How to prime C8 2.2 HDi

[south74]

Help please!
My C8 mk2 2.2HDi won’t start. I was running low on fuel... but the range still said 20miles... and the car coughed to a halt.
Clearly the range was wrong and I ran out!
I have filled up from a jerry can but now need to prime the system because the engine won’t start.
How do I do it??
There is what looks like a manual pump to the left of the fuel filter. I pumped that until it had what felt like decent pressure and tried to restart... but nothing. It won’t start.

And ideas anyone?

I have searched the forums but can’t find the answer... and I’m sitting by the side f the road as I write this...

Thanks very much in advance for any advice.

[GiveMeABreak]

Give me a second and I'll just look it up for you! I'll need VIN or can you tell me do you have the 2.2 136 or 2.2 175?

[Michel]

When I ran out of diesel in my 2.0HDi Berlingo some time ago, it took pumping the bulb until it was hard, and a *lot* of churning on the starter to get it to start again, a right pain in the bum.

[GiveMeABreak]

I've just checked what I had and there are no special instructions, except to prime using the manual 'bulb' pump. However, you may have a lot of air in the system and that may take some time to start. Also, son't keep trying to start the engine too many times, or the injection may put the car into anti-scanning mode if you attempt to try and start the car too many times in succession. If this happens, just keep pumping the primer whilst leaving the car, then try and start it after a couple of minutes.

[south74]

VIN is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]
I have tried continuing to pump the bulb... waiting and then trying to start... but no luck unfortunately.

[south74]

Thanks all - I have finally got it going! Lots and lots of very hard frustrated pumps... waiting then doing the same again got it going!

Thanks all for the advice - much appreciated!

[GiveMeABreak]

Glad you’ll get back before the next batch of snow hits, and by they way, there’s those places, I think they’re called petrol stations!

[myglaren]

Glad you’ll get back before the next batch of snow hits, and by they way, there’s those places, I think they’re called petrol stations!

He'll be even more unhappy if he puts petrol in it.

[south74]

Glad you’ll get back before the next batch of snow hits, and by they way, there’s those places, I think they’re called petrol stations!

I should have guessed that - being a Citroën - the fuel range value would be incorrect! On my mk1 C8, the range would drop to zero and there would still be 20 or so miles available... the C6, even more! I would never have guessed that the mk2 C8 would die at 20miles left.

(Not that I’m in the habit of running diesels dry!)

Lesson learnt! (and maybe a warning to others?)

Thanks all!

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, best to keep a decent amount of fuel in so you don't suck up any of the 'sludge' as it were - apparently it can be a bit like one of my old science projects down there in a diesel tank ...

[Michel]

Yes, best to keep a decent amount of fuel in so you don't suck up any of the 'sludge' as it were - apparently it can be a bit like one of my old science projects down there in a diesel tank ...

I believe this to be a myth in modern cars, as the fuel pick-up isn't actually at the bottom of the tank. I've never had an issue and I'm one for running cars right down to the bottom. I got 61 litres in the C4 GP just now. It officially holds 60. Last week, in the 107, it was so low even I dare not drive it past the nearest petrol station. I was in a hurry so only put a tenner in (8.4 litres) and the fuel light didn't even stop flashing, so it must have been *very* close to running out.

[GiveMeABreak]

I'll leave it to the scientists to explain fully, but you don't need to be a rocket scientist to see how water in the diesel and oxygen can fester microbes and bacteria. I always fill up as soon as the tank is between half way to three quarters empty, so that I don't allow the tank to sit empty for too long with all that air in.

https://www.octane.uk.com/diesel-bugs-biofuel/

[dumpvalve]

There a right pain in the bum pal, I serviced a c4 and did the fuel filter took me ages to get it to start .. used the manual pump