TD5 partial power loss

hi all - any thoughts on the following would be very much appreciated:

diesel auto TDR ES - been running fine, bit of white smoke when idling first thing in the morning, but otherwise no probs

done a few miles today with the fuel light on, dozen or so at most, so filled up - as certain as you ever are without photographic evidence that I was using the right stuff (fewer litres in than pounds spent, for a start !) - then did about half a mile, before starting to drive uphill - foot down a little, revs rise to about 2300 - but that was it - no more power !

no misfiring - no smoke or any kind (far as i could see - it was pitch black !), and - having crawled up the hill at less than 30mph - all relatively back to normal when on level ground, only for the same thing to happen at the next significant incline, bit of surging on the rev counter (once or twice) but for the most part, just sits around 2300 and steadfastly refuses to pick up

just about got home - seems to pick up fine when tapping the accelerator in neutral, still no mis-firing, temperature's fine and no sign of any obvious leaks or owt

any ideas ?

Change the fuel filter first. If it's only doing it under load it sound like you blocked it up by running it low on fuel.

thanks Ratty, but think there's more to it than that - just had to nip out again, and the thing's running pretty rough, now sounding ropey on start up and idling and with poor throttle response - like the engine's just not getting what it needs when you ask it to respond - can get the RAC out to have a look at it for nowt in the morning, so suppose i might let them have a shufty.....

Herman Hessian said:

thanks Ratty, but think there's more to it than that - just had to nip out again, and the thing's running pretty rough, now sounding ropey on start up and idling and with poor throttle response - like the engine's just not getting what it needs when you ask it to respond - can get the RAC out to have a look at it for nowt in the morning, so suppose i might let them have a shufty.....

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The fuel pumps on the td5's are renowned for giving up the ghost. Running the fuel low causing the crap in the tank to block up the filter doesn't do em any favours.

Don't forget to post up the RAC's findings to help others with similar faults in the future.