Defender 200Tdi 90 1993 - 20yr old fuel in tank

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Captainflint1967

Captainflint1967

Member
Posts
60
Location
Leicestershire
Hello Everyone,

I need some advice from you knowledgeable folk !

I have a Defender 200Tdi 90 1993 (1994 model - discs all round - actually the very first one off the production line funnily enough but that’s another story) which has been sitting in my garage for the past 20 years since I bought my Discovery when the children started to arrive. I’m the only owner as I bought her new all those years ago and has had a full service history. But 20yrs is a long time for a vehicle to sit in a garage !

I have replaced the timing belt, new water pump, all oils/filters changed (Engine , gearbox, transfer box and diffs) , new coolant and silicone hoses , new hoses on the turbo too, and a new battery. But I’ve not started her up yet.

The question is related to the fuel still in the tank. It’s 20years old. What should I do ?
Should I try to drain the old fuel out and put new diesel in ? If so what’s the best method to remove the old fuel ? Or just start her up and hope for the best ? I’m just concerned about condensation etc that has possibly collected over the years into the tank. There’s no oil leaks, except from around the old sump plug which I’ve now fixed.

If there are any other items that I’ve not thought about and should consider on the vehicle before starting her up please let me know. Im learning quickly !

I’m not a mechanic but can handle most jobs within reason.

As previously said, she’s been sat in my garage for the past 20years (with only 90k on the clock and never been ‘off roaded’).

I’m hoping to get my baby back on the road and trying to cover all the bases before taking her for the MOT. All suggestions very welcome thank you.

Best regards !
 
tottot said:
One thing I would do is spin the engine over with injection pump solenoid connection off until oil pressure light goes out to delive oil around the engine before start up.
Click to expand...
Yes - it was suggested to me by a ‘colleague’ to squirt oil through the injector holes, but I wasn’t sure about that.
Your suggestion makes sense to get some lubricant around the engine before starting. Just got to locate the injection pump solenoid:) - I’m a beginner and learning from the from the ground up regarding Landrovers ! Thanks for the information
 
The connection is just a spade on the back of the injection pump on a standard 200. Have you changed the fuel filter ? And if you did what did the fuel look like when bleeding the filter ?
 
tottot said:
The connection is just a spade on the back of the injection pump on a standard 200. Have you changed the fuel filter ? And if you did what did the fuel look like when bleeding the filter ?
Click to expand...
Yes I’ve replaced the fuel filter. I first drained the contents from the bottom (drain part on the filter) and collected what looked like a bit of water which then turned in to diesel. The diesel looked OK but I’m not an expert. I put fresh diesel into the new filter when I replaced the old one.
Thanks for the info on the connection, I’ll look at it this afternoon. Still a bit hesitant about starting her up though, incase I’ve missed something. Should I be looking at the injectors or glow plugs too ?
 
200's start easy enough in warm weather without glow. Not a lot you can do for injectors other than overhaul them [ some injector cleaner in the tank once it goes perhaps ]
I recon the only thing now is to try it and see for a start and short run being ready to stop if not happy.
 
I really wouldn't worry about old fuel - PROVIDED it is clean.. I.E. doesn't have any diesel bug in it.. I'd be draining a bit out to check for same - if it's clean, then it'll be ok to use IMO - probably better than the modern "stuff", which has less lubricity to allow for common rail stuff, and is of lower calorific value :rolleyes: ..

Do this before you turn the engine over ... you really don't want the bug in the rest of your system !! :mad: ( ask me how I know o_O ).

Worth having a rad through this thread on here...:-

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/is-diesel-fuel-burning-quicker.380887/

( specifically posts #4, #10, #22 ... )

Also, IME, worth adding 1% mineral TSO to what passes for Derv now..
 
Disco1BFG said:
I really wouldn't worry about old fuel - PROVIDED it is clean.. I.E. doesn't have any diesel bug in it.. I'd be draining a bit out to check for same - if it's clean, then it'll be ok to use IMO - probably better than the modern "stuff", which has less lubricity to allow for common rail stuff, and is of lower calorific value :rolleyes: ..

Do this before you turn the engine over ... you really don't want the bug in the rest of your system !! :mad: ( ask me how I know o_O ).

Worth having a rad through this thread on here...:-

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/is-diesel-fuel-burning-quicker.380887/

( specifically posts #4, #10, #22 ... )

Also, IME, worth adding 1% mineral TSO to what passes for Derv now..
Click to expand...
‘Diesel bug’ ??? That’s something new to me, what is it ? Is is a chemical reaction or something biological - living creatures ???
How would I know if I have the problem? Is it possible to drain the tank ? Is there a drain plug on a 1994 200Tdi 90 fuel tank ? I’ve had a look and couldn’t see anything obvious.
Read the post but I’m none the wiser except that ‘they’ have changed the chemical formulae for common diesel.
Thanks for the information
 
Captainflint1967 said:
‘Diesel bug’ ??? That’s something new to me, what is it ? Is is a chemical reaction or something biological - living creatures ???
Click to expand...

