General Leaking diesel fuel

[Pastyman]

Hi my name is Ken .
I have diesel leaking from the engine when it's running. The problem started on Friday when l tried to start my motor home at my friend's place . They had moved the vehicle and I tried to start it. Just clicking. Put jump leads on and started my car to put power into the van . After 5 minutes l turned on ignition and waited for orange glow plug light to go off . Started 1st Time. When l took the leads of with the the van engine running l could lots of diesel running out from underneath. Just wondering what the fault is . Never had this before. Possibly when my Friend started the vehicle to move it they might have flooded the system. They didn't know about the glow plugs system.

 

[rayc]

have you looked at where the leak is coming from? Possibly the fuel filter?
at this time of year glow plugs should not be relevant.

 

[Communicator]

Hi @Pastyman ,

You have not given any details of your vehicle. This makes helping you even more of a guessing game.

If your vehicle is an x250 model from 2006 or later., these were fitted with a plastic bodied UFI filter, commonly referred to as a "green filter". My early 2006 x244 has a similar but all black filter.

These filters gained a bad reputation for developing leaks. I think the the problem may have been due to not using the correct tool when changing the filter element. Holding the filter in a vice could start cracks which eventually cause failure.

If this applies to your vehicle you will need a complete new filter. These are available on Ebay for about £80 and not too difficult to change.

Here is a link to the procedure for channging the element, from which you should be able to extract the appropriate operations.

Now is this relevant, or have I been wasting my time???

 

[Pastyman]

Hi @Pastyman ,

You have not given any details of your vehicle. This makes helping you even more of a guessing game.

If your vehicle is an x250 model from 2006 or later., these were fitted with a plastic bodied UFI filter, commonly referred to as a "green filter". My early 2006 x244 has a similar but all black filter.

These filters gained a bad reputation for developing leaks. I think the the problem may have been due to not using the correct tool when changing the filter element. Holding the filter in a vice could start cracks which eventually cause failure.

If this applies to your vehicle you will need a complete new filter. These are available on Ebay for about £80 and not too difficult to change.

Here is a link to the procedure for channging the element, from which you should be able to extract the appropriate operations.

Now is this relevant, or have I been wasting my time???

Hi thanks for your advice and help. Sorry its a motor home and it's a 1.9 Td on a 1999 plate S115VVG. I have the vessel stored at my mates place and they moved it. I haven't been able to use this yr for any trips as we have been working on the inside. I have had diesel cars before but this engine is different to what I know about. Sorry to be vague.

 

[Pastyman]

have you looked at where the leak is coming from? Possibly the fuel filter?
at this time of year glow plugs should not be relevant.

I was going to look yesterday but it was raining and the wife is ill at the moment so l couldn't go and have a look. I have the vehicle stored at a friend's place.

 

[Communicator]

Hi thanks for your advice and help. Sorry its a motor home and it's a 1.9 Td on a 1999 plate S115VVG. I have the vessel stored at my mates place and they moved it. I haven't been able to use this yr for any trips as we have been working on the inside. I have had diesel cars before but this engine is different to what I know about. Sorry to be vague.

So I was wasting my time.

You will have to consider other possible causes. One thing that comes to mind is that some of theses earlied engines had a mechanically driven fuel lift pump mounted on the engine. If the pump diaphragm leaks......... If not the pump check the fuel pipes.

Perhaps, in order to keep the peace while you investigate, you should buy a large drip tray to protect your friend's drive.

 

[Pastyman]

So I was wasting my time.

You will have to consider other possible causes. One thing that comes to mind is that some of theses earlied engines had a mechanically driven fuel lift pump mounted on the engine. If the pump diaphragm leaks......... If not the pump check the fuel pipes.

Perhaps, in order to keep the peace while you investigate, you should buy a large drip tray to protect your friend's drive.

