Fuel Leak using veggie

[johnsiddle]

Hi Guys,
I recently started using Veggie in my 2.4 1993 Surf it was Ok for a while but not I am getting a fuel leak from somewhere near the bottom RH side of the engine. The engine starts and runs reasonably well tickover is a bit lumpy even when hot but does'nt stop.
I started at 75% Veggie and before that ran out it had started leaking but only when cold at startup.
I then put in 100% veggie and fitted a water heated fuel heater but now I think it is probably leaking a bit all time I am running, it certainly leaks at startup and also at park. It is quite a fast leak for a few seconds when parked and engine turned off but does stop.
If I run parked up I leave a large pool of fuel on floor, so have to start and pull straight off.
I noticed that the pipe from the heater to the pump drains of fuel when parked but the engine does start OK bit lumpy till warm.
I plan on fitting a second diesel tank for stop and starts, do you think this will help or is this a sign of a knackered pump???
Regards John

PS visability down and under the side of the engine is not good so I am not sure where the leak is.

[nero279]

it's quite common fo the fuel pump seals to leak on veg, the top seal can be changed in situ, the rest the pump has to come out, and therefore has to be recalibrated professionally before going back in.

you could go back to diesel for a few tanks, and put a litre or two of atf in with the diesel, it's supposed to swell the seals, and stop the leak for a while. However you don't want to be preheating straight diesel (or at least not to the same extent as veg) so you'd need to bypass or switch off your fuel heater somehow.

[Diezel Weazel]

Try reducing ya Veg/Dino mix to about 50% + litre of ATF to half a tank n ee how it goes ....
Good Luck

There's always a Payback .... Ya just never ever see it Comin !!!!

[dieselboy]

its leaking when cold???

anyhow, someone on here pioneered the use of white spirit in with the veg oil mix. he used 1 litre approx to every 12 - 15 litres of veg. i also used his method and it stopped my leak completely.

when i got to the mountains in france, i had a puddle on the floor about a metre wide the next morning. so i stuck some diesel in on the near empty tank and it didnt leak again until the fuel was almost all veg, that point on i used veg / diesel / white spirit mix in >40 litres / <10 litres / 1 or 2 litres respectively.

i cant even remember what side the fuel pump is on, but i replaced all the seals i could without taking off the fuel pump... so thats 2 then, the top cover seal and an O ring. i didnt notice any difference but at that time i was only using diesel as it had leaked once before.

surely your fuel economy is suffering because its going on the floor?
and if its diesel & veg mix that your leaking, i feel sorry for cars and bikes that are following you

[POPEYE]

Mine started leaking when i "overdid" the mix, but increased the volume of deisel and it stopped, has'nt leaked since, i do put white spirits, unleaded and atf in at times tho, seems ok now

[johnsiddle]

Thanks

Thanks guy's.
I put a couple of gallons of diesel in today cuz it was running quite lumpy this morning and I think it has improved a bit.
Will add some white spirit tomorrow and see how it goes.

I thought that there were two makes of pump Lucas/Bosch and that the Bosch were OK on veggie. I also thought I read that Surfs had the Bosch pump so were OK.
Obviously not. Anyone know which pump is on the Surf (1993)??
John

[dieselboy]

Thanks guy's.
I put a couple of gallons of diesel in today cuz it was running quite lumpy this morning and I think it has improved a bit.
Will add some white spirit tomorrow and see how it goes.

I thought that there were two makes of pump Lucas/Bosch and that the Bosch were OK on veggie. I also thought I read that Surfs had the Bosch pump so were OK.
Obviously not. Anyone know which pump is on the Surf (1993)??
John

mines a 2.4 1992 (if that makes a difference)

[johnsiddle]

Seal Kit

Hi Guy's after reading lots of threads on this subject I decided to get a kit from Milners but the only kit I could find was for an injector pump and the picture showed about 9 Orings and 3 copper colourd rings.
Is this what I should be buying?????

[MattF]

I thought that there were two makes of pump Lucas/Bosch and that the Bosch were OK on veggie. I also thought I read that Surfs had the Bosch pump so were OK.
Obviously not. Anyone know which pump is on the Surf (1993)??
John

It's a Nippon-Denso I.P.

[johnsiddle]

Thanks

Thanks Matt, do you by any chance know if the seal kit on Milners website is the one I should buy???
John

[dieselboy]

are you taking the fuel pump off then?

[Diezel Weazel]

If ya having trouble obtaining any seals / Kits Try these...

BENNETTS DIESEL DIAGNOSTICS
3, Regal Way,
Watford,
Herts.
WD24 4FN Tel. 01923 238523

There's always a Payback .... Ya just never ever see it Comin !!!!

[POPEYE]

Thanks Matt, do you by any chance know if the seal kit on Milners website is the one I should buy???
John

Mor than likly it's the top cover seal which you can do without removeing the pump, just have to clear away some of the magubbins so you can get at it,

these pumps are ok on veg but as it can be a sight thicker than diesel the pump strains to pump it thus creating presure and popping the seal, hence the addition of white spirits, unleaded OR heating the stuff to thin it a bit, if i were you i'd give it a chance with thinning agents and see if the seal "reseals"
i know it's gauling haveing the presious fuel dripping on the road tho, mine was ok after baout two-three days, no drips, and has been ok ever since, just need to thinn it every time you add or use a higher ratio diesel mix, white spirits is cheaper than petrol and ATF's a good cleaner,

[PDR]

If ya having trouble obtaining any seals / Kits Try these...

BENNETTS DIESEL DIAGNOSTICS
3, Regal Way,
Watford,
Herts.
WD24 4FN Tel. 01923 238523

There's always a Payback .... Ya just never ever see it Comin !!!!

Those words are so true in this case! None of you would have this problem if you brought Diesel rather than trying to save a few pennies using vegetable oil.

[dieselboy]

correctomundo. but veg oil used to be way cheaper and the benefits outweighed the costs once..

i went to buy veg oil last night from asda and its £1.20+ per litre. and thats the cheapest!!