Can diesel fuel go off?

Post by **daydream-believer** » 29 Jan 2006, 16:32

Can some kind soul offer some advice to a van and diesel virgin.
I've taken the plunge and bought a 1983 1.6D.
She's been off the road since last August having the interior renovated. I suspect that the fuel she has now, has been sat in the tank since then. After 2 uneventful trips in the last 2 weeks I now have some starting problems. She cranks fine and tries to fire up, but as soon as I put my foot on the accelerator, she cuts out. (I'm making sure that I wait until the glowplug light is out before I crank).
Someone has suggested that the fuel might have gone off.
Can this happen over a 5 to 6 month period?

Post by **Cruz** » 29 Jan 2006, 16:36

Diesel has a shelf life of about a year i think?

Post by **Horza** » 30 Jan 2006, 13:34

Or standard "pooh" in the fuel line problems?

Post by **Louey** » 30 Jan 2006, 14:56

T3teedubya wrote:Has the fuel frozen? I have known this problem with diesel. It turns to wax or jelly. Jelly is better though

depends where you are dripping the wax onto

Post by **Cate** » 30 Jan 2006, 15:08

Well that needs to be hot then, whereas jelly can be done coooold, with cream.

Post by **daydream-believer** » 30 Jan 2006, 19:26

Thanks for the suggestion about the freezing diesel - I will check out what the freezing point is. It was certainly really really cold as even in the middle of the afternoon there was still thick frost in the shady areas of the road, and it did sound just like the fuel just wasn't getting through.

Have also seen a suggestion about getting some injector cleaner fluid which I'm now planning to do anyway as soon as we do manage to get it started again.

Also read something today about bleeding the fuel filter to clear any collected condensation - if this did have a bit of water in which then froze, would this cause a blockage? Or am I being really thick?! (haven't had chance to go and have a look at how/where the fuel filter actually sits since reading that).

For the record, I'd go for ice-cream with jelly, but me fella doesn't have a sweet tooth at all, so would prefer the wax

Cheers!
Jen.

Post by TD » 30 Jan 2006, 21:29

Diesels are wonderful engines, usually they go or they don't - no half measures.
Don't go due to:
1) no fuel
2) air locks in fuel system(bleed at filter- make sure clear pipe is full - change filter if two years old but refill with fuel before starting- i.e prime it)
3) timing wrong( never mess with pump)
4) glow plugs not working( fit new ones cheap)
5) solenoid duff ( listen for click very rare)
6) engine buggered so no compression
7) contaminated fuel- i.e water/urine etc.(some petrol ok)
Thats my experience (17 years of a TD)

Post by **daydream-believer** » 31 Jan 2006, 19:24

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions!

Am going away for a couple of days but now looking forward to seeing how it goes when I get back, armed with a of jerrycan of diesel (although the display is showing just under half a tank), new fuel filter, a voltmeter and possibly a set of new plugs anyway.

I will be back to ask somemore about the others if still unsuccesfull!

Thanks!

Post by **amazingdave** » 01 Feb 2006, 17:33

Diesel can go off, if the tank was not full to the brim. There is a bacteria that lives in the diesel where there's condensation, it get's into filters and bungs them up, or worst case it bungs up the injectors.

check the filter for sludge....

Post by **daydream-believer** » 05 Feb 2006, 19:29

Today we put in some fresh diesel (along with some injector cleaner), changed the fuel filter, also replaced the battery and after a bit of tinkering, she started fine

so thanks for the suggestions!

Jen