Learning All the Time - Diesel Vacuum System

[Oztourer]

I'm relatively new to being a diesel owner but I'm an electrical engineer and mechanically minded so learning how things work always interests me. Anyway, I was talking to a colleague at work today and I found out that unlike a petrol engine, diesels do not produce their own vacuum to drive the brake booster and as a result, require a separate vacuum pump. This got me thinking, where is this pump located on a D3 TDV6? Also, I know about the LR safety recall over the oil leak into the brake booster and thankfully my car has had this fixed, but is there anything else reliability wise I should know about the vacuum pump?

P.S. All electrical failures are caused by mechanical faults - think about it

[Blknight.aus]

P.S. All electrical failures are caused by mechanical faults - think about it

I disagree but lets say you're right.

an electrical fault thats caused by a mechanical issue can require additional repair work over and above the repair required to resolve the initial mechanical issue or in some cases the resulting electrical failure can cause further harm. An electrical issue can also manifest as a mechanical symptom causing downtime while attempts are made to diagnose a phantom mechanical symptom. By application of the reduction of complexity for reliability and reduced down time rule eliminating the electricals at a minimum decreases the likely downtime in the event of a repair being required and can increase the reliability of the system overall.

Logically if we eliminate the electricals, why do we need electrical engineers?

wait, I think you just talked yourself into unemployment.

[Graeme]

Logically if we eliminate the electricals

Back to crank handles and candles or gas lights? Nah, need the a/c.

[Oztourer]

Over analysing Dave!! It's my twisted sense of humour. It's a favourite saying of mine at work to annoy the Mech guys . A blown fuse stops electrons flowing because of the big air gap hence a mechanical problem. Same when the smoke gets out - conductor wasn't big enough .

[LandyAndy]

I'm relatively new to being a diesel owner but I'm an electrical engineer and mechanically minded so learning how things work always interests me. Anyway, I was talking to a colleague at work today and I found out that unlike a petrol engine, diesels do not produce their own vacuum to drive the brake booster and as a result, require a separate vacuum pump. This got me thinking, where is this pump located on a D3 TDV6? Also, I know about the LR safety recall over the oil leak into the brake booster and thankfully my car has had this fixed, but is there anything else reliability wise I should know about the vacuum pump?

P.S. All electrical failures are caused by mechanical faults - think about it

Unsure about the TDV6 engine.
MOST run a vacuum pump on the rear of the alternator,it is oil pressure fed just like the turbo to lubricate the bearing.
Some engines have a camshaft driven pump(Nissan 2.8 6cylTD).
Im interested to hear what goes with the TDV6 too.
Andrew

[LandyAndy]

Over analysing Dave!! It's my twisted sense of humour. It's a favourite saying of mine at work to annoy the Mech guys . A blown fuse stops electrons flowing because of the big air gap hence a mechanical problem. Same when the smoke gets out - conductor wasn't big enough .

Hook Line and Sinker
Andrew

[Blknight.aus]

Hook Line and Snicker
Andrew

yup, Its moments like those.....

I'm glad I don't have a sarcasm font.

[LandyAndy]

Not too many manage to get past your firewall Dave.
Andrew

[Oztourer]

Unsure about the TDV6 engine.
MOST run a vacuum pump on the rear of the alternator,it is oil pressure fed just like the turbo to lubricate the bearing.

I know it's not off the alternator as I just replaced it. That's how the discussion started at work because my colleague said the same thing.

[Graeme]

The vacuum pump is mounted at the rear of the TDV6 engine and driven by the RHS camshaft.