Xantia 1.9TD diesel getting out.

[aerodynamica]

There's a Diesel leak! - it is leaking from one or more of the Diesel injectors but doesn't seem to show up with the engine running. The two injectors nearest the flywheel end are oozing Diesel somehow - possibly from the thin black rubber pipes that arch between the injectors. It's really hard to tell due to the near absolutely vertical orientation of the injectors.

I'm also finding it intermittently difficult to start and i 'feel' it's due to no diesel getting through. The 4 glowplugs were changed in October and 8 out of 10 times it starts on the button - sometimes it takes a lot of cranking to run (possibly more often when it's pointing more up hill)

Any thoughts on the leaking? What it the function of these rubber fuel lines linking the injectors? returns?

Graeme

[Chlorate]

They're called "leak-off" pipes, and you're correct they do return to the fuel tank. I believe they're something to do with using some diesel fuel to lubricate the injectors.

They are known to get crunchy and start leaking (air in or diesel out) and are often the first things that get replaced when trying to track down an intermittent cold starting problem due to air intrusion.

I changed them a while back on mine, simple job and didn't cost much. Most motor factors will sell you diesel leak off pipe kits with the right kind of hose cut to the right length and with a couple of end stoppers for not much money.

Worth taking a punt at and seeing if it works.

Alex

[citronut]

they are called leak off/return pipes and are to return unused fuel to the tank,

you but a kit in a blister pack from the likes of GSF which usualy contains a length of pipe enough to replace all three short link pipes and the longer one that goes back the the main return on the pump, also there should be 1 and sometimes 2 (one as a spare) blancking caps for the end of the injector,

just cut to length remove old and fit new easy peasy

regards malcolm

[aerodynamica]

Cheers guys,
Well it started on the button this morning after yesterday's minute of cranking. This time it was parked nose down hill. I think there's a fuel supply weakness.
So it started perfect, ran for 5 min then set off only for it to cut out 2 miles away between gearshifts - no warningx no missing or shuddering, just quietly off. It restarted after 20 sec cranking and was fine for whole 18 mile journey. Don't think its the stop solenoid but it could be.
I really needs to replace the fuel line and filter housing as I want them eliminated long term.

Any other thoughts on this? It has never cut out before.

[aerodynamica]

Also, why do the leak offs cause bad starting? How do they affect the very high pressure in the injectors?

[Peter.N.]

If its a Bosch system, leaking return pipes will cause in air ingress which allows the fuel to flow back to the tank when stopped. The fact that it started OK when parked nose down is further evidence that air is getting in.

Peter

[citroenxm]

ANY DERV engine needs a completely Sealed fuel system.. So any break in the connecting pipes, metal high feed or low pressure rubber allows air in and the fuel will automatically return to tank!!

Parking the car nose down WILL allow a good start as fuel cannot travel upwards towards the tank.

The Idea if the leak return pipes is as said, it returns the excess fed fuel back to the tank.. The pump is constantly feeding more fuel then the injector needs so it has to trickle back...

On a sealed system if you remove a "Leak return" Pipe you can hear the fuel draining back! Litterally!

So, get those little black return pipes replaced and all should be fine!

[aerodynamica]

OOf course! That makes perfect sense. Must get leak off pipes.would this explain why it traveled 2 miles, died then restarted? Ran on the fuel left in the filter housing and ran into air?

[aerodynamica]

Arg! Some guys at work disagree! They reckon leakoffs can't cause.this. the find is that the diesel hose from the filter housing to the Bosch pump is slack so before anything else I'm replacing the crappy clip on it with a new one from here. I work at cummins diesel hence all the experts. We evend even use a similar Bosch pump on ones engine. I'll still be changing the leakoffs tho

[citroenxm]

Aarrggghh those guys dont know then... You try it.. Get some new ones on then leave one of them off... Firstly you WILL have a mess with derv all over the engine.. Secondly you will have a job starting her next day or even hours later...

[aerodynamica]

I believe you for sure! I'm replacing the leakoffs but GSF say they don't carry it..

[aerodynamica]

Also, what is the little plastic plug low down to the left side of the fuel filter housing? 3 squeezes of the priming bulb sees this plug ooze diesel. Is it an overflow or have we another leak?

[citroenxm]

Water in fuel drain plug.. Or filter drain.. Theres a little o ring on it.. That defo also needs sorting.. Yu should not any fuel ooozing from anywhere even under primer pressure...

[Xaccers]

Also, what is the little plastic plug low down to the left side of the fuel filter housing? 3 squeezes of the priming bulb sees this plug ooze diesel. Is it an overflow or have we another leak?

That's the thermostat for the filter housing.
The o-ring fails and it also lets in air and lets out diesel.
To get to it you'll have to remove the filter housing, and there's another o-ring underneath it, so best get one of those two and replace it while you can.

[CitroJim]

Also, what is the little plastic plug low down to the left side of the fuel filter housing? 3 squeezes of the priming bulb sees this plug ooze diesel. Is it an overflow or have we another leak?

That's the thermostat for the filter housing.
The o-ring fails and it also lets in air and lets out diesel.
To get to it you'll have to remove the filter housing, and there's another o-ring underneath it, so best get one of those two and replace it while you can.

Once that one starts to leak Graeme, really it's game over for the filter housing. The thermostat bit is sealed with O rings which might be replaceable but the thing is secured by a star clip and that's next to impossible to remove and replace without damage...

Trying to seal it or do away with the thermostat is almost impossible too. The filter housing seems to be made of some kind of material that nothing on this planet will stick to...

The housing is best replaced... The leak will be responsible for most of your woes...