Another P38 2.5DSE 4th injector Question

Hi All, just to Clarify my year 2000 P38 2.5 DSE had a Brown plug 4th injector fitted and ran fine apart from was leaking a bit of diesel from the electrical wire outlet.

I decided to get a brand new one (white plug as was cheaper)

I thought I would banish all of my leaks once and for all!

Got it all fitted but with 2 main issues. Had to trim the plug to get it to plug in. Firstly now if you rev up from idle to 1400rpm the engine check light illuminates. Does not come on over those revs or at idle. Secondly the new injector is leaking from between the 2 halves.
I thought it could be the leak off pipes so changed them (again) but it’s definitely the new injector. I’m just in process of contacting supplier for replacement or refund.

Could any of you confirm that a white plug on brown plug car will definitely work ok and not bring check engine light on?

Maybe because the injectors leaking it is actually faulty causing the check engine light to come on? Car still drives great.

Also whilst checking all this out I think the water pumps started weeping.

Your thoughts much appreciated

Jacob

JT_spark said:

Hi All, just to Clarify my year 2000 P38 2.5 DSE had a Brown plug 4th injector fitted and ran fine apart from was leaking a bit of diesel from the electrical wire outlet.

I decided to get a brand new one (white plug as was cheaper)

I thought I would banish all of my leaks once and for all!

Got it all fitted but with 2 main issues. Had to trim the plug to get it to plug in. Firstly now if you rev up from idle to 1400rpm the engine check light illuminates. Does not come on over those revs or at idle. Secondly the new injector is leaking from between the 2 halves.
I thought it could be the leak off pipes so changed them (again) but it’s definitely the new injector. I’m just in process of contacting supplier for replacement or refund.

Could any of you confirm that a white plug on brown plug car will definitely work ok and not bring check engine light on?

Maybe because the injectors leaking it is actually faulty causing the check engine light to come on? Car still drives great.

Also whilst checking all this out I think the water pumps started weeping.

Your thoughts much appreciated

Jacob

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There are differences between the early & late needle lift sensors but both types worked OK on my project car. Did you observe correct polarity with the plug? As you trimmed it, I suspect it may be possible to reverse the connection?

If the no4 inj is leaking from the body return it as faulty, not worth messing around with it especially with price on them.

JT_spark said:

Also whilst checking all this out I think the water pumps started weeping.

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weeping where, from a seal/gasket or from the body? If the pump itself is on its way out (excessive play or whining) thats a potential problem. There’s 2 types - the original plastic type pump can break up and get lodged inside the engine and the metal type which won’t reduce to shrapnel but both can still cause damage if/when it ejects through the front. Worth checking

Don't mix them, there's a reason they were different
Check the leak off pipes they could be aged...

Mark Piercy said:

Don't mix them, there's a reason they were different
Check the leak off pipes they could be aged...

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Hi thanks for all the replies,

Datatek said:

There are differences between the early & late needle lift sensors but both types worked OK on my project car. Did you observe correct polarity with the plug? As you trimmed it, I suspect it may be possible to reverse the connection?

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Thanks Keith, I did wonder that, the 2 side guides on plug were left unchanged, then there’s a top/ or bottom plug guide depending on how you want to call it The brown plug the guide is to the right, the white plug is to the middle. I just sliced the middle guide off and plugged it in with the sliced off guide in the orientation it should have been if I had not sliced it off. I’m hoping it’s just that the new injector is faulty as it’s leaking diesel anyway. Be nice to put this one to bed as if your trying to fix up a p38 these injectors are a significant cost. The only other thing I thought of is that maybe although the new injector is leaking perhaps it is taking the correct readings but my pump is slightly out of spec and this new injector is picking that up and the old one did not. Time will tell I guess. Just in process of trying to get refund or replacement at the mo.

Thanks

JT_spark said:

Hi thanks for all the replies,

Thanks Keith, I did wonder that, the 2 side guides on plug were left unchanged, then there’s a top/ or bottom plug guide depending on how you want to call it The brown plug the guide is to the right, the white plug is to the middle. I just sliced the middle guide off and plugged it in with the sliced off guide in the orientation it should have been if I had not sliced it off. I’m hoping it’s just that the new injector is faulty as it’s leaking diesel anyway. Be nice to put this one to bed as if your trying to fix up a p38 these injectors are a significant cost. The only other thing I thought of is that maybe although the new injector is leaking perhaps it is taking the correct readings but my pump is slightly out of spec and this new injector is picking that up and the old one did not. Time will tell I guess. Just in process of trying to get refund or replacement at the mo.

Thanks

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Thanks range roller DT, completely agree if it’s faulty it’s got to go back, re the water pump leak I’m not gonna have a look until I’ve sorted this issue out. I can only tackle one headache at a time!

