fuel starvation

[derekchace]

I have having some problems with the 200tdi and wondering if you might have any ideas. It all started when I almost ran out of diesel the other week. Engine was sputtering just as I got to the station. After that it ran fine for a while like 200 miles then would start acting like it was out of diesel (mainly when it had less then 1/4 tank) Would sputter and die. I thought maybe it was just low on fuel and refilled it and it ran fine. Now it was doing it with 1/3 to 1/2 a tank today and was really bad going up hills around turns and so on. I then replaced the fuel filter (a little bit of crude in the bottom of the bowl) but it is still having the same problems. It seems to do it more when the car has been driving for about 30 minutes or more lately. Any ideas? Is there a sediment drain on the tank? Some people are saying maybe a new lift pump or try blowing out the lines with air?

[Les Parker]

Derek,

Let us know how you get on, after putting the new fuel pump on.

ATB

[SafeAirOne]

Clean the sediment screen on the bottom of the fuel pickup tube in the tank if you have one and or make sure the fuel tank is properly vented.

It sounds like a classic case of an increasing fuel defecit due to a restricted fuel supply system whereby you can drive slowly and idle but there isn't enough fuel available for the higher demand stuff like hills and the highway. Eventually enough of a suction will develop in the fuel supply line that it will cancel out any suction from the mechanical lift pump and the engine will die.

[derekchace]

On The old fuel pump on the engine the lift lever thing is very week (moves very freely) well the new on in the box is very stiff. I know very little mechanically but I know one is not like the other. Also some one said to blow out the fuel lines. Any only know how hard that is?

[SafeAirOne]

If the fuel pump's cam follower is resting on the lobe of the cam, then hand-pumping it will likely have a different feel than if the follower is resting elsewhere, since it is already in the "fully pumped" position when the follower is on the lobe of the cam.

[o2batsea]

Maybe water in the tank?

[Les Parker]

Derek

How's it driving now after blowing the fuel lines out?

[derekchace]

Much better, but still gives me the odd wants to stall at low speed once and a while.

[RoverDover]

I put a locking fuel cap on my truck a while ago and it ran exactly as you describe. when I went to remove the new cap it was suctioned in place on the filler neck. After popping it off the truck ran fine for about half a tank. I removed the seal in the cap and never had the problem again.

[derekchace]

still having problems on start and at low speed. Its going in for the tank dropped, all the lines cleaned, and so on. Hopefully this fixes it. I have also fitted new lift pump with no change. I think there is just a lot of crud in the tank. Also I never plan on letting it get lower then. 1/4 tank again.