Help please : Running out of diesel

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davety

New Member
Posts
36
Location
Bulgaria / UK
Just a question for advice in the future please, both for myself and anybody else who might want to know. I have a 1996 300TDI. Although I usually carry a spare can, if I was ever to run out of diesil, specifically for my model, what exactly would be the procedure after re-filling, regarding any bleeding ? Couldn't find out searching the site. I know modern cars have a rubber type priming pump, but sadly, I think it could be a bit more complicated on mine.
Thanks in advance.
Dave.
 
i would just follow the procedure for fitting a new filter and bleed to the filter there is a screw on top 3/4 turn pump lift pump till you get a flow with no air,then it should start, the system is self priming but will drain the battery if it doesn't fire to quickly,it will probably start and stop a couple of times before it runs properly.
 
davety said:
Just a question for advice in the future please, both for myself and anybody else who might want to know. I have a 1996 300TDI. Although I usually carry a spare can, if I was ever to run out of diesil, specifically for my model, what exactly would be the procedure after re-filling, regarding any bleeding ? Couldn't find out searching the site. I know modern cars have a rubber type priming pump, but sadly, I think it could be a bit more complicated on mine.
Thanks in advance.
Dave.
Click to expand...

First off with most diesels a single 5 litre can of fuel is not enough to get them up and running again. We usually put 12 litres in to save mucking about.

Your point about modern cars having rubber priming pumps isn't quite right. It's the diesels around the age of yours that usually have the hand primers. Your 300tdi has a hand primer. Its the black round button type thing on top of the fuel filter housing. You should find it gets stiffer as the fuel starts coming through.
 
Rich-300tdi said:
Done it twice when iv been stuck, diesel in and no priming and mine started 1st time both times, maybe I was lucky!
Click to expand...

My previous 2 breakdown trucks would lose a bit of power as they ran out of fuel. I had time to find somewhere safe to pull over, stop, get out my truck, unlock the lockers, find the fuel and pour it in the tank, put the can/s away again, walk back to the cab and then if I held the throttle down it would start to missfire for a few seconds. All I had to do was hold the throttle down for about 10-15 seconds and it would stop missfiring and run smoothly again and I cold drive on.

My current breakdown truck has twin fuel tanks. If I park on a side slope or with the nearside wheels up on a pavement etc then all my fuel drains from one tank to the other and the bugger cuts out. I have to crank it on the starter motor (or roll it if I'm on a hill) until I can get it on level ground at the least or an opposite side slope if possible. I then have to wait for the fuel to trickle back over to the correct side of the tank. There's no hand primer and the only way of getting it going again is by cranking it until it fires. I've made a special notch in the connector for the top intercooler hose. It enables me to use an aerosol substance via a straw inserted in said slot to help start it quicker.

In short, every vehicle is different and it's amazing just how much harder some vehicles are to start than others.
 
ive never seen a standard 300 with pump in filter housing ,the lift pump is on side of engine , the best way to bleed it is from front fuel pipe on injection pump ,slacken with 13mm socket and pump till good fuel flow ,engine may need quick turn over if cams in wrong place for lift pump to work and if that doesnt work get someone to turn engine over,under the worst circumstances after bleeding to pump slacken injector pipes at injector and turn engine over till they leak fuel then retighten
 
2.25s fire up no problem after being run dry.. Undo the banjo bolt ad turn her over till it hisses out, then do it back up
 
jamesmartin said:
ive never seen a standard 300 with pump in filter housing ,the lift pump is on side of engine , the best way to bleed it is from front fuel pipe on injection pump ,slacken with 13mm socket and pump till good fuel flow ,engine may need quick turn over if cams in wrong place for lift pump to work and if that doesnt work get someone to turn engine over,under the worst circumstances after bleeding to pump slacken injector pipes at injector and turn engine over till they leak fuel then retighten
Click to expand...

I'm trying to picture the bugger off the top of my head. From memory the 200tdi has a lever on the side of the pump, as does the td engine. I thought the 300tdi had the primer on top of the housing?:confused:

I gotta go and google it now.:eek::D
 
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