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

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

Post by Napoleon »

So the thing's started to leak, and is cutting the engine out, by admitting air, I suppose.

I understand now that running solely on SCVO can affect the seal (an o-ring?) on the drain plug on the filter housing.

I'm off to buy a spare this morning, plus some other o-rings in case of problems, but are there amy tips on replacing the drain plug seal?

Do I need circlip pliers? Does it unscrew?
Tim
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Post by CitroJim »

Hi Tim,

If you mean the white plug on the rear lower of the fuel filter housing, it's almost impossible to reseal in my experience. It seems to be a weak point when using veg and I've known a few spring leaks from there.

It's not a drain but part of the fuel heater thermostat. When open, fuel is allowed to run through a labyrinth path on the thermostat housing, thus warming it.

Replacement of the filter housing is the only answer really. I've tried sealing off the hole with chemical metal and that does not work well either due to the housing being made of ABS. ABS is notoriously difficult to get anything to stick to it. About the only thing that will dissolve ABS is pure acetone and a good cement can be made by grinding up scrap ABS into acetone and making a paste.

Nail polish remover which contain acetone as its active ingredient is not strong enough as it's highly diluted.

Go to a scrapyard and find another housing, that's your best bet. Easy to swap. You'll see a single 13mm bolt in the bottom of it. It;s sealed to the alloy thermostat housing with an O ring which is normally reusable.
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Post by Napoleon »

Thanks Jim,

Would this one be the one I need?

It looks, I think, slightly different to mine in so far as that bit poking out at the left hand side I don't recognise.

THe single outlet on top is the same, and the port to the right hand side is the same as mine.

I'll post a pic of the part I just got from Citroen dealer in a minute.
Tim
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Post by Napoleon »

Here's the drain plug I just got.

First off, it's not white. Second, if it is correct part (number 1917.17), what part of it has gone wrong?

Is it that tiny flat o-ring?

Or has the screw somehow become weakened?

Image
Tim
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Post by CitroJim »

That's good Tim, so you're not leaking from the white bit then :D That's a relief.

That drain cock looks a tad different from my memory of them but designs change over the years so being it's a genuine part it should be OK.

Only one way to see...
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Post by Napoleon »

In all honesty, all I can see is fuel glistening around the white plug, and dripping onto the manifold below.

I'm assuming the plug is degraded in some way.

What might have gone wrong?
Tim
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Post by Napoleon »

I'm pretty confident this is the correct part - I mean, it IS a drain plug.... there's a hole that runs from front to back, with a spigot on the outside to attach a small pipe, I suppose.

There is a small hole on the inside of it, other side of the thread, where fuel/water can get out.

I'm guessing that turning it anti-clock will allow fuel out of the hole into a pipe.
Tim
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Post by CitroJim »

Tim, I'm confused...

Is the leak from the white bit at the bottom left of the filter housing or from the drain cock that sticks out the front?

I guess from this you do mean the white plug..
Napoleon wrote:In all honesty, all I can see is fuel glistening around the white plug, and dripping onto the manifold below.
If it is the white bit that what you have as a spare part won't do. Refer to my first post in this thread.

If it's the front drain cock that's weeping then it may.
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Post by Napoleon »

I can't see any drain cock on the 'front' of the filter housing, Jim.

Here's some pics to clarify for certain that it is the white plug/screw that is leaking:

This is a general view of the filter housing, with a torch shining a yellow glow on the plug in question...

Image

And here's the best shot I can get of the white plug with the glistening fuel I said about.

This union just here is where the fuel comes into the filter from the tank.

Image


Like I say, I thought I had bought the correct item in the dealer's as it didn't appear to be anything other than a drain plug on their diagram. Unless, of course, what I have bought is a drain cock that goes elsewhere on the filter housing, but I honestly cannot see where that might be.
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Post by myglaren »

It is similar but not the same as mine, the drain cock on mine is on the opposite side and faces downward. That is definitely the thermostat control.

(I thought I had a photo that showed it but either haven't or can't find it) :(
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Post by Xaccers »

Yup that's thermostat alright.
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Post by Napoleon »

So the 'drain plug' is the part I have bought and is wrong for this job?

(assuming I have the wrong part, is it worthwhile removing the now-known to be thermostat control and see if I can replace any o-ring I find behind it?).

I'm assuming here that SVO has damaged any o-ring there (I don't know yet if there is one).
Tim
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Post by Napoleon »

ok, I've seen it for myself now - the drain at the front of the housing.

Bugger is about all I can say.

Nothing for it now but to remove the housing and try to inspect the stat thingy and see if I can do anything about it.
Tim
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Post by Napoleon »

You lot must be laughing your socks off at my efforts. :)

I've removed the lid and taken the cover off, and can now see the side of the stat clearly, and the weird device holding in the stat itself, and realise that I won't get it off or the stat out, not in a month of Sundays.

It's not a circlip holding it in place, but a circular ring with lots of tangs around the outside and the whole thing is under tension holding the stat in place.

I have no idea how to take that out, so, Jim, I'll be replacing the whole filter unit and just hope to god it comes with a stat already in there, and that the new one doesn't leak.

Well and truly up the creek for now.
Tim
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Post by Chris570 »

it is removable and fairly easily, just get a small screwdriver and prise it out. i did this on the 1.9td i had, there is a mod to divert ALL fuel through the warmer which is a good idea if running veg oil to help it get thinner.
once you get it open you'll see exactly what to do, you'll need a 5p piece to use in there :)

sorry for the crap description but you'll see exactly what i mean when you get it apart
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