Bubbles in my pipes!

My P38 1996 DSE has bubbles in the fuel line after the filter. It is a b**ger to start when left for a few days with a low tank of fuel... but when above 1/4 of a tank there are no bubbles and no starting problems. When nearly empty it can even stall under heavy driving! The lower the fuel level from about 1/4 the worse it is!
Thoughts?
I am guessing some air is being drawn in in the tank, either a split pipe or something but having not seen the set up in there it is hard to know if this is possible.
Any ideas of what I should do????

dont all p38 diesels have this problem? ive always had to keep the tank above 1/4 to stop the problems when starting from cold. another tip i picked up if you are below 1/4 is to take the fuel cap off. i know of someone else who drilled a 1mm hole in his fuel cap to stop it, but i dont recommend it. if you want to try that method, i suggest u buy a cheap £1 fuel cap and drill the hole, so that ur lr cap can be put back on in case it doesnt work for you.

Thanks for the reply. You may well be right... but it only started happening a few weeks ago. We use to regularly run it very low... my wife drives it!!! The starting problem I am positive is recent.

If they are all doing it... which sounds very true... I would love to trace the cause. I am suspecting that something in the pump/suction line to the pump in the tank has worn/perished, but £130 for a new pump is a bit of a gamble.

Any more thoughts???

Hi inside the pump is a small flexi pipe that goes down to the bottom strainer part of pump when you take the pump sealing ring of top of tank the fuel pump comes up about 3 or so inches when its pushed into tank it concetenas up so im guessing that instead of pump sucking up through strainer at bottom its sucking half way up and when you are low on fuel it just suck air,it is possible to repair the pump with some similar pipe its just a pain to drop the tank to do it

Hi, Sorry for the late pick-up; hopefully you've already resolved your problem.
I have or had exactly the same problem - but I now know what it is!
After months of hard starting in the mornings and many visits to land rover agents in kent - who charged me a fortune and yet found nothing! - I noticed bubbles in the diesel fuel line appearing after the filter. I noticed this on a bright sunny day when I was looking over the AA man's shoulder! When I mentioned this to my land rover dealer, they immediately responded with - "oh yes; we know what that is; its a fractured suction line on the pump in the tank - keep the tank over half full and you'll be OK; its a known fault with the p38a" (!!!!!!!!!!!) And yes; if I keep the tank over half full I dont have any starting problems!
I've bought a new tank unit as you cant get the units repaired (so they tell me), but I still have to fit it. I've had one attempt - got the tank out - got the unit out and guess what? Land rover didnt inform me that buying new compression fittings with the pump unit is vital as you cannot retrieve the old fittings!! Had to re-install everything again as I need the car daily. The tank removal is quite a job and should not be attempted unless you have access to a proper car ramp and supporting equipment for the tank. This is just one of a catalogue of frustrating "lack of comunication" experiences I have had with a certain land rover dealer in Ashford Kent - hence my handle - Derangedrover!

DougLang said:

My P38 1996 DSE has bubbles in the fuel line after the filter. It is a b**ger to start when left for a few days with a low tank of fuel... but when above 1/4 of a tank there are no bubbles and no starting problems. When nearly empty it can even stall under heavy driving! The lower the fuel level from about 1/4 the worse it is!
Thoughts?
I am guessing some air is being drawn in in the tank, either a split pipe or something but having not seen the set up in there it is hard to know if this is possible.
Any ideas of what I should do????

Click to expand...