Last year I spent the winter in the Alps and almost immediately developed a very noisy fuel pump. The car was also very difficult to start (often coughing out clouds of smoke until it warmed up), especially if it had been left over night in freezing temps down to around -15/20C.
I did initially think the fuel pump might be damaged or failing but this turned out not to be the case. Back in the UK my garage fitting a new fuel filter which solved the problem, until now...
I'm back in Switzerland and have already experienced exactly the same problem - except this time I have a solution! Today I added a small measure of fuel additive and topped the fuel tank up with 'Swiss' winter diesel, good for temps down to -18C, and the noisy fuel is no more. The car starts perfectly whatever the temperature. PROBLEM SOLVED
I thought I'd post this bit of news, because having scoured the internet looking for a solution to this problem I've come across many Defender TD5 owners with the same issue.
I know it may have been possible to add unleaded petrol to the tank to achieve the same effect, but the additive cost very little...well nothing actually for an egg cup full from the friendly Swiss garage owner and the effect has been remarkable. I'll use the local winter diesel till I head home and try to avoid the French supermarket diesel that I'd used to get here in the first place.
I did initially think the fuel pump might be damaged or failing but this turned out not to be the case. Back in the UK my garage fitting a new fuel filter which solved the problem, until now...
I'm back in Switzerland and have already experienced exactly the same problem - except this time I have a solution! Today I added a small measure of fuel additive and topped the fuel tank up with 'Swiss' winter diesel, good for temps down to -18C, and the noisy fuel is no more. The car starts perfectly whatever the temperature. PROBLEM SOLVED
I thought I'd post this bit of news, because having scoured the internet looking for a solution to this problem I've come across many Defender TD5 owners with the same issue.
I know it may have been possible to add unleaded petrol to the tank to achieve the same effect, but the additive cost very little...well nothing actually for an egg cup full from the friendly Swiss garage owner and the effect has been remarkable. I'll use the local winter diesel till I head home and try to avoid the French supermarket diesel that I'd used to get here in the first place.