Yep, living creatures !! Actually living in the water in diesel..*

See here:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_contamination_of_diesel_fuel

* = You can call me old and cynical, ( and you'd be right on both counts! ), but it appears a certain water content is now allowed in derv (!) ( FFS!) - all part of the scam IMO..
 
Just a note, I’m having difficulty locating the ‘spade’ connection to the fuel injection pump to disconnect the solenoid. There’s a screw type connector - I’m not familiar with the workings of the fuel injection pump. If anyone could advise I’d be very grateful.

If I’ve got this right - I have to disconnect the solenoid on the fuel pump , turn the ignition over until the oil pressure light goes off. The issue is that I’ve obviously not even started the engine in over 20 years and I’ve forgotten what lights are even on the dash.

I’ve obviously got too comfortable with the Discovery ! The 90 is my baby though - my favourite vehicle, now the kids have all grown up and flown the nest my 90 is going to be ‘my’ car again - she’s a standard old 90 rough and ready - no flash speed machine or any modern comforts - but that’s why we love them eh !

She’s actually saved my life literally on two occasions - in any other vehicle I would have been brown bread for sure; even the police said as much - that’s another story, but driving in Germany/Belgium can be an ‘interesting experience’ - I lived over there for 15 years.
 
Disco1BFG said:
Yep, living creatures !! Actually living in the water in diesel..*

See here:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_contamination_of_diesel_fuel

* = You can call me old and cynical, ( and you'd be right on both counts! ), but it appears a certain water content is now allowed in derv (!) ( FFS!) - all part of the scam IMO..
Click to expand...
Jeez… I had no idea … bugs growing in the diesel, you wouldn’t have thought it possible… are we just buying a water mixture at the pump ? And the cost of it too these days is an absolute disgrace ! Daylight robbery to say the least !
What are the key identifiers with ‘diesel bug’ ? Are they a particular colour or anything ? What damage can they do to the engine etc ?
 
Captainflint1967 said:
Just a note, I’m having difficulty locating the ‘spade’ connection to the fuel injection pump to disconnect the solenoid. There’s a screw type connector - I’m not familiar with the workings of the fuel injection pump. If anyone could advise I’d be very grateful.
Click to expand...

Think there's only one wire that goes to the injector pump, just remove it (make sure it's not touching any metal surfaces) and crank the engine a couple times for 10 second bursts.
Personally I would drain the tank and replace the fuel, for piece of mind.
As discoDevon says, there should be a drain plug on the tank,
 
Last edited:
The diesel bug results in a black sludge that can cover all surfaces of the tank /fuel system and will clog the filter/ filters.
As a Coastguard I was sent to investigate a fishing vessel that the lifeboat had towed in. Inspection showed tank suppling the engine was empty but the main tank full to the brim [1000lts + ] The internal surfaces of the tank had a thick coating of the black gunge and the one inch internal diameter cross feed pipe was solid with the stuff :eek: with hardly any getting through.
A treatment biocide can be added to the fuel to kill/clear the bug. [ think they would have needed buckets of it to sort that boat though.]
 
Well…..
After changing the timing belt and water pump, installed new silicone coolant and turbo hoses, brand new heavy weight battery… all put back together… then I disconnected the fuel pump solenoid as instructed… key in the ignition , hazard lights came on, radio burst into life, even the wipers can on (I didn’t check the switches etc) , glow plug light came on then off again… turned the key to next positions ……. NOTHING…. no click , no starter motor … nada… now starts the electrical minefield! All the fuses look good, lights all work as they should but the engine / starter motor did nothing…

Any ideas folks ? … I guess I’m going to be watching a load of YouTube videos now to see what’s wrong…
It’s always fun being a Landrover owner eh :) !
 
tottot said:
The diesel bug results in a black sludge that can cover all surfaces of the tank /fuel system and will clog the filter/ filters.
As a Coastguard I was sent to investigate a fishing vessel that the lifeboat had towed in. Inspection showed tank suppling the engine was empty but the main tank full to the brim [1000lts + ] The internal surfaces of the tank had a thick coating of the black gunge and the one inch internal diameter cross feed pipe was solid with the stuff :eek: with hardly any getting through.
A treatment biocide can be added to the fuel to kill/clear the bug. [ think they would have needed buckets of it to sort that boat though.]
Click to expand...
Jeez…that’s sounds terrifying ! Definitely don’t want that to happen….thanks for the information, really appreciated !
I’m going to drain the tank and see what comes out… but I’m still looking for a drain plug on my 90. Did Landrover ever put in ‘non’ drainable fuel tanks ?
 
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