slight diesel smell Xantia hdi90

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paulbx
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slight diesel smell Xantia hdi90

Post by paulbx »

Recently but not on all journeys I get a small whiff of diesel entering the interior. Seems to happen in stop / start traffic and last a 20/30 secs.

At first I blamed other cars around me!

What are the classic places too look for leaks - its definitely from the engine bay. No work has been carried out on the fuel supply so not "friendly-fire"!

The car has done nearly 100,000 miles. I have not noticed any drop in the very good fuel mpg.

Leakoff pipes?
FuelFilter?
pump?

Any ideas and preferred order of troubleshooting very welcome.


PaulB
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jeremy
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Post by jeremy »

As always start with the easiest and cheapest - ie the leakoff pipes - you may even be able to see fuel leaking down the engine when its running. When I've had them go the fuel seems to evaporate quickly and is a bit difficult to see as the stain doesn't look like an active leak.
jeremy
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Post by Peter.N. »

Is it diesel fuel or diesel exhaust you can smell?
paulbx
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exhaust or Fuel

Post by paulbx »

Peter

deffo fuel. Naturally after posting to forum - no smell at all today!


PaulB
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Peter.N.
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Post by Peter.N. »

Hi Paul

Not familer with HDI engines except that I know they do have a pressure pump in the fuel tank so presumably could possibly have the old problem of fuel leaks rather than sucking air. The only thing you can do really is look and smell! If there is much of a fuel leak it should manifest itself eventually.
paulbx
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fuel leak

Post by paulbx »

Thanks folks - head under bonnet etc this weekend with bloodhound nose
Broomie(paulB) Xantia Hdi 90 estate
howiedean
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Re: fuel leak

Post by howiedean »

paulbx wrote:Thanks folks - head under bonnet etc this weekend with bloodhound nose
I had a similar thing on my Xantia HDI a few years back. The fuel was leaking from the connectors feeding the injectors. All four were leaking and fuel was pooling around the injectors.
I tweaked all the connectors and it was fine after that.

Regards

Howie...
Howie

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Post by RichardW »

I'm pretty sure there was tech bulletin from PSA to check the injector unions on early HDi engines.... Seems unlikely yours missed out, but at least there is a precedent for leaks!
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paulbx
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Injectors

Post by paulbx »

Folks

thanks for all the comments - I've yet found the time to to take a look. I'll let you know when I do..

PaulB
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simonelsey
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Post by simonelsey »

Ive had a leak on my xsara hdi 90bhp, and getting the smell , My ones on 100,000 .

I removed the engine cover and saw desiel pooling aound the left hand side of engine (as you look at it from bumper) where 1st and 2nd injector is, run the engine and checked for leaks , fault seems to have been brass union nut underneath the long fuel accumaltor pipe (thinks thats whats its could ) :? have 4(feeding metal pipes) of them the 2nd from left was slightly lose just tightened up under 1/4 of turn seems to have solved will check after a few miles. :D

I will get/find me haynes manual and get the correct name .
2.0 hdi xsara estate been a pain but starting to look like a good buy
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Post by wheeler »

simonelsey wrote:
I will get/find me haynes manual and get the correct name .
That would be the fuel rail then :?:
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Post by simonelsey »

Yes It would be
2.0 hdi xsara estate been a pain but starting to look like a good buy
paulbx
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Nothing found so far had smell vanished (for now)

Post by paulbx »

I'll again report back when I smelll / find a repeat!
Broomie(paulB) Xantia Hdi 90 estate
simonelsey
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Post by simonelsey »

seems to have fixed my one by doing what I described , been a week and no more pooling of diesel . I will report back and see after my monthly fill up at end of month to see If ive got a increase in range :)
2.0 hdi xsara estate been a pain but starting to look like a good buy
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