Replacing the drain plug on the fuel filter (Xantia 1.9TD)

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 04 Jun 2010, 16:55

I've gone through half a tank of 100% rapeseed and the tank is now brimmed again with the same. Only in the coldest of winter do I consider thinning it.

If you're not happy to use 100% just start at 50/50 and work your way up.

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 04 Jun 2010, 17:02

Am I the only (fool?) person running, or have run, on 100% svo?

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 04 Jun 2010, 17:17

No, you just need to go to specsavers or refresh your page.

I think Xac runs 100% also.

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 04 Jun 2010, 18:43

So why the leak on the fuel 'stat', then?

Was this a coincidence?

Can anyone say with any confidence that running the Xantia on svo will NOT affect the various seals within the fuel system, either within the Bosch pump or outside it?

Xac?

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 04 Jun 2010, 20:02

This is my second Xantia I've run on SVO and neither leaked at the filter 'stat and only my first Xantia began weeping (I mean a tiny amount that would not leave drops on the floor) at the pump. Having said that, the leak only showed when I tested diluting SVO with unleaded petrol.

I have a set of used pump seals that I've submerged in petrol and noticed no change over the course of a month. I'm going to try them in SVO next. If you send me your old 'stat seal, I'll chuck that in too and send it back so you can decide for yourself.

What I don't have is home-made wvo/bio but I'll try and get a sample for later testing.

It's worth noting that the later seal kits for these pumps are biodiesel-compatible.

And let's not forget, Bosch gives the seals a 10-year lifecycle.

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 10 Jun 2010, 16:11

On a slightly different subject, but sort of related to the allusion earlier int he thread about filling in ABS on the filter housing...

Does anyone know the best way to bond carbon fibre to a hard plastic such as that found in drain pies and guttering?

I mean, as far as possible, bond forever.

Unread post by **Old-Guy** » 10 Jun 2010, 17:59

Last September when Darling Alistair put an extra 2p on DERV and prices were heading towards £1.20+/L, Sainsbury's were selling Canola (rapeseed) SVO for 85p/L, I tried SVO for a while. The Xantia (1.9TD) ran quite happily on roughly 75% SVO (see this thread) but after a several refills we noticed we were travelling in a distinct pong of 'frying' and the family started referring to the Xantia as "The Chip Van" or "The Mean, Green (see Avatar) Frying Machine". SVO prices went up sharply, DERV went down (a bit) and the weather got colder so I went back to straight DERV. On a few chilly autumn mornings, she was even more reluctant to start than usual - I think there's a slight air leak somewhere that I really must find and fix.

Interestingly, using SVO didn't make the fuel filter all black and gungy - maybe the fuel system has stayed lovely and clean because I've always bought Shell (from our local filling station it's usually as cheap as, or cheaper than, anything else locally). About 18 months ago, I had the tank filter out to clean it - waste of time, clean filter and I could see the fuel tank bottom shining brightly through half-a-tank of fuel.

I nearly went back to an SVO mix a few weeks ago, but then DERV prices went back down so I didn't bother for several reasons: the Xantia only does about 10,000 miles a year, within a 20 mile radius the cheapest SVO available is around 95p/L in 3L supermarket bottles making filling up inconvenient and messy. If I could buy SVO in 20-25L drums reasonably locally for say 70p/L and I had somewhere convenient to store and refuel from drums, then it would be a different story.

Guy

Unread post by **Old-Guy** » 10 Jun 2010, 18:22

Re bonding to uPVC 'rain water goods' (that's what the builder's merchants call drain pipes etc) you can buy 'solvent weld' from any decent hardware shop or builder's merchant. It's a solution of PVC in (fairly nasty) solvent (same idea as polystyrene cement). It will weld uPVC together so effectively that the only way to break a well-made joint is to cut it.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 10 Jun 2010, 18:30

May not work on ABS though. Look for Marley KS2 or KS10 solvent adhesive if you want to try it.

Someone here reported on a glue available from B&Q that bonds plastics, including I think ABS. Can't remember the details unfortunately.

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 10 Jun 2010, 18:39

Cheers both. Any experience with carbon fibre to plastics?

Unread post by **myglaren** » 10 Jun 2010, 18:40

Nope

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 10 Jun 2010, 19:34

I'll let you know!