Thread: heelp! Diesel stalls on M5

Originally Posted by Gromit68

So last night I was chugging home on the M5 in my antique diesel LR. I was maintaining a steady 55mph when uggggggh! No power. I stamped on the accelerator and off she went again, only to die again completely.

I pulled over into the emergency lane and tried to re-start. Nothing; just the starter whirring.
I waited 5 minutes, then it eventually re-started. I fast idled for 2 minutes and it was smooth all the way through the rev range.

So I pulled back into the M5 and took off for home. Poor rover coughed again twice, but only minor *coughs* - no total loss of power. The last time it did it was when climbing a local hill at 40mph and full throttle.

What's the problem? Oil & filter last changed 250miles ago. Fuel filter near injector pump last changed in December 06; less than 5000 miles ago. I have very recently discovered another Ryco in-line fuel filter (a Z or R-16 - a little plastic one, like petrol engines have) near the fuel tank, under the driver's seat - this hasn't ever been changed since I've owned the car. Is this the culprit?

The car is normally used for short trips around my local area - the last time it had a really good run was the 250 odd miles I did during the 'Series Day Out', when it ran faultlessly.

Let me know next plan of attack. I've got Wednesday off so I can try to look for the gremlin then...

-Alastair

Sounds like your on the rite track there with the fuel filters as thats what it would be a fuel problem check the lot replaceall filters and there may even be a strainer in the fuel pump tho you would have to have a gander in a manual for that one tho ive seen a fleck of paint from inside a jerry can stop a 3.9 isuzu this way in the pump strainer also wouldent hurt to flush ya tank and lines

If you are going to the show today you should be able to work it out there

3:1 on a blockage in the ryco inline filter, the fuel lines themselves and quite possabley in the pickup inside the tank.

If you've got an aircompressor blow out the lines in the reverse direction of fuel flow after disconnecting them at all the poins you can and removing the filters, dont forget the blockage may be in the lift pump itself. Those ryco filters are a great breeding ground for diesel snot so change that over while your at it and providing that one of the valves in the injector pump isnt doing the dicky at you and dropping the internal supply pressure in the injector pump then you should be laughing after you put the system back together and then bleed it all up.

Head to a supercheap/autobarn and ask for a bottle of diesel fuel treatment which kills the stuff that makes diesel snot, drain out your fuel and dispose of appropriately (give it to a toyota driver) then add that stuff to the tank and fill up.

Be careful with the dosage.

electric solenoid or mechanical fuel stop on those old girls ?
If electric, crook connection (dirty/corrosion) at the spade terminal on the pump.
This is a common fault in Tdi's.

Im reading it as a series rover. if it is then no electrics. If its not then you also need to check the Charge air boost compensator on top of the pump is getting air at manifold pressure and isnt cutting your fuel off...

It would likely be the Z14 or Z16 ryco in line filter, as Dave said they are a breeding ground for (as he put it) Diesel snot, I get it all the time on machines that dont move very much.

I would also check while you are blowing out lines that a stick hasnt crushed a line or a clamp holding a line, I know this probably sounds unlikely but I have seen it happen and you only notice when your on full throttle for a while and it drops the amount of fuel supply but it normally doesnt show up until your over the hill and on the way down the other side as there is a void in the line that needs to be refilled.

My money is on the inline filter though, definatly.

Thanks everyone!

I changed the inline Ryco filter (couldn't see past the yellow plastic) and I changed the main fuel CAV filter. YUCK! Out came a whole bunch of snot - my land rover had the flu!

I've primed it, started it and it's idling smoothly. I'm taking it for a test drive in a minute. I've also put some diesel fuel treatment and biocide in the tank.

So where does the snot come from? How did it reach my main filter? What can I do to prevent this happening again?

Now that I'm so proud of myself for managing to prime the fuel system (this is my very first diesel), I plan to change both filters every 6 months and keep adding the diesel biocide, every time I fill up.

best regards,

Alastair

Originally Posted by Gromit68

... I plan to change both filters every 6 months and keep adding the diesel biocide, every time I fill up.

Lucky the Freelender manual does NOT say to replece the fuel filter every 5000ks -I'd go broke. Just purchased one for around $45

The good old Series diesels are nice to work with...

-- Irek