300tdi struggling to rev

hi
I have spent quite a while trawling through posts in the search, but cannot find what I am after.
basically a 300tdi discovery that will only rev to about 2.5k rpm. going flat out it sounds like its struggling and shuddering a bit and the engine note it wavering, if that makes sense.

Is this a fuel issue, i.e porous sedimentor, knackered lift pump, or simply dirty fuel? it has a good quarter tank of derv in and has never been run on owt but expensive dinosaur juice its entire life. or could it be something more sinister perhaps like the turbos fecked? (in which case, how do I check/test the turbo?)

Occasionally when idling in neutral it develops an awful clanking rattle somewhere underneath the enjun which may or may not be related; I will check it out in the daylight tomorrow.

thanks muchly
JKx

It depends .. it might be a little of everything .. very rare an issue like this is just one thing.

it does sound like a fuel issue so i would be changing the fuel and air filter and then cleaning out the sedimentor.the rumbling you hear will be the thrust bearing in the clutch and you will find that if you either give it a rev the noise will disappear or same if you push down the clutch pedal...this usually happens when the revs are either too low or uneven.
if the timing belt is old or has been recently changed then maybe timing could be out?

Lift pump
Fit a DELPHI one

cheers guys. starting with the easy stuff first I'll change the fuel filter tomorrow in the daylight as I know he has a spare in the boot, and draining/cleaning the sedimentor. if there's no change (I doubt it'll be that simple) then I'll look into replacing the lift pump (with delphi one ). how does one test a lift pump?

Its not my wagon, but when I took it for a quick drive It felt like it was bottoming out at 2500 rpm, and with your foot flat to the floor motoring along it'll rev up, then feel like its losing power, not a great deal, but it feels like its faltering or struggling, and and then rev up again, up and down without pattern, but never above the 2500 mark.

JKx

Jay reKx said:

cheers guys. starting with the easy stuff first I'll change the fuel filter tomorrow in the daylight as I know he has a spare in the boot, if there's no change (I doubt it'll be that simple) then I'll look into replacing the lift pump (with delphi one ). how does one test a lift pump?

Its not my wagon, but when I took it for a quick drive It felt like it was bottoming out at 2500 rpm, and with your foot flat to the floor motoring along it'll rev up, then feel like its losing power, not a great deal, but it feels like its faltering or struggling, and and then rev up again, up and down without pattern, but never above the 2500 mark.

JKx

Click to expand...

thems signals to change filter mine does that when i dont change it regular

Jay reKx said:

cheers guys. starting with the easy stuff first I'll change the fuel filter tomorrow in the daylight as I know he has a spare in the boot, and draining/cleaning the sedimentor. if there's no change (I doubt it'll be that simple) then I'll look into replacing the lift pump (with delphi one ). how does one test a lift pump?

Its not my wagon, but when I took it for a quick drive It felt like it was bottoming out at 2500 rpm, and with your foot flat to the floor motoring along it'll rev up, then feel like its losing power, not a great deal, but it feels like its faltering or struggling, and and then rev up again, up and down without pattern, but never above the 2500 mark.

JKx

Click to expand...

Your first paragraph is a great start ..

I'd also add to check the air filter .. not just a quick look under the cover, but take it out. If any water has got in, the paper becomes first mush, then sets solid and doesn't let air through .. if you're lucky .. If you're unlucky, the mush gets sucked in via the turbo, then all bets are off!!

Plus, notalot of point changing fuel filter without changing the air filter, IMHO.

Have fun ..

cheers guys, I left him with a list of service items and bits to fetch from the local motor factors today while I went to work. said I'd do it, or at least help him do it all when I got back as he hasn't got a clue, but turns out he'd rather sit around and play on his bastard xbox instead, so if he carnt be fecked, neither can I
this in't the first time I've run around scratting after and sorting his vehicles and offered time and help and he's just been too damn idle to find a part or fetch a gallon of oil etc.

guess I'll tinker with my own instead

thanks for your help anyway!
JKx

Jay reKx said:

cheers guys, I left him with a list of service items and bits to fetch from the local motor factors today while I went to work. said I'd do it, or at least help him do it all when I got back as he hasn't got a clue, but turns out he'd rather sit around and play on his bastard xbox instead, so if he carnt be fecked, neither can I
this in't the first time I've run around scratting after and sorting his vehicles and offered time and help and he's just been too damn idle to find a part or fetch a gallon of oil etc.

guess I'll tinker with my own instead

thanks for your help anyway!
JKx

Click to expand...

I had a mate like that, a couple of off roading trips without him made him think about his lazyness

Jay reKx said:

cheers guys, I left him with a list of service items and bits to fetch from the local motor factors today while I went to work. said I'd do it, or at least help him do it all when I got back as he hasn't got a clue, but turns out he'd rather sit around and play on his bastard xbox instead, so if he carnt be fecked, neither can I
this in't the first time I've run around scratting after and sorting his vehicles and offered time and help and he's just been too damn idle to find a part or fetch a gallon of oil etc.

guess I'll tinker with my own instead

thanks for your help anyway!
JKx

Click to expand...

LOL .. think we all know people like that!

Check the turbo and intercooler pipes/hoses,especially the little inlet one at the bottom of intercooler. Check tightness of clips and put decent ones on.Mine would only rev to 2.5k when a pipe came off.... no idea about the rattle .