200tdi being a git to start

The 200tdi in our 130 has started giving jip, over the past few days its gone from starting at the merest flick of the starter, to basically crank as long as you wont - no chance pal!

If you run it down a hill and flick the starter itll fire right up. Itll also fire up with some easy start or something to get it going then its fine.

Its also notably down on power... like really really down on power. Boost has dropped right off too (lack of fuel so the turbo cant produce it)

Ive done the fuel filter and there was loads of fine little pieces of **** in it, like a thin film over everything? Is that diesel bug?

If the leak off pipes fail will that result in significant power loss? Im clutching at straws.
Other one i thought of was the engine cut off solenoid plunger is decaying (ive seen it before) I was struggling to get the swine off as all my spanners were too big and they were too expensive to cut down (need to buy some cheap ones to butcher)

Ive checked all pipes for leaks, and theres a clear bit of hose just before the injection pump and theres no bubbles in it when running.

Any thoughts?

Diesel bug looks a bit like



Have you checked the guaze at the end of the pick up pipe?

Don't think there is one?

i dont remember there being a gauze on the end of the pickup when i changed the tank, i think it was just an open pipe... cant remember properly now!

That black sludge does look a bit like what was in the filter, albeit there was considerably less than in that picture. But maybe its just the start of it? Is it a tank out and flush it or can i add something to kill it off?

ive ordered some biocide for the treatment of the fuel system - i wonder if the fungus has attacked the seals? hmmmm

Google fuel polishing and you will find loads of info and what to add to the tank to kill it.
But sludge or not if it revs fine once started I reckon its a red herring, get the solenoid replaced and go from there.
You may also find the little bits of crap have blocked the poppet valves inside the lift pump which madly is fitted before the fuel filter!

Not tank paint coming adrift from the inside ?

lynall said:

Google fuel polishing and you will find loads of info and what to add to the tank to kill it.
But sludge or not if it revs fine once started I reckon its a red herring, get the solenoid replaced and go from there.
You may also find the little bits of crap have blocked the poppet valves inside the lift pump which madly is fitted before the fuel filter!

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aye will do, ill get one ordered.

annoyingly the disco fuel pump had decided to die as well... weirdly after we had both filled up at the same fuel filling station...

Thats got to be to much of a conicidence?
Might be worth draining the tanks and see what comes out, guy at work filled up his nissan dci got mile up road died, drained tank and it was petrol even though receipt said it was diesel!

lynall said:

Thats got to be to much of a conicidence?
Might be worth draining the tanks and see what comes out, guy at work filled up his nissan dci got mile up road died, drained tank and it was petrol even though receipt said it was diesel!

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Aye I know, that's what I thought, but Ibe now swapped the fuel filter in the td5 as well and there didn't seem to be any black sludge in it. Might just be properly crap fuel?

Had that happen to me, crap fuel away from home.Once filled up at my usual place 200 was back to normal.

Might be worth adding some Millers fuel treatment to boost the cetane(or is it octane?)level and clean the pump.

ive just brimmed it with fuel from down south, so its not been tainted with "sturgeoness"
But only did 500m since the garage so will see...

Ive ordered a fuel solenoid anyway, and if worst comes to it ill swap the pump over.
I think its got to be something in the fuel pump / the fuel as i cant see it being anything else. It runs too well to be anything more serious.

One of the ways I have kept my fuel system clean is by adding 1/2 gall petrol around each 50k miles or so, when completely topping the tank up to the brim.
I've been doing this with all my diesel engines for the past 50 years, and never suffered anything bad!
However, someone will now jump on me to say that doing that will lead to premature ejaculation or something!

Oldseadog said:

One of the ways I have kept my fuel system clean is by adding 1/2 gall petrol around each 50k miles or so, when completely topping the tank up to the brim.
I've been doing this with all my diesel engines for the past 50 years, and never suffered anything bad!
However, someone will now jump on me to say that doing that will lead to premature ejaculation or something!

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Used to be done in winter to prevent waxing. But should not be needed now, as anti waxing agent is added to winter diesel as a matter of course.

Oldseadog said:

One of the ways I have kept my fuel system clean is by adding 1/2 gall petrol around each 50k miles or so, when completely topping the tank up to the brim.
I've been doing this with all my diesel engines for the past 50 years, and never suffered anything bad!
However, someone will now jump on me to say that doing that will lead to premature ejaculation or something!

Click to expand...

I used to do the same thing in reverse with a Toyota Tarago I had in the mid 80's, fill the tank with petrol and put a dash of diesel in on top, recommended by Toyota to stop the bad habit it had of "run on", turn off the ignition switch and the engine just kept bumping on, into gear and stall it was the only way, the diesel added did not seem to work anyway..............and it didn't cause premature ejaculation either.

zeaphod said:

Might be worth adding some Millers fuel treatment to boost the cetane(or is it octane?)level and clean the pump.

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Cetane. we add a booster to the Gas oil for the tractors - a lot less smoke and they are quieter - which, IMHO, just shows what sh*t Gas Oil is

Oldseadog said:

One of the ways I have kept my fuel system clean is by adding 1/2 gall petrol around each 50k miles or so, when completely topping the tank up to the brim.
I've been doing this with all my diesel engines for the past 50 years, and never suffered anything bad!
However, someone will now jump on me to say that doing that will lead to premature ejaculation or something!

Click to expand...

Do the same - more often as required - no problems yet. Also add TSO to the Derv we use.

I promise not to jump on you.....

Not sure that these modern common rail things will like petrol in their Derv - but it is not a problem I will ever have, so to em.

Clearly a fueling issue.
Have you got a sediment trap, does it need draining?
Is it worth replacing the lift pump?
Any leaks on the fuel pipes in the engine bay? This would allow fuel to drain away from the injectors whilst switched off.

sooooooooo tried the petrol idea ,,,,,,,,,drank half a gallon then into bed ,,,,,,,,,,,,,but alas it dint work ,,all over quickerty split lol petrol 0 ,,,,,prem ejac 1...