Yes thanks for your good advice. With the engine turned off no leaks. Have disconnected battery and on charge. I live 7 miles from where l have the motor home parked up. I have issues with my back and right leg and also Mt wife fell over and broke her ankle in 2 places so at the moment looking after etc . Back injury due to my engineering days and working on cars etc. Thanks for your valuable advice and support and every comment is grateful. Cheers

 

[The Panda Nut]

Craked fuel supply pipes are not unknown, or it could be a seal, in the diesel pump. Could be as simple as something worked loose. Be careful when checking as diesel systems can be under extreme pressure. Protect your eyes!!! Also wear gloves. SOme diesels have a rubber bulb fuel priming pump and if this has slpit it could easily be the culprit.

 

[Pastyman]

Craked fuel supply pipes are not unknown, or it could be a seal, in the diesel pump. Could be as simple as something worked loose. Be careful when checking as diesel systems can be under extreme pressure. Protect your eyes!!! Also wear gloves. SOme diesels have a rubber bulb fuel priming pump and if this has slpit it could easily be the culprit.

Excellent details to which I will check out . I was washing the motor home so at first I thought it might be water. With the engine started l was standing back looking to see if l had missed any dirt and noticed water / fuel dripping quite fast the bonnet was open as I was still had jump leads attached to the motor home but disconnected from my car . Stuck a washing up bowl underneath and you could smell the diesel. Turned off no leaks . Battery disconnected again . Thanks for your help. Yeghes-Da

 

[The Panda Nut]

Excellent details to which I will check out . I was washing the motor home so at first I thought it might be water. With the engine started l was standing back looking to see if l had missed any dirt and noticed water / fuel dripping quite fast the bonnet was open as I was still had jump leads attached to the motor home but disconnected from my car . Stuck a washing up bowl underneath and you could smell the diesel. Turned off no leaks . Battery disconnected again . Thanks for your help. Yeghes-Da

Some filters have a primer button on the top. Try pumping this and see if you can see where the leak is. The bulb primers are usually near the fuel filter too. Again try pumping this if you have one and it will have the same effect. If there is a lot of fuel then you can concentrate on everything after the fuel filter, if its more oozage then you could start from teh filter and check the pipes running back and eliminate these first. Good luck.

 

[Pastyman]

Thanks l will look at this when l go over to the van again . I live on a residential park home site and not allowed to have my motor home at my address so that is why its on a different place.

 

[Cornish Ian]

Excellent details to which I will check out . I was washing the motor home so at first I thought it might be water. With the engine started l was standing back looking to see if l had missed any dirt and noticed water / fuel dripping quite fast the bonnet was open as I was still had jump leads attached to the motor home but disconnected from my car . Stuck a washing up bowl underneath and you could smell the diesel. Turned off no leaks . Battery disconnected again . Thanks for your help. Yeghes-Da

As this happened after you jumped started the van I would hope you didn‘t connect the earths first then connect the live onto the van last. It would then be possible to inadvertently touch a pipe with the +ve jump lead as you connect and blow a hole in it.
I’m not familiar where the battery is located so this may not apply anyway.

As a panda nut says some pipes are under high pressure.
Do not check the pipes with your bare hand.
Its rumoured that diesel under injector pressure can penetrate skin so be careful.

 

[Pastyman]

Thanks for your advice. Cornish born lol lived in Falmouth for 62 yrs

 

[Communicator]

As this happened after you jumped started the van I would hope you didn‘t connect the earths first then connect the live onto the van last. It would then be possible to inadvertently touch a pipe with the +ve jump lead as you connect and blow a hole in it.
I’m not familiar where the battery is located so this may not apply anyway.

As a panda nut says some pipes are under high pressure.
Do not check the pipes with your bare hand.
Its rumoured that diesel under injector pressure can penetrate skin so be careful.

I think that is a reality rather than a rumour, even with the mechanical injection system on the OP's vehicle. The pressures on common rail systems are frightening by comparison. Fuel injected through the skin could result in amputation.

