TDukk said:

how could the bio-diesel (salad-oil) ruin the old pump in the first place? Someone said something about the lubricating properties were not sufficient for this type of pump? Or is it more agressive and attack seals? (No, not clubbing them!) And could the pump (or seals therein) be damaged just standing around with a Redex/salad-oil solution in it?

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the greatly increased viscosity puts the pump under more pressure, reducing the life of the bearing and seals. similarly it can damage the injectors. you need to keep the viscosity down by using lighter oils (rape seed) and a lighter mix (use 50% diesel). steps such as this can greatly increase the life of the fuel system components.

Ok, so, I tried. I attached the red monster to an A-frame and had it pulled along at 30mph whilst I tried to start in 4th, 3rd and even 2nd gear (almost 2000rpm as the revcounter said) ... nothing! Not a thing. No rumble. No splutter. In between there was some re-glowing and in the end the injector logo came on as well, but went out again. We covered at least 2 miles.

I think the pump just doesn't supply enough fuel. Nevermind pressure. I may have to involve a mechanic to set the pump which will prolly cost more than the car is worth. Boohoo.

Jug!
I don't really want to run the car on salad-oil or anything else but diesel anymore anyway, but currently there is still half a tank full of the bio stuff and I was just wondering if it can harm the pump even when just standing around. My plan is that as soon as it all works I will go back to full diesel asap.

I feel that the end is near. (Where is the emoticon for gloom?)

PS: I just made an appointment with a mechanic ... I will still report if he lets me know the why.

I'm struggling to get my head round this, as she fired and ran very briefly. was that on 100% redex? do we have anything to loose by re-trying that option?

We used to use Easystart on tractors sprayed up the air intake.

when I fired my diesel up I loosened off the inectors with low pressure. (just a drip was coming out)

can you get to the induction manifold? I have an idea :idea:

i wonder if the fuel in the tank is the problem.

jug said:

i wonder if the fuel in the tank is the problem.

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holy moly, Batman



Tdukk, is the tank still full of stale veggie oil?

Hiho! There can be silver linings in mushroom clouds?

Well, I have already handed the annoyance over to the mechanic.

But to answer the questions, yes there is still (stale? it looked good) salad oil with probably a 50% diesel proportion in the tank. As I said before, my intention is to add proper diesel as soon as it runs again.

The % Redex content in the first fast run was quite high. Probably 70%, give or take. It was nicely blue.

The mechanic's first thought was that perhaps the new plunger doesn't open enough, even though it does in, out, in, out, in .. stop it!

I don't even know where the induction manifold is ...

Bummer.

i would definately try some fresh diesel before you spend more time and money on other things.

:yeahthat:

Good news (but not good enough) and bad news (bad enough)!

The good news first:
1) The old fuel was not stale.
2) The mechanic found the fault (in principle) - the fuel wasn't getting to the injectors, the droplets were too small. It was somehow lost.
3) The lost fuel was found in the starter motor which was behaving sluggishly (which I thought was down to insufficient battery charge, since I was always trying)

The bad news:
The fuel which found its way into the starter motor ignited.
This is what it did:



and in more detail:



The mechanic wasted about £250 worth of CO2 extinguisher in the firefighting process.
The windscreen cracked, the interior is filthy and smelly. Lots of plastic bits and wires have melted into interesting looking lumps. The new battery has partially re-shaped itself.

It is beyond economical repair now and meanwhile, the English patient has been taken to the yard.
So, this case has truly come to an end (last Friday).

Thanks again for all your help, I definately learned a lot in the process. I am looking for an affordable small van now, preferably FIAT but I will have to see (particularly since in my case affordable is code for cheap).

TDukk signing off for now.

The END.

I'm stunned....

I think you need to be spreaking to the mechanic as there is no way fuel can get to the starter motor.

Am glad no one has been injured.

starter motor is miles away from any fuel, and even if by some miracle diesel did contaminate the starter motor it would not ignite, and even if by some miracle it did ignite it still couldnt do that kind of damage unless there was bloody loads of it and it was left to burn for some time. realistically the mechanic is telling fibs.

something tells me that fire wasnt caused by diesel anyway, something a bit more volatile methinks. FFS, what a way to finish up a job..

stylers said:

something tells me that fire wasnt caused by diesel anyway, something a bit more volatile methinks.

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i agree. i've tried to make diesel do things like that on purpose and it never works. you can even put a fire out by pouring diesel on it.

agree with both of you.

Diesel needs immense heat to combust. hence glow plugs and compression.

Looking at the pics I think the mechanic has removed the pipe from the induction manifold, note how the pipe is off at the manifold end and is not burnt despite the battery being melted.

i believe but can't prove. that the mechanic has tried to artificially heat the induction manifold-cylinders using some method.