn't be too worried about it. How long have these now been around?

How many are out on the roads? And what ever it is it did not do anything major. And as has been stated, less likely for anything serious with diesel.

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Yes thats right, not being too alarmist, just a thought now that the above has occured...! Mines a V8 too, so the more combustable petrol... Though as with many faults, they seem to only show up at a certain age - ie all D2's being over 10yrs old now, it may be a 10yr issue...!:o Cheers.

Out of curiosity, if this diesel vehicle had over 60 litres of petrol added to the existing 30 litres of diesel in Brisbane, and was driven over 550km, could this cause the problem in the original post? Would it even get that far without failing to proceed?

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Originally Posted by Ranga

Out of curiosity, if this diesel vehicle had over 60 litres of petrol added to the existing 30 litres of diesel in Brisbane, and was driven over 550km, could this cause the problem in the original post? Would it even get that far without failing to proceed?

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Tis quiet possible with a Td5 ive been told;)

that would do it, refer to all my points about the petrol scenario.

and yes it would keep running till the pump gave up, the injector tips/head/pistons melted.

If I squint a bit I can see the injectors getting sticky allowing gasses back into the fuel system via the injector bleed off and then as the fuel level ran low (it would be burning more petrol for the same amount of work) the tank could develop a combustable mix just waiting for ignition.

I've seen a small stationary diesel genny blow the lid off of its fuel tank as the petrol boiled off from dealing with the heat of the engine and trying to cool the fuel system. I suspect that most likely this is whats occured.

Better follow this thread and read from the beginning.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-...loding-d2.html

I am remiss in not following thru with this thread, but I am happy to report that I now drive around with a D2 grin.:D
The truck is great, and the difference in drivability between this and the old D1 is significant.

As part of the restoration of the D2, I fitted a new FPR, and installed a fuel pressure test port on the inlet to the FPR. The gauge is not permanently mounted, but can be easily attached via screw in test port fitting.

I am still convinced - as per the original thread, that there was a small explosion in the tank.

Only other variation to the original thread, was the fact that the quantity of fuel in the tank at the time was probably only about 40 lts - the fuel gauge sender was damaged when the pump went off. I drained the tank and cleaned it thouroughly. I had to reshape the bottom of the tank and the support straps as well as the floor area - the new pump would not locate vertically in the tank such was the expansion.

Quite a saga for both the previous owner and me!!!

Denis in Griffith

Surely we two are not the only ones to have experienced this.
Photos in the linked thread

Still awaiting a diagnosis...

Any pictures Ranga? How did it look compared to Denzo's failure?

Still at the mechanic. Apparently there's a good chance that after panel beating the floor in the rear, the seat mounts won't line up, so maybe needs a new floor pan also.

The tank will need replacing.

They also say the sub-chassis might be affected also! They're waiting for the panel beater to pull his finger out after repeated requests to come and have a look.

It seems to get worse with every call :(