 

[Cornish Ian]

I think that is a reality rather than a rumour, even with the mechanical injection system on the OP's vehicle. The pressures on common rail systems are frightening by comparison. Fuel injected through the skin could result in amputation.

Yes Totally agree.
I spent a lot of time on the older mechanical systems in my youth and they often needed bleeding for a multiple of reasons.
Some of those older systems always needed a few injector pipes cracked before the engine would start so the high pressures involved was well known safety issue.

“Rumoured “was a bit tongue in cheek as I would hope that most who work on diesels should really know this.
It’s certainly an important safety lesson that was pointed out to me as soon as I could use a spanner and always good to highlight it as much as possible.

 

[Pastyman]

Hi everyone just been and had a look for the diesel leak. Thinking its a small rubber hose in picture that l will attach . Yeghes-Da

Yes Totally agree.
I spent a lot of time on the older mechanical systems in my youth and they often needed bleeding for a multiple of reasons.
Some of those older systems always needed a few injector pipes cracked before the engine would start so the high pressures involved was well known safety issue.

“Rumoured “was a bit tongue in cheek as I would hope that most who work on diesels should really know this.
It’s certainly an important safety lesson that was pointed out to me as soon as I could use a spanner and always good to highlight it as much as possible.

Hi Ian do you think the hose is the guilty party . Only had time to take photos as I was trying to cook dinner for my wife. Where abouts are you based in Cornwall ? Please. Yeghes-Da

 

[Anthony489]

Hi

Not wishing to butt in, but those small diameter rubber hoses on the injectors in your picture are "leak off" pipes that take excess fuel back to the tank. They aren't under a great deal of pressure, I can't be certain but they may be just a push fit. Being rubber, they will have a limited lifetime and one or more may have split.

A diesel specialist may be able to make you a set from suitable fuel resistant hose, i.e. you shouldn't need to go scouring for an exact part number.

 

[Cornish Ian]

Hi Ken
Sounds like you have found the problem.

I’m at the eastern end of Cornwall near the Devon border, little village past Callington. Been to Falmouth a few times and it takes longer than you would think as I’m sure you know. At one stage I used to do some work for some of the trawlers mainly in Plymouth but most moved westward out of my area so that work tailed off.

 

[Pastyman]

Hi

Not wishing to butt in, but those small diameter rubber hoses on the injectors in your picture are "leak off" pipes that take excess fuel back to the tank. They aren't under a great deal of pressure, I can't be certain but they may be just a push fit. Being rubber, they will have a limited lifetime and one or more may have split.

A diesel specialist may be able to make you a set from suitable fuel resistant hose, i.e. you shouldn't need to go scouring for an exact part number.

Thanks Anthony that's is what l thought. The rubber and no clips on they are definitely suspect. But never had a leak before . Will investigate a bit further when I have time. Had to get home to cook Sunday lunch as wife is not well. Thanks for your help and reply . Cheers/ Yeghes-Da Ken

 

[Pastyman]

Hi Ken
Sounds like you have found the problem.

I’m at the eastern end of Cornwall near the Devon border, little village past Callington. Been to Falmouth a few times and it takes longer than you would think as I’m sure you know. At one stage I used to do some work for some of the trawlers mainly in Plymouth but most moved westward out of my area so that work tailed off.

I know the Callington area quite well as l delivered parcels in Devon and Cornwall for 26 yrs after getting made redundant in engineering for 17 yrs. I did alot of work on cars from skimming heads to making valves and discs and drums and crankshafts. Always hands on doing work on cars . Mainly petrol. Not much experience on diesel apart from driving a van for for 26 yrs and owning a diesel car for 10 yrs and 100000 miles etc . We travel to Cornwall and Devon at least 4 times a yr sometimes more like a couple of yrs ago 14 times elderly mother in law very ill subsequently died. It what we do . Cheers Ken Yeghes-Da