Mark thanks, Yeh I wish I’d Just got the brown plug one in the first place. It’s only the cost that was putting me off. You can see why so many p38s are parked up abandoned you only need to buy a few parts and you’ve exceeded there value. Thankfully there’s some of us that are enthusiastic about them and keep them going regardless of cost or AGG.

And the leak off pipes I got a set of eBay that managed to pass the mot and then start ****ing out everywhere. I then used some silicone 3.2mm hose and that seems to have done the trick. I did change the 2 on that injector again just incase, but it’s definitely the injector.

Thanks all

Watch the silicone pipe most is not suitable for use on diesel.

brianp38dse said:

Watch the silicone pipe most is not suitable for use on diesel.

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Thanks Brian, yeh they do look like they’ve ballooned somewhat but are not leaking so I’ll take it for now. Maybe get some better stuff at some point. Cheers

Gates pipe is only one we’ve seen stand the test of time.

RangeRoller dt said:

Gates pipe is only one we’ve seen stand the test of time.

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I’ll have a look out for some, so much poor quality stuff out there. Really grinds my gears

JT_spark said:

Thanks range roller DT, completely agree if it’s faulty it’s got to go back, re the water pump leak I’m not gonna have a look until I’ve sorted this issue out. I can only tackle one headache at a time!

Mark thanks, Yeh I wish I’d Just got the brown plug one in the first place. It’s only the cost that was putting me off. You can see why so many p38s are parked up abandoned you only need to buy a few parts and you’ve exceeded there value. Thankfully there’s some of us that are enthusiastic about them and keep them going regardless of cost or AGG.

And the leak off pipes I got a set of eBay that managed to pass the mot and then start ****ing out everywhere. I then used some silicone 3.2mm hose and that seems to have done the trick. I did change the 2 on that injector again just incase, but it’s definitely the injector.

Thanks all

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The silicon pipe will bleed diesel fumes, ask me how I know You need Gates reinforced diesel fuel pipe

JT_spark said:

Hi thanks for all the replies,

Thanks Keith, I did wonder that, the 2 side guides on plug were left unchanged, then there’s a top/ or bottom plug guide depending on how you want to call it The brown plug the guide is to the right, the white plug is to the middle. I just sliced the middle guide off and plugged it in with the sliced off guide in the orientation it should have been if I had not sliced it off. I’m hoping it’s just that the new injector is faulty as it’s leaking diesel anyway. Be nice to put this one to bed as if your trying to fix up a p38 these injectors are a significant cost. The only other thing I thought of is that maybe although the new injector is leaking perhaps it is taking the correct readings but my pump is slightly out of spec and this new injector is picking that up and the old one did not. Time will tell I guess. Just in process of trying to get refund or replacement at the mo.

Thanks

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I had an early type #4 injector in my scrapper which I fitted to my MY99 project car slicing the connecter as you did. It worked fine until it too started leaking so I purchased the correct one at that point.

This is the number of the Gates pipe
GATES 3225-00070

Datatek said:

The silicon pipe will bleed diesel fumes, ask me how I know You need Gates reinforced diesel fuel pipe

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+1 on Gates reinforced.

Doubt they'll take a part back that you've butchered. I got my replacement #4 from Eurocarparts for £70 but that was prepandemic.

Grrrrrr said:

+1 on Gates reinforced.

Doubt they'll take a part back that you've butchered. I got my replacement #4 from Eurocarparts for £70 but that was prepandemic.

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£70? that was extraordinarily cheap, the later type cost me nearer €200

Mine was just short of 300€ same issue, leaking at the sensor.

Thanks all you for your responses, I’ll definitely be looking at the gates spill pipe.
Unfortunately price of the injectors is now over £200 minimum. I think they are running stock down so the less of them there is the more they charge I guess. Probably anyone with a DSE in the future will face this problem. It’s probably not worth getting a used one unless silly cheap as there all so old now. Supplier said to send the leaky one back. I may just go for a refund if they offer that and go for a new brown plug one. The plug mod is so minor unless you had 2 next to each other I don’t think you would notice. I know Datatek had luck with a white plug on later car so it would have been nice for me to also confirm that so other people could save some cash and know it works. If they only offer me a replacement then I may try it out and see if it works ok. If it don’t I’ll put it up for sale so an early DSE owner can benefit from a discounted white plug one!

I’ll keep you all updated with outcomes.

Jacob

Any early P38 will need one at some point

Mark Piercy said:

Any early P38 will need one at some point

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No doubt, may get a few quid back haha

Datatek said:

£70? that was extraordinarily cheap, the later type cost me nearer €200

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Yes, i thought it was very reasonable at the time. I've often got lucky with Eurocarparts if I ring the main number in London. Mine's the early one. I cannot recall if it was for the Omega or the Rangie. Sometimes if you specify the Vauxhall or even the BMW the same part is cheaper. All part of Range Rover pricing strategy.